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Pondera County names Jim Morren chair, adopts formal public participation rules
Summary
The Pondera County Board of Commissioners elected Commissioner Jim Morren as chair and adopted a resolution requiring public participation opportunities and weekly agenda posting, setting regular Wednesday meetings at 10 a.m. and specifying office hours and notice procedures.
PONDERA COUNTY, Mont. — The Pondera County Board of Commissioners reorganized its leadership Jan. 7, 2026, electing Commissioner Jim Morren as chair and Commissioner Thomas Kuka as vice chair, and adopted a new public-participation policy aimed at ensuring residents timely notice and an opportunity to comment before final decisions.
Commissioner Thomas Kuka moved to appoint Morren as chair and Kuka as vice chair; Commissioner Zane Drishinski seconded and the motion carried. The board then adopted Resolution #12 (2025/26), which requires the board to provide “reasonable opportunity for public participation” prior to taking final action on matters of significant public interest and to post its weekly agenda on the courthouse main hallway bulletin board and on the county website no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
The resolution sets the board’s regular weekly meeting time at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays and lists the county commissioners’ office hours as 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with Friday by appointment. It also notes that matters requiring statutory notice will follow the notice procedure required by the specific statute.
County Clerk & Recorder Kody L. Farkell attested to the resolution as part of the adopted minutes. The resolution passed on a 3–0 vote.
The adoption clarifies posting and participation procedures intended to improve transparency and public access to commission decisions, and it reaffirmed that all meetings are open to the public unless properly closed under statute.
