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Lewistown swears in three new commissioners; Day elected chair for 2026
Summary
The Lewistown City Commission swore in three new commissioners, elected Commissioner Lorraine Day as chair and confirmed Commissioner Bueller as vice chair. The body also approved appointments to several city and regional boards and set standing committee schedules.
The Lewistown City Commission on Tuesday swore in three new commissioners and selected leadership for the 2026 calendar year.
Judge Manu administered the oath of office to the new members, listed by staff as Deb Bowser, Ken Schaefer and Travin Warren. After the oath and signatures were completed, the commission conducted roll call and opened nominations for chair and vice chair.
Commissioner Lorraine Day was nominated and approved as chair for 2026, with Commissioner Bueller appointed vice chair. The motion to elect Day and Bueller was seconded and carried unanimously, the commission said.
The body then approved the minutes of the Dec. 15, 2025 meeting with edits; City Manager Holly Phelps said she would correct a line in the city manager report that misstated the sewer-rate wording before the packet is finalized.
City Manager Phelps presented a packet describing several boards and commissions. The commission approved a slate of appointees by motion and roll call: Airport board — Commissioner Huitt; Library board — Commissioner Bowser; Park & Recreation — Commissioner Day; Lewistown‑Fergus City‑County Health Board — Commissioner Shaver; City‑County Planning — Commissioner Hewitt; Central Montana Foundation — Commissioner Bueller; Central Montana 911 — Commissioner Warren; Snowy Mountain Development Corporation — Commissioner Robertson. Commissioners confirmed the appointments by vote.
Commissioners also created three standing advisory committees and named members: the ordinance committee (Commissioners Day, Bowser and Robertson), an audit committee (Commissioners Bueller, Shaver and Day) and a public works subcommittee (Commissioners Huitt, Robertson and Warren). Meeting times were set: ordinance committee — third Wednesday at 11 a.m.; audit committee — third Thursday at noon; public works committee — second Friday at 9 a.m. Staff will post notices for each committee meeting.
The meeting concluded with commissioners’ remarks welcoming the new members and a citizen request about lighting at the fairgrounds, which the commission said the ordinance committee may consider.
