banner

Deer Lodge County

Commission Transition

Published: 2020
By Kimberly D Richardson
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County (ADLC) is one of two consolidated governments in Montana. ADLC government structure includes a chief executive officer, elected by a plurality vote on a non-partisan ballot for a four-year term, who oversees and guides five elected county commissioners. County commissioners are responsible for establishing the budget and acting as the county legislative body. Commissioners share administrative functions with several other elected county officials, including the Chief Executive Officer, County Attorney and Chief of Law Enforcement. Commission meetings take place Tuesday evenings alternating between business sessions and work sessions, dispersed with periodic special sessions. When COVID-19 restrictions went into effect, county government faced the possibility of postponed meetings. Without county commission meetings, county government operations cease to function effectively. Deer Lodge County MSU Extension reached out to the CEO and offered the Montana State University WebEx platform to assist with hosting public meetings virtually. WebEx enabled the CEO and county commissioners to hold public meetings and keep the government business functioning without interruption. Deer Lodge County MSU Extension reduced the learning curve associated with virtual platforms by hosting 14 WebEx training and help sessions prior to an actual commission meeting for the county commissioners, county officials, and county constituency. Since April, Deer Lodge County MSU Extension has facilitated 33 county commission business, work, and special sessions. Interestingly, WebEx meetings have recorded an increase in county participation–with the smallest meeting having 17 participants and the largest meeting having upwards of 50 participants. ADLC commission meetings are scheduled via WebEx for the foreseeable future, and based on participation numbers and engagement, WebEx may be provided for the county constituency indefinitely.
WebEx Commission Meeting footage