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1. Who is my County Commissioner, and what is a Commissioner District?

Stillwater County is split into three geographic commissioner districts, based on population and area. Each Commissioner is elected to a six-year term.  A person may not be elected as a member of a board of county commissioners unless the person has resided in the county and the district for at least 2 years immediately preceding the general election, MCA 7-4-2104(2). The Commissioners are partisan elected officials, and candidates are nominated in a primary election.  All voters in the County vote in the primary and general elections to select the Commissioner who will ultimately serve.

View the District Map (PDF).

Steve Riveland is the Commissioner for District 1. Jeff Ruffatto is the District 2 Commissioner. Tyrel Hamilton is the District 3 Commissioner and currently the Presiding Officer of the Board also known as the Chair.

2. What is the Board of County Commissioners Meeting schedule?

The Commissioner’s Regular Business Agenda Meeting is each Tuesday at 9 am (unless otherwise noted).  The remainder of the week is spent with individual committee assignments and constituent appointments.

3. Are Board Meetings open to the public?

All regularly scheduled Board meetings are open to the public and media, with the exception of the following:  Pursuant to 2-3-203, MCA, the presiding officer of any meeting may close the meeting during the time the discussion relates to a matter of individual privacy, and then if and only if the presiding officer determines that the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure. These meetings are not open to the public or the media.

4. What is a Regular Business Agenda Meeting vs. Commission Discussion (work session)?

Regular Business Agenda Meetings are the time the Board takes action on items published on their agenda.  

Commission Discussions (work sessions) are held prior to the Board’s regular business agenda meetings where the  Commissioners meet with their constituents or department heads according to the schedule above. The purpose of these meetings is to provide the Board an opportunity to conduct informal communications with each other,  review documents, and identify questions they may have for staff before taking action on the agenda items in their regular business meeting. No action will be taken at these discussion sessions.

5. How do you find out what’s coming up on the agenda?

Each Thursday before 5 pm, the Regular Business Agenda is posted on the bulletin boards on the first and the second floor of the Stillwater County Courthouse.  Also a posting is made on the West Annex bulletin board.  The agenda may also be available online for your convenience. Printed copies can be obtained in the Clerk and Recorders Office. 

6. How do you have a voice in Commissioner Board meetings?

If you wish to address the Commission on an Agenda item, you will be given an opportunity to comment or ask questions before action is taken. If you wish to address the Commission on a non-agenda item, the Commissioner Presiding Officer (Chair) will allow you to briefly address the Board during the “Public Comments” portion of the meeting. Public Comments are scheduled at the beginning portion of the Board Meeting Agenda.

7. How do I make an appointment to meet with my County Commissioner?

Simply call the Commissioner’s Office at 406-322-8010 and ask to schedule a mutually convenient time for you to meet with your Commissioner. 

8. What about Public Hearings?

Public hearings are held by the Board of County Commissioners to give citizens the opportunity to comment on certain current issues involving the county. All public hearings are advertised in the Stillwater County News and placed on the agenda.

9. How can you serve on a Board or Committee?

Persons interested in serving on the Compensation Board, Planning Board, Tax Appeal Board, Health Board, or any Board appointed by the Commissioners, should complete an Application Form (PDF) and submit it to the Commissioners Office.