Nash gives update on Polson at chamber meeting

During a State of the City Address at the monthly Polson Chamber of Commerce meeting last week, Polson Police Chief and interim City Manager Wade Nash said that despite some setbacks within the last month, the city will be okay.

“Polson is going to be fine. We always are,” he reassured the 40 people in attendance.

Polson Mayor Paul Briney, who is also a teacher at Polson High School, was unable to attend the daytime luncheon.

Nash referred to former City Manager Mark Shrives’ decision to not renew his contract last month after city commissioners decided during a special meeting to present a one-year contract rather than a previously discussed two-year agreement.

In the past when Shrives was temporarily out of town, Nash would fill in.

Now, he is overseeing the city in both the police chief and city manager capacity, making his life “a whirlwind,” Nash said that the learning experience is helping him to grow as an individual.

Since Shrives’ departure, the city engineer and city attorney also resigned, Nash added.

He shared that the commissioners voted down the opportunity to enter a contract with a hiring firm to help find a new full time city manager with a 5-1 vote.

A citizen’s search committee is being formed, and Polson residents that are registered to vote are encouraged to apply on the city’s website, www.cityofpolson.com.

Nash informed the crowd that while Polson’s charter government was approved by voters in 2006, it has been heavily critiqued by citizens.

Noting he is the third interim city manager and sixth overall, Nash said that “Polson’s always had a challenge with this form of government,” however, when voters are given the opportunity to change the charter government, they “overwhelmingly” vote in favor of the charter.

ONCE NASH answered questions from the audience, he said he wanted to also mention some positive happenings within the city.

- He briefly talked about a youth golf committee, which is led by Cameron Milton at Polson Bay Golf Course.

Milton recently received the 2018 PGA Youth Player Development Award in November, and Nash shared the avid golfer is looking to bring a youth golf simulator, which will give youth the opportunity to practice techniques indoors. Nash said Milton has a goal of $50,000 and will begin fundraising in the near future.

- Nash also told everyone that the department’s K-9, a one-year-old male Germain Shorthaired Pointer named Jager, is working fulltime with his handler, Officer Cody Doyle.

- The city is building a new food booth in Boettcher Park, which will be open in the spring of 2019.

-During a recent commissioner’s meeting, Clint Fischer was hired as the city’s civil attorney, and Josh Morigeau was named prosecuting attorney.

Nash said he is still researching the city’s engineer position.

For more information on Polson’s charter government and commissioner meeting information, visit cityofpolson.com.