Coup stick presented to Polson Police chief

The Polson City Commission meeting on March 3 started a little differently than usual as Ken Camel stepped to the lectern. Camel came bearing the gift of a coup stick – also known as a greeting stick – for Polson Police Chief George Simpson.

For Camel, a storyteller and member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Coup Stick represents the message that the Tribes and local law enforcement “have come a long way.”

History in many ways is at the core of the curved coup stick, which the Salish Dog Soldiers, described by Camel as “our warriors, our scouts,” first shared with non-Native people when they encountered the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

According to Camel, the Dog Soldiers, after finding out the explorers’ intentions, touched them on the shoulders with the coup stick “to say they chose them as a friend.”

As Camel explained the gift, he also provided meaning both historically and culturally saying to Simpson, “We will make this journey together.” He also said coup sticks would be presented “to  each police force on the reservation.”

The night’s presentation wasn’t entirely serious however, as Camel explained that he made an imitation eagle feather for the presentation so as not “to get anyone in trouble.” He also showed Simpson how to hang the stick, which has a Polson Police Department badge at the center of a traditional medicine wheel, in his office.

Simpson thanked Camel for the gift, and said it symbolizes one of his main goals for the force, which is to "contribute to peaceful harmony and make Polson a better place to live.”

He also noted that one he measures the success of that goal is in how his officers approach their work, “respecting everybody’s rights, everybody’s individuality and everybody’s dignity,” he said. “Believe me, we will continue every day to safeguard that trust.”

Flurry of annexations

The remainder the Polson City Commission meeting was mostly focused on street annexations for a section of Irvine Flats Road adjacent to a future casino development, a portion of 11th Street and a mile-long segment of Hwy. 35, east of town.

Polson attorney Dave Michie explained that these types of annexations are primarily to help clarify responsibilities when it comes to street maintenance and emergency services. The first two were unanimously approved, but two commissioners – Lisa Rehard and Carolyn Pardini – balked at the annexation along Hwy. 35.

That annexation, which the commission approved 5-2, connects the city’s boundary with an acreage on the corner of Haack Road and Hwy. 35 that was annexed into the city at the landowner’s request on Feb. 3. The property, owned by Kaylee Purcell, is already served by city water, and annexation means she can connect to city sewer if she develops the acreage instead of installing individual septic systems.

Pardini said she’s heard from residents that continued annexations could stress existing city services. “I hear repeatedly that fire and police are stretched thin and as we do these annexations, we’re putting more on their plates and taking them from the core of the city,” she said.

Rehard voices a similar concern, saying that the city is “assuming a lot more responsibility and cost without corresponding income to cover those costs.”

Commissioner Jake Holley voted for the annexation but said he was sympathetic to residents’ concerns that annexation of more property is “putting the cart before the horse. We should fill in the donut holes that exist before spreading out,” he said.

City manager Ed Meece pointed out that the city hadn’t sought the annexation of property on Haack Road. Instead, it occurred at the behest of the owner. He also said that adding the portion of highway leading to the property “cleans up” the question of which government is now responsible for emergency services.

The commission also voted to have city employees look into the cost of wayfinding signs. The Polson Redevelopment Agency had designed signage and received placement approval from the Montana Department of Transportation before the agency was dissolved due to lack of members.

Commissioner Brodie Moll said he’s recently fielded inquiries from business owners about the fate of the signage, much of which could be paid for by Tax Increment Finance District funding.

Commissioner Jen Ruggless noted that Ronan is working on similar signage and joked, “We certainly wouldn’t want them to get their signs up first.”

The commission voted to have the administration put together a solid budget for the placement of wayfinding signs, that would include the amount already spent on the project and the future cost.

Resort tax discussion set for March 6

The commission also briefly discussed its upcoming workshop on a resort tax, slated for next Monday, March 10, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The public meeting will include information on current state statutes concerning the implementation of a resort tax, Polson’s history in trying to pass such a measure (it was rejected by voters in 2009 and 2021), and staff observations about what previous roadblocks have been.

Pardini encouraged the city administration to make sure chamber members and local business owners were well-informed about the meeting.