Dillon City Council Votes Down Director of Operations Appointment Amid Tense Meeting

DILLON, Mont. — The Dillon City Council met Wednesday evening with only six members present, as two council seats remain vacant.

The meeting opened with public comment, where former Mayor Mike Klakken asked the council to reconsider holding closed sessions at the beginning of meetings, noting that members of the public are often required to wait outside in cold conditions.

Next, Eric Wendland addressed the council regarding what he believes was an illegal action taken by the City of Dillon and city engineer Jeremy Fadness. Wendland stated that an exploratory test hole was dug in work related to a Special Improvement District (SID) to verify whether it met code requirements.

Wendland alleged that the city violated multiple laws by failing to obtain proper permits and by not providing the required 24-hour notice prior to digging. He requested that the city select a different engineer for the SID moving forward, stating that those involved would no longer work with Fadness.

The council then moved on to the appointment of city officers. All positions passed unanimously until the vote for Director of Operations. When it came time to call the vote, no council member initially stepped forward. Councilman Dean ultimately brought the item forward, prompting discussion regarding the director’s performance.

During the discussion, questions were raised about the scope of the director’s responsibilities and whether adequate training and direction had been provided by the mayor. Mayor McGinley acknowledged that he may not have provided sufficient direction but noted that the director had received extensive training through workshops.

In recent meetings, tensions between the Director of Operations and certain council members have been visible, with some members expressing concerns about transparency. The council ultimately voted 4-2 against reappointing the Director of Operations. As a result, the city will now begin the process of seeking a new Director of Operations.

The council also reviewed the reappointment of citizen board members, which proceeded without issue. However, the appointment of council members to various boards was tabled, as some council members stated they had not been given enough time to review the available positions and responsibilities.

Public comment concluded the meeting, with Mayor Klakken again addressing concerns regarding discrepancies in the SID calculations. A local businessman also spoke, criticizing the council for voting against retaining the Director of Operations.

The meeting was then adjourned.