Commissioners say August episode made positive impact; sharp comments validate frustrated Big Sky citizens
By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
How are things with the Madison County Commission? Depends who you talk to.
On Aug. 15, former eight-year commissioner Dan Allhands took his time on the podium of public comment to express his displeasure with how things are being run. In particular, Allhands singled out District 3 Commissioner Bill Todd, whose jurisdiction includes part of Big Sky.
Allhands listed concerns: the unprecedented attendance of county attorney David Buchler at commission meetings; how the abrupt departure of a finance department employee underscores the importance of supporting county staff; his view that Todd spends “the majority” of his time in the legal and finance offices and thus prevents them from doing their jobs; remarks toward the IT department about county emails potentially being tampered with; and an imbalance of power between the three commissioners with Todd achieving outsized influence, evidenced by a recent fire district budgeting decision made without the others’ knowledge.
“Things have gotten out of control around here,” Allhands said. He threatened—and later promised—to bring in a group of citizens to a future commission meeting, without notice, to “ask some pretty hard questions about what’s going on in this county because I’m very concerned about what I see goin’ on. And I don’t back down from nothing.”
Allhands doubled down in phone calls with Explore Big Sky, particularly directing criticism toward Todd, his former co-commissioner whom Allhands believes intimidates county employees and fellow commissioners Ron Nye and Duke Gilman to upset the balance of power.
“People need to pay attention in meetings and be accountable of what their county commissioners are doing,” Allhands told the commission. “… You guys are here, and if you’re not liking how something’s done… you have the power to stop it. You shouldn’t have to have somebody like me come up.”
Allhands had a lot to say, but his viewpoint is not shared by all.
Commissioner Gilman was surprised by the former commission chair’s outburst, telling EBS he’s heard feedback that the county commission’s leadership has improved in recent years. Gilman believes cooperation and communication between the Madison County Commission is no cause for concern.
“I’m feeling pretty positive about our trajectory right now. And there’s always going to be an issue somewhere that we’re dealing with, but right now it feels like we’re headed in a good direction,” Gilman said in a phone call.
While Allhands’ comments caught him off guard, Gilman said the commission is now more aware of concerns that some citizens may have.
“I think in some ways it’s good to be called out… We seem to be working together more,” Gilman said.
Commissioner Nye’s opinion falls somewhere in between.
“I think [Allhands’ comments] created an awareness for the public—and for, I guess, everyone, staff members, et cetera—that there is a problem,” Nye told EBS in a phone call, describing Todd’s leadership. “Not enough involvement of the other commissioners. I mean, some things go up on the agenda [that] we didn’t know about until we got to the meeting… It’s concerning.”
Speaking with EBS in mid-September, Nye added that it’s been “a better situation” in the month since the Aug. 15 reckoning. Commissioners are more collaborative, and Todd appears to spend more time at his own desk—and less time hashing things out one-on-one with the county attorney, a habit which Allhands flagged for the public.
“I’m happy that someone’s involved and has opinions—and think more people should show up, especially if they’re passionate.”
Bill Todd, Madison County District 3 commissioner
“I think since Dan made his appearance, things have improved,” Nye said. He added the commission is focused on more important issues including the hospital district resolution with Big Sky, and restoration of the county courthouse in Virginia City.
An ambush of tough questions from the community may still lie ahead, unless Allhands was bluffing.
“One of these days I’m gonna bring you a crowd,” Allhands repeated, walking away from the podium after nearly 20 minutes grilling the commission. “I promise you that.”
Bill Todd responds; residents rebuke
An observer may find that Commissioner Todd presents well as chair of the commission, leading discussions with formal, tidy decorum. His physical appearance exudes purpose as he sits straight with neatly combed hair and a long, groomed beard atop collared shirts ranging from formal and neutral to short-sleeved and colorfully patterned. His dry humor reveals personality and demonstrates attention. His personal mantra is “doing the common things uncommonly well,” he says—in both life and in his elected role of nearly three years.
“I think my priority from my time in office has been, just being able to deliver on the services that we’re required and expected to deliver, in the most efficient and cost-effective manner,” Todd told EBS. He is confident he shows up for his constituents’ best interest.
Regarding his ability to execute for his district, which primarily includes Ennis with a side of Big Sky, he said, “I’m trying. If I were perfect, I would not be a Madison County commissioner. There are probably better things out there for someone who is perfect.”
Big Sky’s less populated, generally wealthier western chunk resides in Madison County. Many Big Sky citizens have grown to view Todd negatively in light of the wellness district struggle since early 2024 over taxation and representation across complicated hospital and school district boundaries.
Todd voted against ratifying a sufficient petition of Big Sky residents to withdraw from the Madison Valley Hospital District. He later testified against Senate Bill 260 which sought to empower communities like Big Sky in special purpose district boundary wars, and in doing so, he threatened an exploration into eminent domain of Jack Creek Road—before quickly closing that can of worms when fellow commissioners failed to back him on it.
One resident from the Madison County side of Big Sky voiced disapproval of Todd, questioning his impartiality in the wake of his testimony against SB 260, and also calling him “a bit of a loose cannon” for suggesting a drastic measure like eminent domain without discussing with fellow commissioners.
“I believe Bill Todd is compromised as an elected official,” stated Heather Morris, who has played the role of an active citizen in the district boundary disputes, in an email to EBS. “… I’ve seen him a number of times when he has come over to Big Sky… and I believe that he does a really good job of talking out of both sides of his mouth.”
Allhands has a similar take: “You want to know how you tell if Bill Todd is lying? His lips are moving,” he told EBS in a slow, cold tone.
Regarding Madison County government overall, Morris expressed that Big Sky receives “little to no support” as well as disdain “and downright lies” from fellow Madison County residents.
“I highly doubt that my Madison County commissioner considers what issues are important to me and my family… It would be nice to have a commissioner from the 450 or so registered MadCo voters [who] reside in Big Sky,” Morris stated.
A shift in representation could be imminent, as the structure of Madison County government is currently under review—a decennial opportunity unique to the Montana Constitution.
Some of her Big Sky peers declined to comment, expressing discomfort with going on the record against their elected official—off the record, however, they matched Morris’s dissatisfaction with Todd and the county commission’s treatment of Big Sky.
Finally, Daniel Bierschwale, executive director of the Big Sky Resort Area District added that Big Sky is unique in being governed by two “very unique” counties. He encouraged Big Sky residents to connect with elected officials at the Oct. 8 joint county commission meeting in Big Sky, and to submit feedback to the government study commissions examining both Madison and Gallatin counties.
When asked about opposition from his Big Sky constituents, Todd pushed back against the notion. “It’s a difficult job, and there is not a lot of guidance on what we are handling right now,” he told EBS.
“I think in some ways it’s good to be called out… We seem to be working together more.”
Duke Gilman, Madison County District 1 commissioner
Madison County government is located in Montana’s gold-rush-era territorial capital, a historic boom-and-bust town with a sign declaring Virginia City’s proud motto: “Resisting change since 1863.” It might explain why Todd raised eyebrows for inviting the county attorney to public meetings—a resource Todd believes makes obvious sense to support “an extremely complicated organization with a lot of moving parts.”
By tradition, however, legal counsel has been generally absent from Madison County Commission proceedings, commissioners explained.
“I don’t know of any other governmental entity in the state that doesn’t have an attorney involved in their meetings,” Todd told EBS. “Secondly, we pay a civil deputy in the county attorney’s office to assist the commission in running the government. Thirdly, I know how expensive attorneys are, and the fact that we have them on call and available to help us… they’re life savers… It’s probably a disservice to the citizens of Madison County for us to not ask for legal counsel’s opinion.”
Commissioner Gilman agrees with Todd’s logic, although Commissioner Nye is skeptical about the omnipresence of a county attorney. “If we need some assistance, they’re right upstairs,” Nye told EBS.
The issue is serious enough to upset the old guard. But in Todd’s view, it’s one way to deliver on one of his core objectives: to usher Madison County into a new era marked by professionalism and consistency.
Todd recalls a good working relationship with Allhands, even views him as a mentor from their two years shared on the commission. Now, Todd seems to hold the opposite perspective on every concern held by his predecessor.
“I thank him for his comments and his opinions, and I welcome them in the future. It’s a busy time, and I’m happy that someone’s involved and has opinions—and think more people should show up, especially if they’re passionate,” Todd said, meeting with EBS during his weekly office hours at Big Sky’s water and sewer district office—an offering that often yields a visit from nobody, he noted.
Gilman, too, is frustrated by the lack of citizen input.
“I really strive to be transparent with the county,” Gilman said. “I feel that government should be—these are the taxpayer dollars that we’re workin’ on.”
If Allhands and Todd see eye-to-eye on one thing, it’s the need for public involvement—albeit for different reasons. Allhands wants Todd to be held accountable for taking intentional steps to dissuade the public from participating in county government, specifically by disorganizing the format of meetings to make it more confusing and time consuming for the public to listen and speak on certain issues.
“People need to pay attention to what’s going on up there, because the meetings aren’t really open and transparent to where the public can participate,” Allhands told EBS.
He fired another set of choice words to describe the state of the commission, and added by contrast, “Open and transparent is how government should be.”
The Madison County commission meets for work sessions—no decisions made—every Monday at 10 a.m., and conducts official business every Tuesday at 10 a.m.
The public can provide public comment and follow along by attending in person at 103 W. Wallace Street in Virginia City, or tuning in virtually through WebEx with the meeting link found on each meeting agenda. Agendas are posted by the end of every Friday on the county’s Agenda Center webpage under “commissioners.”
