Chouteau County Departments
Services
Chouteau County offers a wide range of services to the residents of the County, as
well as outside visitors. Below is a list of services and/or responsibilities for each
department, office, or agency of Chouteau County.
Listed alphabetically by department.
Services and Responsibilities by Department
Chouteau County Courthouse
1308 Franklin Street
Fort Benton, Montana
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday 8 AM to 5PM
Closed on all Major Holidays.
Board Of County Commissioners
RAssessor & Appraisal
Chouteau County Attorney
Chouteau County Clerk & Recorder
Chouteau County Clerk of Court
Chouteau County Disaster
& Emergency Services
Chouteau County Sheriff/Coroner
Chouteau County Library
Board Of County Commissioners
Located on the first floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-3631
Clay Riehl
Bob Pasha
Rick Darlington
Functions: Administrates County Government.
Chouteau County Assessor & Appraisal
Located at: Great Falls, MT
Bryce VanOverbeke
(406) 454-7460
Website: (note: currently being updated)
https://mtrevenue.gov/government/pad-local/
Functions: This office is administered by the Montana Dept. of Revenue. Responsibilities include
discovering and valuing all taxable real and personal property, maintaining ownership records,
preparing annual assessment rolls and state reports and determining which properties qualify for
property tax reduction or exemption.
Chouteau County Attorney
Located on the second floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-3246
Functions: The Chouteau County Attorney is an elected official who serves as both the public
prosecutor for the State of Montana and as the legal advisor for all county officials within Chouteau
County. The County Attorney's office is divided into two divisions: Criminal and Civil.
Stephen Gannon
Chouteau County Clerk & Recorder
Located on the first floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-5151
Functions: The Chouteau County Clerk and Recorder is an elected official who provides the
primary administrative function for recording and maintaining the majority of all the legal
documents relating to real estate records, land descriptions, county birth and death records and
the records of the Board of County Commissioners.
Lana Claassen
Chouteau County Clerk of Court
Located on the second floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-5024
Functions: The Chouteau County Clerk of Court provides the primary administrative function for
the District Court of the 12th Judicial District Court. The office issues marriage licenses, and
handles several case types including Civil, Probate, and Guardian/Conservator.
Rick Cook
Chouteau County Disaster & Emergency Services
Located in the basement of the courthouse
Chouteau County Courthouse
(406) 622-3751
website: http://www.chouteaucountydes.com/
Functions: Prepares and manages plans and programs directed at disaster preparedness and
coordination of response and recovery. This service is mandated by State Law (10-3-401 MCA) and
is provided to the City and County by mutual aid agreement.
Deb Gessaman - DES/EMS Coordinator
dgessaman@gmail.com
Kellie Butler - Deputy DES/Mapping &
Addressing Coordinator
kelliebutler328@gmail.com
Chouteau County Extension Service
Located in the courthouse annex
(406) 622-3751
Functions: The Montana State
University/Chouteau County Extension Office
provides educational resources in Agriculture,
4-H/Youth, Family and Consumer Sciences.
For additional information please visit our
home page at chouteau.msuextension.org
County Agent: Tyler Lane
tyler.lane@montana.edu
County Agent: Janell Barber
janellb@montana.edu
Administrative Assistant: Deb Evans
deborah.evans@montana.edu
Chouteau County Library
Located at: 1518 Main Street
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
(406) 622-5222
Fax: (406) 622-5294
fblibrary@itstriangle.com
Functions: The Chouteau County Library, along with its branch libraries in Big Sandy and
Geraldine, is committed to serving the county's residents as an accessible center of reliable
information, without restrictions of censorship or violation of privacy. The Chouteau County Library
is the oldest county library in the state of Montana; established in 1918.
For additional information please visit our home page at https://www.chouteaucountylibrary.net/
Library Director: Emily Wicks
Chouteau County Mental Health Service
Located at: 1020 13th Street
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
(406) 622-5414
Functions: The Mental Health and Services Division develops, mobilizes and manages resources
for mental health services to residents of Chouteau County. The Division is responsible for
providing or contracting for a continuum of counseling services, assessment and referral to adults,
adolescents and children with mental health issues. The Division facilitates access and authorizes
reimbursement to providers.
Chouteau County Sheriff/Coroner
Located at 1215 Washington
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
Non-Emergencies (406) 622-5451
Functions: The Chouteau County Sheriff s department is responsible for law enforcement and
public safety throughout the county including the towns of Big Sandy, Geraldine, Loma, Carter,
Highwood, and Square Butte. Among the Sheriff s responsibilities includes:
•
crime prevention & investigation
•
detention center administration & enhanced 9-1-1 dispatch
•
coroner duties
•
fire warden duties, including issuing of burning permits
•
civil process & bailiff duties
•
search and rescue
Chouteau County Superintendent of Schools
Located on the second floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-3242
Functions: The County Superintendent of Schools provides general supervision of public schools
in the county. Assists trustees with school supervision. Provide for supervision to any school with
an enrollment of fewer than 150 students and not under the supervision of a district
superintendent or principal. Administer oaths of office to trustees.
Rick Cook
Chouteau County Treasurer
Located on the first floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-5032
Functions: This office is the collection and distribution center for all taxes in Chouteau County,
including annual re-registration and titling of cars, trucks and other motorized vehicles (boats,
motor homes, snowmobiles, trailers, motorcycles, special mobile equipment, gross vehicle weight
charges).
Toni Eckhoff
Department of Child & Family Services
Located at 1020 13th Street
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
(406) 622-5414
Functions: The Department of Child and Family Services is the office that investigates and
provides protective services to children who are abused or neglected. Their mission is to keep
children safe and families strong. They also may provide assistance in referring families to support
services to help preserve the family unit.
Department of Public Health
Located at 1020 13th Street
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
(406) 622-3771
Functions: The Chouteau County Department of Public Health is responsible for promoting and
protecting the health of Chouteau County citizens. The major areas within the department are
Personal Health Services, which provides services to prevent illnesses and chronic diseases;
Environmental Health, which monitors and responds to environmental conditions and issues that
may impact the public's health; chemical dependency and developmental disabilities services; and
Administration, which provides for the management and oversight of the department and includes
a role in community leadership and planning.
Angel Johnson, FNP
Justice of the Peace Court
Located in the courthouse basement
406-622-5502
Functions: The office of Justice of the Peace is set up by the Constitutional and Statutory
Authority for the purpose of administering justice to the citizens of Chouteau County and the State
of Montana. The Courts must enforce its judgments, orders and process; control the conduct of its
employees; administer oaths, perform weddings, and comply with Constitutional Law and
Statutory Law.
Seth Broesder
Chouteau County Planning Office
Located in the courthouse basement
(406) 495-6153
Functions: The County Planning Department provides land use planning and development
services to resident of Chouteau County. Duties of the Department include:
• Supporting the County Commission and County Planning Board on land use issues.
• Managing and administering the County’s Development Regulations.
• Managing and administering the County’s Subdivision Regulations.
• Review of certificates of survey and exemptions from subdivision review.
Website: Planning Office
Jerry Grebenc
jgrebenc@greatwesteng.com
Chouteau County Courthouse
1308 Franklin Street
Fort Benton, Montana
Chouteau County Departments
Services: Chouteau County offers a wide range of services
to the residents of the County, as well as outside visitors.
Below is a directory for the various offices serving the
people of Chouteau County.
Chouteau County Courthouse
1308 Franklin Street
Fort Benton, Montana
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday 8 AM to 5PM
Closed on all Major Holidays.
Board Of County Commissioners
Located on the first floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-3631
Clay Riehl
Bob Pasha
Daren Schuster
Chouteau County Assessor & Appraisal
Located at: Great Falls, MT
Bryce VanOverbeke
(406) 454-7460
Website: (note: currently being updated)
https://mtrevenue.gov/government/pad-local/
Chouteau County Attorney
Stephen Gannon
Located on the second floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-3246
Chouteau County Clerk & Recorder
Lana Claassen
Located on the first floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-5151
Chouteau County Clerk of Court
Rick Cook
Located on the second floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-5024
Disaster & Emergency Services
Deb Gessaman - DES/EMS Coordinator
Kellie Butler - Deputy DES/Mapping & Addressing
Coordinator
Located in the basement of the courthouse
Chouteau County Courthouse
(406) 622-3751
website: http://www.chouteaucountydes.com/
Chouteau County Extension Service
County Agent: Tyler Lane
County Agent: Janell Barber janellb@montana.edu
Administrative Assistant: Deb Evans
Located in the courthouse annex
(406) 622-3751
Website: chouteau.msuextension.org
Chouteau County Library
Library Director: Emily Wicks
Located at: 1518 Main Street
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
(406) 622-5222
Fax: (406) 622-5294
fblibrary@itstriangle.com
Chouteau County Mental Health Service
Located at: 1020 13th Street
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
(406) 622-5414
Chouteau County Sheriff/Coroner
Vern Burdick, Sheriff/Coroner
ccsomt@yahoo.com
Website: http://chouteaucosomt.com/
Located at 1215 Washington
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
Non-Emergencies (406) 622-5451
Chouteau County Superintendent of Schools
Rick Cook
Located on the second floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-3242
Chouteau County Treasurer
Toni Eckhoff
Located on the first floor of the courthouse
(406) 622-5032
Department of Child & Family Services
Located at 1020 13th Street
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
(406) 622-5414
Angel Johnson, FNP
Located at 1020 13th Street
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
(406) 622-3771
Department of Public Health
Susan Spencer
Located in the courthouse basement
(406) 622-3069
Justice of the Peace Court
Chouteau County Planning Office
Jerry Grebenc
jgrebenc@greatwesteng.com
Located in the courthouse basement
(406) 622-3035 or 406-495-6153
Website: Planning Office
Chouteau County Courthouse
1308 Franklin Street
Fort Benton, Montana
Chouteau County, Montana
