Helena Commission Appoints Alana Lake as City Manager, Vote Divides

In a closely split 3 to 2 decision on December 17, the Helena City Commission named Alana Lake as the city manager who will succeed Tim Burton. Outgoing Mayor Wilmot Collins, Commissioner Sean Logan and mayor elect Emily Dean voted to appoint Lake, while Commissioners Andy Shirtliff and Melinda Reed opposed the hire.

Commissioner Logan expressed confidence in Lake at the meeting. “I’m confident Ms. Lake will be able to effectively step into the city manager role. One of the attributes, in addition to her management and leadership strengths that I was looking for and was very, very apparent in her interactions, was a strong sense of accountability,” Logan said during Wednesday’s meeting. Reed said she had “serious concerns … about the integrity and effectiveness of this selection process.”

Lake currently serves as executive director of the Montana Public Service Commission, a post she assumed in March 2025. City officials said she has more than a decade of experience that includes military and federal law enforcement work with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and leadership of teams in criminal investigation, security and counterintelligence operations. City officials said Lake will begin in the new year, with contract negotiations pending.

The appointment follows a contentious recruitment process that attracted public comment and a lawsuit alleging violations of Montana open meeting law related to the hiring subcommittee. Commissioners debated the commission timeline for replacing the outgoing city manager amid concern that the city manager post has changed hands frequently in recent years, reducing continuity in municipal leadership.

For residents of Lewis and Clark County, the transition could affect ongoing projects, budgeting and municipal services as a new manager assumes executive duties. Lake’s background in federal and military investigations may bring a different managerial perspective and interagency experience to city government, but the divided vote and legal disputes underscore lingering questions about transparency and public trust in the process.

With contract details unresolved, the commission’s next steps will shape how quickly Lake assumes responsibilities and how the commission addresses community concerns about the selection process. Local officials have signaled a goal of moving forward while also responding to calls for clarity on process and timeline.