Follow the Money, Part 2: D & R Disposal, LLC and the Montana Business Filings

Truth in Focus | Follow the Money | Part 2 of 6 | Version 1.4 (2026)

By Steven Bullcoming Haworth | Collaborator: Corry Bullcoming Haworth

What the state filings establish

Montana Secretary of State annual reports for 2021, 2022 and 2023 identify D & R Disposal, LLC as a domestic limited liability company under entity number C1084452. The filings describe the business purpose as portable toilets and waste disposal and provide a Colstrip address. The state certified the reports on April 2, 2021; March 4, 2022; and January 27, 2023.

Ernest Sprague and Alexa D Coolahan

Each of those annual reports lists Ernest Sprague as a member of the company. Alexa Coolahan is listed as its non-commercial registered agent, while the signature sections identify Alexa D Coolahan as an authorized agent. The D&R Disposal invoice in the Tribal Council’s March 2022 packet uses the shorter name Ernie Sprague. A registered agent is not automatically a company owner; that role alone does not establish financial control.

The 2021 payment connection

In the Tribal Council’s 47-page March 21, 2022 report, check #17928, dated October 25, 2021, shows a payment of $8,127 to D&R Disposal. The payment voucher lists four invoices; one dated June 18, 2021, includes a $200 septic-cleaning entry identified with former tribal President Donna Fisher. The documents establish a vendor payment and a specific service entry, but do not establish a family connection between the vendor’s listed officials and Fisher.

Separate environmental proceeding

A federal environmental proceeding involving a 2018 Lame Deer project identifies D&R Disposal in connection with subcontracted work. That matter is separate from the 2021 tribal payment; any EPA findings or penalties should be attributed to the parties actually named in the federal decision, not transferred to D&R Disposal by association.

What we still need to know

The filings supplied for review cover 2021 through 2023, not the company’s current status in 2026. We still need the 2021 procurement records, the remaining three detailed invoices, approval documents, and any relevant assistance-program eligibility rules. A request for comment was sent to Donna Fisher on November 1 concerning the D&R payment and her prior removal proceedings; no response was found in that email thread at this article’s publication. We have not verified a direct request to D&R Disposal for comment on this series. Responses, documents and corrections are welcome.

Read the original records

This reporting separates reproduced financial and administrative records from the Tribal Council’s 2022 assertions and from conclusions that would require additional proof. Responses and corrections are welcome.