Sorted by date Results 376 - 400 of 455
SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) members addressed the Wildland-Urban Interface and Regulatory Framework sections of the Land Use Element contained in the draft growth plan at their April 17 meeting. The committee agreed with the wording of the original Wildland-Urban Interface section and voted to accept it. The Regulatory Framework section generated a lengthy discussion about the community’s aversion to regulations and zoning in the growth plan as expressed in the visioning comments and neighborhood m...
SWAN VALLEY - Newly-elected Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier introduced himself and visited with those in attendance at the Swan Valley Community Council (SVCC) April 18 meeting. SVCC candidates Nathan Richardson and Diann Ericson introduced themselves and shared why they want to serve on the council. Council member Marcia Tapp told Strohmaier that the Swan Valley is a unique community of highly motivated, hardworking individuals. “We would like you [and the other commissioners] to know us and interact with us. We want to be able t...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) school board discussed teacher contracts, proposed solutions to the budget shortfall and the 2017-2018 calendar at their April 18 meeting. The proposed budget and calendar are expected to be approved at a special meeting in the next couple of weeks. The teachers’ union and SLE staff agreed to no raises for next year. The contract negotiations included a request for a 25 minute duty-free lunch period which is similar to what is currently in place. The negotiations committee is still waiting on lan...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Community Council’s (SLCC) April 10 meeting covered a wide range of topics including the proposed gravel pit on Cottonwood Lakes Road and the Special Management Area (SMA) for septic systems in Seeley Lake. Presentations on housing and economic growth as well as the Seeley Lake Trails Project were also heard. Missoula County’s newest Commissioner Dave Strohmaier shared what he has been working on the last few months and took questions from the public. Cottonwood Gravel Pit Gary Lewis presented on the gravel pit...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley-Swan Medical Center (SSMC) gains a new dentist in July. At their April meeting, the Seeley-Swan Hospital District Board also approved the installation of two new sinks that will open another exam room for patients and allow for a half time phlebotomist. Dentist Dr. Peggy Walker (formerly Lowney) gave her notice in March of her impending move from Seeley Lake at the end of April. Partnership Health Center (PHC) hired Dentist Alyssa Harris as her replacement. Harris previously applied for the position. “We could have wai...
SWAN VALLEY - Members of the Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) discussed at length the community’s concern that the regional draft plan editing was taking too much time at their meeting March 23. They also addressed and voted on edits to the Land Use Element of the draft plan referring to community comments and edits by attorney Colleen Dowdall and journalist Suzanne Vernon. Community member Dan Maloughney said community members he talks to are wondering if this is becoming a “committee plan and not a community plan” becau...
SWAN VALLEY - Local real estate agent John Keller spoke to the Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) Thursday about his research and thoughts on Land Use in the Swan Valley. Keller told them that the Swan Valley doesn’t need land use designation. He said the valley is set up now for future growth without further zoning and regulations imposed by Missoula County. The SVRPC asked Keller to speak to their task of editing the Land Use Element of the draft growth plan. The committee is concerned with how to word the draft plan so that t...
SEELEY LAKE – At their Feb. 21 meeting, the Seeley Lake Fire District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $4,000 increase in the amount available to the Seeley Lake Fire Chief for equipment purchases. While it was understood that current chief Bob Vanden Heuvel would inform the board about any upcoming equipment purchases and get board approval should time allow, he can spend up to $5,000 without prior board approval if needed. The discussion was put on the agenda after board members were concerned about Vanden Heuvel going over his $...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) Board discussed a projected budget deficit and SLE Outside’s balance sheet at the Feb. 21 meeting. The board also received a board member’s resignation and has an upcoming election for two board positions. Next year’s budget is projected to be about $5,000 short of this year’s. Part of the problem is that this year’s budget was basically flat from the previous year while costs have climbed every year. District Clerk Sally Johnson cautioned that there might be some changes to funding due to the on...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Fire Board approved the shipping cost for the department to acquire a 2011 Polaris Ranger Crew. Seeley Lake Fire Chief Bob Vanden Heuvel feels this will expand the capabilities of the department to allow volunteers more mobility for event coverage and for assistance on wildland fires. The vehicle is free through the Firefighter Property Program with the State of Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation program. However, the district is responsible for the $1,850 shipping. Vanden Heuvel notified t...
SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) discussed and used edits and comments from the public to clarify section 2.4 New Industrial Development in the second element of the plan draft entitled Economic Development at their meeting on Jan. 24. They also addressed the goals, policies and actions pertaining to the Economic Development Element. The SVRPC accepted public comments about the wording to the draft’s New Industrial Development section, eliminated unnecessary sentences and clarified other wording. The New I...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer Board discussed options as they try to retain a $10 million funding package after the failure of the bond election. The board was also informed at their Jan. 19 regular meeting that three positions on the board are up for election this May. The district received a letter dated Dec. 14 from the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD) informing them that the funding package was no longer available as a result of the bond election failing. RD’s funding package consisted of $5.7 million i...
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake Elementary School Board discussed the SLE Outside store’s income and expense report for November 2015-November 2016 at their meeting Jan. 17. The board also accepted Sally Johnson’s resignation. Johnson will be retiring in April. The Income and Expense Report for SLE Outside gave a revenue total of nearly $233,000. Expenses reported were nearly $243,000, a $10,000 deficit. “With the dust settled after a year, I’m pleased with this number,” said Superintendent Chris Stout. “[SLE Outside’s] not just straight invent...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Board approved a 2.5 percent raise for District Administrator Lynn Richards and Maintenance staff Mark Kues at their Jan. 17 meeting. This was less than the three percent raise Seeley Lake Fire Chief Bob Vanden Heuvel recommended. The board also approved the budget, new carpet at Station 2 and the Walmart gift cards Vanden Heuvel gave to the volunteers as a Christmas gift. Vanden Heuvel first asked the board to approve a three percent raise at their November meeting. The raise was accounted f...
SWAN VALLEY - Swan Lake District of the Flathead National Forest (FNF) Ranger Rich Kehr presented updates to projects in the works for the Swan Valley, the FNF forest plan revision draft and answered questions from attendees at the Swan Valley Community Council (SVCC) meeting Jan. 17. Kehr briefly explained that community residents had concerns pertaining to wilderness expansion onto the Swan front addressed in the draft forest plan. Kehr said FNF Supervisor Chip Weber will make recommendations about the plan draft to the United States Forest...
SWAN VALLEY – The Swan Valley Community Council (SVCC) discussed the $100,000 that will be used for updating the Swan Valley Community Library at their meeting Jan. 17. They assigned the Ad Hoc Committee to ask Director of Missoula County Library Honore Bray about transferring the $100,000 to the library board so they would have control of the money. On Sept. 13, 2016 the Montana Department of Labor and Industry conducted a limited service safety and health consultation for the Swan Valley Community Hall and Library that was requested by S...
SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) discussed and edited seven paragraphs in the Regional Draft Plan at their monthly meeting Jan. 11. The paragraphs were part of the Economic Development Element under the section entitled Future Potential of Past and Current Economic Activity. The SVRPC addressed five of the paragraphs: Residential Construction, Guiding/outfitting, Resource-based recreation, Eco-tourism and Accommodations. This portion of the draft plan deals with promoting the recreation possibilities the valley...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Community Council (SLCC) heard several presentations from local organizations at their Jan. 9 meeting. Missoula Aging Services (MAS) Resource Specialist Linda Howard presented information about services available to community members age 60 and older and to persons with disabilities. Howard said she has access to a database listing more than 400 resources. People can visit her at the Seeley Lake Community Foundation office in the Bison and Bear Center and she will do a Benefit Checkup to see what services they qual...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Community Council hosted a question and answer session with experts involved in the proposed wastewater treatment plant. Voters will decide whether or not to allow the board to move forward. Ballots for the bond election are being mailed Nov. 23 and are due back to the Missoula County Elections Office Dec. 13. Seeley Lake Sewer District Vice President Mike Lindemer introduced the panel. Engineer Craig Pozega from Great West Engineering (GW) was attending to answer...
SEELEY LAKE - As of their Nov. 17 regular meeting, the Seeley Lake Sewer Board will not be sending out informational packets on the proposed wastewater treatment plant. Concerned residents discussed the possibility of sending out information on their own at the meeting. District Vice President Mike Lindemer said the district planned to publish an informational packet but hit a legal roadblock. An attorney with the public relations company the district hired to produce the packet said it would be illegal to send. Lindemer said the board was...
SEELEY LAKE – Public comment on the SLE Outside store, current school district policies for conduct on school property and the Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace were topics of discussion at the Seeley Lake Elementary School Board meeting, Nov 15. The board made no changes to the current policies. They anticipate discussing the profit and loss report for the SLE Outside store at their January meeting. Business owner Duane Anderson inquired about the profit and loss statement for the SLE Outside store. District clerk Sally Johnson said she had o...
SWAN VALLEY - At their Nov. 15 meeting, the Swan Valley Community Council (SVCC) voted to form an Ad Hoc committee to research issues that came from the proposed renovations to the Swan Valley Library and the septic system used by the Community Hall and library. SVCC chair Ken Donovan said the purpose of the meeting was to identify issues facing the community hall and library and offer solutions to be considered. “We need to consider our options as a community.” The nearly 25 attendees discussed their thoughts on how to spend the $100,000 set...
SEELEY LAKE – Based on the current budget, Seeley Lake Rural District Fire Chief Bob Vanden Heuvel does not see the financial ability to afford an Assistant Chief. However, at the monthly Fire Board meeting, Nov. 22, he continued to advocate for officer pay when assigned as Officer in Charge and for a three percent raise for both District Administrator Lynn Richards and maintenance employee Mark Kues. Board member Gary Lewis suggested having a volunteer assistant chief. Vanden Heuvel was not in favor of the idea. “I have good officers in pla...
SWAN VALLEY - Edits made with the input of local loggers to the 2.0 Economic Opportunity Element were accepted at the Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) meeting Nov. 2. SVRPC member Diann Ericson enlisted the help of local loggers to add their expertise to the section entitled 2.2 Potential of Past and Current Economic Activity. The loggers’ edits changed the focus of the paragraph from the industry declining due to pests, disease, climate change and the continuing mechanization to providing economic opportunity through r...
SWAN VALLEY - Missoula County Public Library (MCPL) Director Honore Bray presented about the MCPL Bond and Swan Valley Library improvements to nearly 40 attendees at the Swan Valley Community Council (SVCC) meeting Oct. 18. Swan Valley resident Rick Ferguson also presented the idea of a shooting range in the Swan Valley. Bray explained the $30 million library building bond that appears on the ballot this November. Bray explained that the present MCPL building is out of space. There are requests every day for more books for which there would be...
