Rural Initiatives newsletter for October, 2009
IN THIS ISSUE:
All-Community Council Meeting
Lower Blackfoot Landowner BBQ
County Park Board Accepting Matching Grant Applications
Lolo Community Council Vacancies
Missoula County to Open Seeley Lake Office
BCC supports Forest Service and DNRC acquisition of Legacy Project lands
Lolo Regional Plan Update and Implementation Project
MSU Extension Forestry Mini-College
DNRC Guidelines for Development in the Wildland-Urban Interface
Seeley Lake Regional Plan Update
All-Community Council Meeting-November 18th, 2009
Community Council members will be receiving invitations to the All-Community Council meeting scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, November 18th at the Missoula Children’s Theater. The meeting will provide council members with the opportunity to exchange information and to discuss common issues with each other and Rural Initiatives staff. Attendance from at least one member from each council is requested, but all members are encouraged to attend. Watch for more information.
Lolo Community Council Vacancies-Applications Due October 6th
Re-Release: There are 2 vacancies on the Lolo Community Council. The deadline for applications is 5:00 pm, Tuesday, October 6, 2009.
Applications are available at the County Commissioners Office in the Courthouse Annex or online at: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/mcbcc/forms.htm
Missoula County to Open Seeley Lake Office
Missoula County is proud to announce a new north County office location in Seeley Lake. The County will be providing monthly office hours and services at the new location for several departments including Motor Vehicles, Recording, Elections, Rural Initiatives, Building Codes, and the Commissioners’ Office.
Missoula County will lease the office space from the Seeley Lake Fire District and share the space with Seeley Lake and Swan Valley resident deputies. The building will also serve as a back up 911 center.
The County is still in the process of finalizing a monthly calendar that will accommodate the schedules of the participating departments, but hopes to initiate several operations the first week in January. The building is located at 3360 Highway 83 North.
Lolo Regional Plan Update and Implementation Project
The Missoula County Board of County Commissioners held a joint meeting with the Lolo Community Council to determine the future of the Lolo Plan Update and Implementation Project. The general consensus at the meeting was that there is a need for continuing this project; however, it needs to be scaled down for now to focus on one or two areas. The Commissioners have directed staff to start with the area covered by the North Lolo Interim zoning and the second identified area of focus is likely to be downtown Lolo.
More information about the next steps of this project will be available soon. http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/rural/Lo...alPlan.htm
Seeley Lake Regional Plan Update
The Missoula Consolidated Planning Board will continue its discussion of the Draft Seeley Lake Regional Plan on Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. in City CouncilChambers, 140 W. Pine St. The Planning Board may need additional meetings to
complete its consideration of the Plan.
More information: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/rural/Se...alPlan.htm
Lower Blackfoot Landowner BBQ and Natural Resources Fair
The Annual Lower Blackfoot Landowner BBQ was a success! Comments from participants were overwhelmingly positive about the relevant information they received, especially from this year’s speakers on cheatgrass, Land Use Planning in Seeley Lake and
the Montana Legacy Project. About 50 people attended. Event sponsors (Missoula County Open Lands Committee, Rural Initiatives and the Weed District) would like to thank the following organizations for their participation in this year’s event:
Blackfoot Native Plants, Extension Forestry, Montana Land Reliance, The Nature Conservancy, DNRC, Forest Service, MSU Extension Invasive, Blackfoot Home and Plants Community Club, Blackfoot Cattlewomen’s, Missoula Conservation Association District, The Blackfoot Challenge, Five Valleys Land Trust
County Park Board Welcomes New Member and Reelects Officers
At their September meeting, the Missoula County Park Board welcomed new member Geoff Sutton. Geoff will serve a one-year term as 2nd Alternate thru June 30, 2009, and will have the opportunity to reapply at that time. Park Board members also re-elected Horace Brown to be Chair and Carol Fischer to be Vice Chair for 2009-10. For more information contact Lisa Moisey, Parks and Trails Manager at 258-4716.
County Park Board Matching Grants—Applications Due October 19, 2009
The Missoula County Park Board is accepting applications for fall 2009 matching grants. The deadline for fall applications is October 19, 2009. Another chance to apply will be given in the spring of 2010.
For more information or to download the application, please see our website: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Rural/Parks.htm
BCC Supports Forest Service and DNRC Acquisition of Legacy Project Lands
In September, the Board of County Commissioners supported the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC ) in their acquisition of former Plum Creek Timber Company land that is part of the Montana Legacy Project. The Commissioners highlighted the merits of increasing and maintaining large block ownership of these lands including forest and grassland health, diversity, and productivity; secured recreational access; benefits to the locally based wood products industry; and the long term economic benefits of keeping rural sprawl and subdivision out of remote areas. In a letter of support about the acquisition, the Commissioners wrote that the Montana Legacy Project “represents a benefit to all Missoula County residents, especially those in the Swan, Clearwater, Potomac, Lolo and Mill Creek areas.”
Information on the Montana Legacy Project can be found at this website: http://www.themontanalegacyproject.org/
MSU Extension Forestry Mini-College
MSU Extention Forestry is hosting the 2009 Forestry Mini-College on the campus of The University of Montana, Saturday, November 7 2009. Forestry Mini-College is a one day educational event featuring a series of short classes on a variety of forestry topics and current issues. For more information, please visit the MSU Extension Forestry website: http://www.cfc.umt.edu/extensionfores...nforms.htm
DNRC Adopts Guidelines for Development in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
Due to increasing concerns about protection of lives, property, and resources from unwanted wildfire across Montana, the Legislature devoted considerable time to wildfire and wildland-urban interface issues in the 2007 and 2009 Legislatures. As a result of the 2007 Legislature, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) was required to address development within the WUI, including but not limited to identifying best practices for development within the WUI and encouraging local government to adopt these practices.
The Guidelines are now in effect and more information is available at: http://www.dnrc.mt.gov/forestry/Fire/Prevention/
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All-Community Council Meeting
Lower Blackfoot Landowner BBQ
County Park Board Accepting Matching Grant Applications
Lolo Community Council Vacancies
Missoula County to Open Seeley Lake Office
BCC supports Forest Service and DNRC acquisition of Legacy Project lands
Lolo Regional Plan Update and Implementation Project
MSU Extension Forestry Mini-College
DNRC Guidelines for Development in the Wildland-Urban Interface
Seeley Lake Regional Plan Update
All-Community Council Meeting-November 18th, 2009
Community Council members will be receiving invitations to the All-Community Council meeting scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, November 18th at the Missoula Children’s Theater. The meeting will provide council members with the opportunity to exchange information and to discuss common issues with each other and Rural Initiatives staff. Attendance from at least one member from each council is requested, but all members are encouraged to attend. Watch for more information.
Lolo Community Council Vacancies-Applications Due October 6th
Re-Release: There are 2 vacancies on the Lolo Community Council. The deadline for applications is 5:00 pm, Tuesday, October 6, 2009.
Applications are available at the County Commissioners Office in the Courthouse Annex or online at: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/mcbcc/forms.htm
Missoula County to Open Seeley Lake Office
Missoula County is proud to announce a new north County office location in Seeley Lake. The County will be providing monthly office hours and services at the new location for several departments including Motor Vehicles, Recording, Elections, Rural Initiatives, Building Codes, and the Commissioners’ Office.
Missoula County will lease the office space from the Seeley Lake Fire District and share the space with Seeley Lake and Swan Valley resident deputies. The building will also serve as a back up 911 center.
The County is still in the process of finalizing a monthly calendar that will accommodate the schedules of the participating departments, but hopes to initiate several operations the first week in January. The building is located at 3360 Highway 83 North.
Lolo Regional Plan Update and Implementation Project
The Missoula County Board of County Commissioners held a joint meeting with the Lolo Community Council to determine the future of the Lolo Plan Update and Implementation Project. The general consensus at the meeting was that there is a need for continuing this project; however, it needs to be scaled down for now to focus on one or two areas. The Commissioners have directed staff to start with the area covered by the North Lolo Interim zoning and the second identified area of focus is likely to be downtown Lolo.
More information about the next steps of this project will be available soon. http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/rural/Lo...alPlan.htm
Seeley Lake Regional Plan Update
The Missoula Consolidated Planning Board will continue its discussion of the Draft Seeley Lake Regional Plan on Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. in City CouncilChambers, 140 W. Pine St. The Planning Board may need additional meetings to
complete its consideration of the Plan.
More information: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/rural/Se...alPlan.htm
Lower Blackfoot Landowner BBQ and Natural Resources Fair
The Annual Lower Blackfoot Landowner BBQ was a success! Comments from participants were overwhelmingly positive about the relevant information they received, especially from this year’s speakers on cheatgrass, Land Use Planning in Seeley Lake and
the Montana Legacy Project. About 50 people attended. Event sponsors (Missoula County Open Lands Committee, Rural Initiatives and the Weed District) would like to thank the following organizations for their participation in this year’s event:
Blackfoot Native Plants, Extension Forestry, Montana Land Reliance, The Nature Conservancy, DNRC, Forest Service, MSU Extension Invasive, Blackfoot Home and Plants Community Club, Blackfoot Cattlewomen’s, Missoula Conservation Association District, The Blackfoot Challenge, Five Valleys Land Trust
County Park Board Welcomes New Member and Reelects Officers
At their September meeting, the Missoula County Park Board welcomed new member Geoff Sutton. Geoff will serve a one-year term as 2nd Alternate thru June 30, 2009, and will have the opportunity to reapply at that time. Park Board members also re-elected Horace Brown to be Chair and Carol Fischer to be Vice Chair for 2009-10. For more information contact Lisa Moisey, Parks and Trails Manager at 258-4716.
County Park Board Matching Grants—Applications Due October 19, 2009
The Missoula County Park Board is accepting applications for fall 2009 matching grants. The deadline for fall applications is October 19, 2009. Another chance to apply will be given in the spring of 2010.
For more information or to download the application, please see our website: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Rural/Parks.htm
BCC Supports Forest Service and DNRC Acquisition of Legacy Project Lands
In September, the Board of County Commissioners supported the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC ) in their acquisition of former Plum Creek Timber Company land that is part of the Montana Legacy Project. The Commissioners highlighted the merits of increasing and maintaining large block ownership of these lands including forest and grassland health, diversity, and productivity; secured recreational access; benefits to the locally based wood products industry; and the long term economic benefits of keeping rural sprawl and subdivision out of remote areas. In a letter of support about the acquisition, the Commissioners wrote that the Montana Legacy Project “represents a benefit to all Missoula County residents, especially those in the Swan, Clearwater, Potomac, Lolo and Mill Creek areas.”
Information on the Montana Legacy Project can be found at this website: http://www.themontanalegacyproject.org/
MSU Extension Forestry Mini-College
MSU Extention Forestry is hosting the 2009 Forestry Mini-College on the campus of The University of Montana, Saturday, November 7 2009. Forestry Mini-College is a one day educational event featuring a series of short classes on a variety of forestry topics and current issues. For more information, please visit the MSU Extension Forestry website: http://www.cfc.umt.edu/extensionfores...nforms.htm
DNRC Adopts Guidelines for Development in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
Due to increasing concerns about protection of lives, property, and resources from unwanted wildfire across Montana, the Legislature devoted considerable time to wildfire and wildland-urban interface issues in the 2007 and 2009 Legislatures. As a result of the 2007 Legislature, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) was required to address development within the WUI, including but not limited to identifying best practices for development within the WUI and encouraging local government to adopt these practices.
The Guidelines are now in effect and more information is available at: http://www.dnrc.mt.gov/forestry/Fire/Prevention/
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