[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6206507,"mediaKeyId","3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf","parentId",3762321,"title","Commission approves EMS medical-director contract; EMS manager reports training gains and AED expansion","audioSeconds",76,"startMs",776000,"endMs",852000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf&start=776&end=852","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf/thumbnail_776000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6206507/Flathead-County/Montana/Commission-approves-EMS-medical-director-contract-EMS-manager-reports-training-gains-and-AED-expansion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206507-2038efc7f09cf48d08582ac9b333f873/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153027&Signature=nSlKSMK5SglSA6CFeFwFMfE4QuXptDnAq9wjkcYwaJ-KzeXGTPfpyjPng2-LiiKRdA5bGLbvoqIcORRIUMVWfmj4tcp2m7fjna2Wx6fnIpnkBIuzdyHG5nsT1l5EMfW-6pYhvaghUOrC9eStP5RpAZ5Lqnhq2u6LCU8q7cHfIxD3YaEHxLFfrpNbKEQNiMi3ir~Me2tr~haH2DTxYPTuGvWQBUSyPWyZ70QxcZrIrfF9tARaaz9wmGzIQCSq5XL8c5U6dzpud7g64PHOx3ytEz3Ez4P~OCE-NBj9HHOzKpWTP0aDCW2lEoJhlu7DeySEDuHjCaNMELbyk7AmQuq4tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MT / Flathead County ","date","2025-06-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Flathead County Commission approved a one-year medical director professional services contract for county EMS on Tuesday, and EMS Program Manager Alan Brown gave a round of training and equipment updates.

Brown reported that a cohort of 20 EMT students completed their class in March; 18 had taken and passed the National Registry tests and obtained EMT licenses, while two students had not yet scheduled testing. “I looked on National Registry the other day and 18 have tested and passed and have obtained their EMT license,” Brown said.

Brown described recent and planned trainings including classes from the American Heart Association, pediatric advanced life support and prehospital trauma life support, plus a locally offered “sick, not sick” scenario-based course that drew 74 attendees and a train-the-trainer option. He also reported acquisition of training devices (EOLIFE trainers and devices) to improve ventilation training and patient care.

Brown said the county is managing AEDs obtained through a Helmsley grant administered by the state’s Department of Public Health and Human Services; the county currently has 76 AEDs in the field and expects 15 more. The grant provides replacement pads within two days after an AED is used. Brown said deputies have used AEDs to return pulses on patients before EMS arrival.

Commissioners voted in favor of the medical director contract by voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Flathead County Commissioner's Meeting June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Flathead County commissioners approved a one-year medical director professional services contract for EMS. EMS program manager reported that 18 of 20 recent EMT students had passed national registry exams, new training equipment and AED procurement under a Helmsley grant are expanding capabilities.","taxTitle","Flathead County, Montana","taxId",56557,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6206512,"Commissioners approve most preliminary-plat extensions, deny one; set zone-change hearing for Evergreen property",1470,3600000,5070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf&start=3600&end=5070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6206512/Flathead-County/Montana/Commissioners-approve-most-preliminary-plat-extensions-deny-one-set-zone-change-hearing-for-Evergreen-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206512-c0573a2f1e4f0a9d1a30bc2529947818/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153027&Signature=Sr7MOTW6ZkHx7Z-L1ZOteotUvytRXWjElntSbR5RE4c~shxUdAqg1rvjR~pw~gqsbGGQ5kH5heHcxUkOAz-oHhQ7nr2v8Dfxzq598xM5NEYzLGiEBx8VciebtQAnI4BTYb3vSk6xB4aDIpytluw~s7FIVgN~DiTrYho08uBYT-EPKsixDCqYpfORRjVdwkPgatfBsTJ4EFyhjp60C28HLXWvRHroVM5euOrCygQd-2EiphDAujY6NMfJXJ5yr9bG79P3-m-17DuRJ5Yadqkp8e9FS~gT5IJ~uAwKccpSRyKFj7XiNr994wDLBeFkHNszGUbEINnDRTp27mjZ1utTHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Flathead County Commission on Tuesday approved several preliminary-plat extension requests, denied one request where the commission found no substantial progress, and authorized a public hearing for a zone-change request in the Evergreen zoning district.

Planner Larissa Van Reet presented the Canyon Creek Estates request, noting the subdivision originally received preliminary approval on Sept. 8, 2022, and the developer seeks additional time while coordinating required road improvements with the county road and bridge department. The commission approved the extension by voice vote.

The board also approved a requested extension for Hilltop Park; Van Reet said the site previously received approvals and extensions but the applicant currently has several vacated manufactured homes and junk vehicles on-site that must be removed before final platting. Commissioners said the extension will give the owner time to remove the vehicles and complete required improvements.

A different request for the project identified as \"The Story\" drew objections from commissioners, who said no construction work had started in several years. The applicant reported that an investor pulled out and that DEQ approval exists but that financing remains unresolved. Commissioner discussion focused on fairness and precedent for repeated extensions; a motion to deny the extension carried.

The Llewellyn Minor Subdivision received a one-year extension; the planner said the developer has completed much of the required work and aims to finish before DEQ approval expires in March 2026.

Finally, the board authorized publication of a public-notice for a proposed zone change at 1890 Whitefish Stage (Evergreen Zoning District) proposing a change from SAG-10 to I-1; a hearing was scheduled for Aug. 5 at 10 a.m.

Commissioners voted on each item by voice and recorded motions as passed except for the denial of \"The Story\" extension.","The commission approved preliminary-plat extensions for Canyon Creek Estates, Hilltop Park and the Llewellyn minor subdivision, denied an extension for \"The Story\" after finding little progress, and authorized publication of a public-hearing notice for an Evergreen zoning change scheduled Aug. 5.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6206518,"Commissioners sign DNRC fire grants, county fire managers report fuel-reduction and community outreach plans",625,658000,1283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf&start=658&end=1283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf/thumbnail_658000.jpg","/articles/6206518/Flathead-County/Montana/Commissioners-sign-DNRC-fire-grants-county-fire-managers-report-fuel-reduction-and-community-outreach-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206518-71ba47b03151f0121686ad11596dbe6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153027&Signature=Jyrocn0mfshV~absk5A-M9D0QyDEJ73JuoJqJvQY6~ufLCGDnZiB8WFsHwFYUru4Y3sHkYJGvnaF9nSNT1o9xa76hJx64XJ2sXjDDtnjoURv1MCY9JjNFCVxatAwPXv-c1hKE-obxqVw7PrGc331tMiN1qSemhZF6IdSC5Sp28goZ1r6k8h2~bDFk-EKh5U~9arWMtftxXFNZTI253dWI6jxqfaRn7OruKPjezP2MqhhVnfQRF1vNnGxXbetOJRga65hinlIvkkZnZ0sFnNh~h1kSEe9IJodhG6C8FcUBjj1uZkf6M8Le7Ec1LSNxoZf9GvRjFIpG9g26bls1Bo87A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Flathead County Commission on Tuesday signed a DNRC Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) pass-through grant and a cooperative fire support agreement, measures county officials said will help equip volunteer fire districts and enable reimbursement for county resources used during larger wildland incidents.

Lincoln Chute, fire service area manager, described the VFA agreement as a pass-through grant that provides personal protective equipment, pumps and hoses to volunteer fire districts; he said most local districts are roughly 80% volunteer. “This is a pass through grant… it’s strictly a pass through grant,” Chute told commissioners.

The commission approved the document for signature (DNRC VFA agreement VFA-25-620) by voice vote. The board later approved a DNRC cooperative fire support agreement that allows county departments (for example road and bridge) to be used under an Option 3 arrangement, in which the county submits a bill at the hourly rate (including retirement and all labor costs) when resources are requested.

Lincoln Jewett, fire service area manager, and other county emergency officials described outreach and fuel-reduction work planned for the season. Jewett said staff have been briefing homeowner associations on home ignition-zone work and that a Minne Lakes fuel-reduction grant under development could cover roughly 50 to 75 acres locally while another grant application could cover about 100 acres. He said the county is supporting fuel reduction at Moonee Lakes and thinning at Heron Park to reduce low-intensity fire risk.

Jewett said the county will accelerate preparedness meetings and readiness checks because of an unusually dry spring and early warming and noted coordination with the Bridal County hotshot crew based in Hungry Horse for structure-protection guidance.

The commission also approved a professional services contract for a medical director for EMS and heard a separate EMS training report (see separate article).","Flathead County Commissioners approved a DNRC Volunteer Fire Assistance pass-through grant and a DNRC cooperative fire support agreement; county fire managers outlined outreach, fuel reduction projects at county parks and coordination with hotshot crews and home-owner associations ahead of a dry season.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6206524,"Flathead County IT reports domain migration complete, firewall problems and tight Windows 11 timeline ahead of 911 cutover",93,105000,198000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf&start=105&end=198","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf/thumbnail_105000.jpg","/articles/6206524/Flathead-County/Montana/Flathead-County-IT-reports-domain-migration-complete-firewall-problems-and-tight-Windows-11-timeline-ahead-of-911-cutover","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206524-735effb2ec477ca47f06af6b1fd8a23b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153027&Signature=iaO-sVhKZtEgMX74Dskv1EwhG~kvW6ULsPP6Yfrrw03ogkqxn~30IiC40HMOwkK-7CKjGebEw9kgSoyfmKXfp2hXEoesJaD0Ip2sJj9P3DmBrUdOX5ruMuerGFyF6y6nzVKn8ilhS~S0vx79FTSDEq-243yWVHLlnz49rtbfBqlK2IEobR15qSsTREeeC2lC~j~dEZ9ef6nJs6hrdXhlelNGB-HfSh7BtnWCCAPKYoTmVG5uqyAGNoOgWfWpg2iTJFE91qS~sFR1CBqZHvEHqVWxMAyN~4jo9lQjc2YnBU97vtLtdIFJ1c-Cf9W8LNBT6ai0ti-8ceo-rRIZYcs0rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Flathead County IT Director Justin Miller told the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that the county finished a domain migration in March, has finalized licensing plans, and is working through a problematic firewall replacement while preparing for a tight Windows 11 upgrade schedule tied to a dispatch software cutover.

Miller said the domain migration completed in March and that licensing needs for fiscal year 2026 have been finalized, enabling the county to eliminate duplicate software and begin migrating remaining public calendars department by department. “Our domain migration was successfully completed in March,” he said.

Miller described an attempted firewall replacement on May 15 that caused outages for online tax payments and other services; the team reverted to legacy SonicWall equipment while troubleshooting with the vendor. “The firewall equipment is sort of the table in that game. And so when you bump things or you move things at the bottom, if you don't get it right, everything falls,” Miller said.

He said the county is hiring additional IT staff, including a recently started tech support specialist (May 19) and a 9-1-1 technology program manager who began the day before the meeting, and that radio communications administrator interviews are underway.

Miller also briefed commissioners on a domain change for the FECC 9-1-1 center: the center’s current flathead911.mt.gov address will be moved under the county domain to flatheadcounty.gov to comply with state restrictions and to allow cross-organization calendar sharing and resource booking.

On desktop upgrades, Miller said the county is upgrading Windows 10 machines that can run Windows 11 and is preparing options because the New World dispatch system cutover is planned for September while Windows 11 support sunsets in October. “We have a super tight window, and we're gonna have multiple options to get us where we need to go,” he said.

Miller said the IT team is assembling a 10-year roadmap that will incorporate FECC projects; he expects to present the roadmap to the county administrator and commission staff in July or August.","IT Director Justin Miller told commissioners the county completed a domain migration in March, is replacing firewall equipment after a failed cutover, plans to migrate FECC into the county domain, and must upgrade many machines to Windows 11 before a New World dispatch cutover in September.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6206529,"State, tribal and federal trustees outline damage-assessment plan for Columbia Falls Aluminum site; public comment extended",180,5400000,5580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf&start=5400&end=5580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3762321-0e27c01d1f6515f42aca0731b646b1bf/thumbnail_5400000.jpg","/articles/6206529/Flathead-County/Montana/State-tribal-and-federal-trustees-outline-damage-assessment-plan-for-Columbia-Falls-Aluminum-site-public-comment-extended","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206529-6aa2db96ec59a25b288d624d57994268/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153027&Signature=LHAnRNG~YexSSw-nU6ujY~-Pz~uYhlr4RDOMjzV10rTLXfIkJcozxfzneruCFlWQKuxI0dpWkfspNgdPZ9-A5OnJXTyyN2Jif9tgiyokA30E3jRV9oIqPIkxeYtGtkarYU4p9E75ALC-jgzNM~4GQRfezvQoZVQre2lUSORVKTgm9dCOKXWB2gSOM7hOyGUy~NZOhISuvUPJfl97KwW5QXI3F-NIHOiQXO3Pm~Ffo~zOUzK2sWSXaPzkoMA43ErlGborSRFVhV9Dk4rStg3vbAfsWNmf8DB8lpePspOMB9fRt4e9wnXWH0Nqy2l4IhORMycmTmBZhi0ZLWlwOH~1Nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montana Natural Resource Damage Program scientists on Tuesday presented a draft natural resource damage (NRD) assessment plan for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company (CFAC) site and said they will accept written public comments on the plan through July 23.

The draft plan, prepared by the state with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and two federal agencies, outlines assessment steps the trustees say are needed to determine whether releases from the former aluminum reduction plant injured public resources — and, if so, to quantify damages and fund restoration projects.

Trustees said the site has multiple contaminant sources, including spent potliner and sludge ponds, and named fluoride, hydrogen fluoride and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among contaminants of concern. The spatial scope will include the 1,300-acre CFAC property and “anywhere that contamination from the site has come to be located,” and the trustees said they will consider injuries and losses from 1981 forward — the earliest date for which damages can be recovered under state and federal law.

Sydney Stewart, a scientist with the Natural Resource Damage Program, summarized the plan and the assessment phases: “The meat of the assessment plan is injury determination, injury quantification, and damage determination,” she said. The trustees said injury determination will evaluate exposure pathways such as airborne emissions, runoff and groundwater discharge; injury quantification will estimate the area, volume or degree of lost services; and damage determination will identify restoration projects and costs.

Chris Stark, chief scientist for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said the tribe’s focus includes fish such as bull trout and other biological resources protected by treaty and by tribal stewardship. “When the bull trout were harmed, that's where we come in,” he said.

The trustees said they will evaluate both remediation-related effects (for example, habitat disturbance caused by cleanup work) and longer-term restoration needs. Catherine Hausrath, chief legal counsel for the NRDP, emphasized that recovered funds must be used to restore, replace or acquire the equivalent of injured resources and are held in a dedicated account, not the state general fund: “State resources will be used to assess state resources,” she said.

Trustees described proposed assessment tasks that start with compiling and evaluating existing data for water, groundwater, soils and biological resources, followed by targeted sampling or studies if data gaps remain. They said tribal cultural losses will be assessed in coordination with the CSKT and may use separate or supplementary valuation approaches.

Trustees said the NRDP’s work on this site began after interagency review and a pre-assessment screen in January 2024 that found sufficient information to proceed to a formal assessment. The program told the commission the state provided initial funding through legislation and that past NRDP claims statewide have recovered past costs as part of settlements.

The NRDP staff said a public meeting on the draft plan was scheduled in Columbia Falls the same day as the commission meeting and asked the commission and community for suggestions about local restoration projects that could serve as “exemplar” projects for damage valuation.

Written comments on the draft assessment plan will be accepted through July 23; trustees said they will respond to the public comments when the plan is finalized.","Montana's Natural Resource Damage Program and co-trustees released a draft natural resource damage assessment plan for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company site, describing contaminants, the geographic and temporal scope of assessment, and extending the written public comment period to July 23.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves EMS medical-director contract; EMS manager reports training gains and AED expansion

Commissioners approve most preliminary-plat extensions, deny one; set zone-change hearing for Evergreen property

Commissioners sign DNRC fire grants, county fire managers report fuel-reduction and community outreach plans

Flathead County IT reports domain migration complete, firewall problems and tight Windows 11 timeline ahead of 911 cutover

State, tribal and federal trustees outline damage-assessment plan for Columbia Falls Aluminum site; public comment extended