[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6193103,"mediaKeyId","3868276-61224b443be876aeb5cd27193d1c453e","parentId",3868276,"title","West Valley, Frenchtown residents press for information on proposed Town Pump; county explains limits of commissioner authority","audioSeconds",724,"startMs",728000,"endMs",3448,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868276-61224b443be876aeb5cd27193d1c453e&start=728&end=3","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868276-61224b443be876aeb5cd27193d1c453e/thumbnail_728000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193103/Missoula-County/Montana/West-Valley-Frenchtown-residents-press-for-information-on-proposed-Town-Pump-county-explains-limits-of-commissioner-authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193103-048a99cd641844e260f49b8d95a35ed7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166071&Signature=UOMnbDiGg6UXNyDiqij4UlrimEv2L0V84ZE1dnz9wcVqpY-zd0Yidp38NWPVY1zjod4GmVKSmscP2eP53nJQ6XWvbneuTBAamh1ulLWMSZu4H~ziAk~u9b3CC0O63UnUBee44gm1PqI9M9LBMitfDjZZ1FOWJl7l7BC5DIxgv7ZqzdTE7hqKIRwQEJxtq5fuqnHZiDo8nHWK2j2ArtXhPOOy9FImqq3OpNgUiJ2XCShTzzh8RnQ~7r75XBe~nfE-k~2zK7ixRzd1foAWJlFaIZCUnSOqAjnQu0aECpS9IMfcVxHw9vvPxykLIMg7B3Ry-O-lpZ9Q8lzzJJq~FJgObg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Missoula County, WI ","date","2025-06-19T20:44:00.617Z","article","West Valley Community Council members said they will hold a special meeting July 10 to hear residents’ questions and concerns about a proposed Town Pump development near the Frenchtown overpass, and county officials described the narrow circumstances under which the Board of County Commissioners would have decision authority.

\"I wouldn't I would invite you to, or or suggest that, you invite someone from Town Pump to come out because this is their project, apparently. I mean, I I have no details whatsoever about this, and this is not going to be something that will ever come before the commission. We have no decision space in this whatsoever,\" a county official said during the meeting while urging direct dialogue between the developer and the community.

Council members said rumors and online petitions have driven community concern. \"People were there to voice their concerns, and so we voted to have a special meeting in July just to talk about that,\" West Valley member Kelly German Williams said about the council's action to schedule the meeting. The council set the meeting for Thursday, July 10, at 6 p.m.

County staff and commissioners explained the distinction between projects that require only administrative permits (building permits, land use permits and health department reviews) and proposals that trigger commission review under state law. A county official described a category sometimes called \"buildings for lease or rent,\" which can trigger governing-body review; ordinary building permits for compliant projects do not.

The meeting included guidance on how residents can get authoritative information: county staff named Karen Hughes, director of the Planning, Development and Sustainability Division, and Tim Worley as staff resources; they gave a planning contact email, zoner@missoulacounty.us, and a phone number, (406) 258-4642, for zoning questions.

Speakers urged the community to request direct information from the project proponent. Council members said Town Pump has not provided public-facing project materials and that residents want clear answers. County staff suggested news items or a page on the new county website explaining why certain projects do not come before the commissioners.

The council and staff discussed citizen-initiated zoning as a concept but were clear that community councils do not have authority to enact zoning. A county staff member said citizen-initiated zoning is possible in principle but that its timeline and process likely will not affect the immediate Town Pump proposal. The county also noted a broader process is under way to update the county’s comprehensive growth policy, which would precede any zoning changes and set longer-term land-use vision.

Quotes above are drawn directly from the June meeting transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","All Community Council Town Hall June 18,2025","oneSentenceSummary","West Valley Community Council scheduled a July 10 special meeting to address resident concerns about a proposed Town Pump near the Frenchtown overpass; county staff explained most building permits are handled administratively and said the commission often has no decision authority.","taxTitle","Missoula County, Montana","taxId",4049,"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},6193108,"Missoula County previews redesigned website, plans community 'profile' pages and local subscription options",1551,57000,1608000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868276-61224b443be876aeb5cd27193d1c453e&start=57&end=1608","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868276-61224b443be876aeb5cd27193d1c453e/thumbnail_57000.jpg","/articles/6193108/Missoula-County/Montana/Missoula-County-previews-redesigned-website-plans-community-profile-pages-and-local-subscription-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193108-4579a0d2ab8220e42004ed3329fb3c36/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166071&Signature=EmXU0Uw7XQF7Zyn6eSrLxFnsednRt8zPyeKibkfHfCrmvng6E1EeXBVy~wyl0eS7s~lqB6hTyVJjUcIwNsf6-x-7Jxs8ZeAT8KYXthQm88kX6YsFgfPFCGcxIQsVFTbUAzBecSDJtSf-ymg7GtdIrqPsRC70bHkZcIEZcHFU68ysfimOzPcXU-hSkBqRTB10UtXrCM5fnaxaWQagDDLBds0mV2GtnhwUAHXyK0HJf3UOjOJcEk1A82VglcVhCikS~tPtmMd5hN3UzmpEZtYquYWxIUKnJzLT~exkFWxmHslBs2lBDbItIaeh~wUib8PUiIZS2rSNsCS~eg2LXVnfwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Missoula County communications staff previewed a redesigned county website and announced plans for community-specific profile pages that will list projects, offer localized signups and surface frequently sought services.

The update was presented by Allison Franz, communications manager for Missoula County, and Carrie Powers, communications coordinator. \"We also have a weekly e newsletter that goes out each Monday. It's called the Missoula County Weekly,\" Franz said, adding that the county’s engagement platform, Missoula County Voice, will continue to host project pages and public comment opportunities.

The county’s redesign aims to improve search and mobile access and to create landing pages for specific communities, Franz said. \"The goal of these new pages is gonna be two or threefold,\" Franz said, describing quick links for registering to vote, signing up for emergency alerts and highlighting projects for communities such as Lolo and East Peninsula. Powers said the pages will be modular so staff can add news items, project updates or community newsletters quickly.

Why it matters: the county said the pages are intended to give rural and neighborhood residents an easier way to find projects and meeting notices relevant to their area without needing to dig through the full department-structured site.

County staff said the new pages will integrate with Missoula County Voice so that projects the county has decision authority over will appear on the appropriate community page. \"This would just pull projects directly from Missoula County Voice and the projects that are on that side are projects that the County has some authority in,\" Franz said.

Staff noted the engagement coordinator position — the role that most directly connects with community councils — is vacant and expected to be filled this summer. Franz said that once filled, that position will be connected with the community councils.

Communications staff also described other outreach tools: social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram), a twice-monthly podcast called The Agenda with the Missoula County Commissioners and a weekly digest email sign-up at missoula.co/subscribe. Powers demonstrated mobile and desktop mockups and said the county IT department has given communications more flexibility to update pages quickly.

In other outreach news, staff reminded councils that the county’s microgrant application is open monthly until funds are exhausted; the presenter said about $3,000 remained in the microgrant fund at the time of the meeting. Commissioners’ office staff also reminded members about summer commissioner ride-alongs and asked interested council members to contact Christina in the commissioners’ office.

Quotes above are taken verbatim from meeting remarks by Allison Franz and Carrie Powers at the June meeting.

The county did not announce an exact launch date but said the website should go live by the end of the summer and that staff will solicit public feedback once the site is available.","County communications staff showed a preview of a reorganized Missoula County website that will include community profile pages, localized project listings and subscription options; staff also said the engagement coordinator position will be filled this summer and reminded councils about microgrants and commissioner ride-alongs.","actionData","errors"]

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West Valley, Frenchtown residents press for information on proposed Town Pump; county explains limits of commissioner authority

Missoula County previews redesigned website, plans community 'profile' pages and local subscription options