Lolo council debates RSID upgrade letter, stops short of final position

The Lolo Community Council debated a draft letter to Missoula County commissioners about proposed RSID upgrades, but members did not adopt a single, binding position by the end of the meeting.

The discussion focused on three recurring concerns council members said they had heard from residents: whether annual assessments are equitable, how quickly new sewer and water connections (equivalent dwelling units) should be released, and whether hookup fees should be larger than the $10,000-per-connection figure the county proposed in its recent notice. "I think we ought to send them a letter to let them know what maybe we've heard," Council member Steve Major said as he introduced the draft.

Why it matters: Council members said changes to the RSID could alter maintenance assessments for current customers and enable significant growth if many new connections are released. Multiple speakers urged broader outreach to ensure residents who lack internet access or who do not follow meetings receive accurate information before commissioners finalize decisions.

Key details and debate

- Assessmen…