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

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.