Community Briefs

Recycling & Hazardous Waste Disposal Available Sept. 16 & Sept. 17

MISSOULA - An opportunity for residents to bring household toxics such as pesticide, oil, antifreeze, oil-based paint, thinners, fuel, mercury etc for safe disposal. Most items are accepted for free. Non-Missoula County residents and all businesses pay for disposal.

For specific items accepted and associated costs, visit http://www.hazwastemissoula.com or call 258-4890. Event runs 9 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sept. 17, at the Missoula City Shops Building, 1305 Scott Street, Missoula.

American Red Cross Blood Drive, Sept. 19

SEELEY LAKE — The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood to help ensure a stable and diverse blood supply for patients in need. There will be a blood drive in Seeley Lake, Monday, Sept. 19 from 11:45 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., at Mission Bible Fellowship (MBF), 3158 Hwy 83.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call MBF at 677-2110. Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to help reduce wait times.

Resource Team Assessment of Seeley Lake Sept. 20

SEELEY LAKE - Montana Department of Commerce and the Seeley Lake Community Foundation will host a Resource Team Assessment Sept. 20. Members of the community are invited to participate in any or all of the sessions.

The resource team of eight is a panel of knowledgeable individuals from outside the community who are actively involved in some area of rural community development. 

The team will host listening sessions all day Sept. 20 and share their findings at a town meeting that evening at the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitors Center beginning at 6 p.m. This is an opportunity for the community to share their thoughts and opinions about Seeley Lake. All sessions are open to everyone.

The team will listen to the responses to these questions:

• What are the strengths and assets of Seeley Lake?

• What are Seeley Lake’s opportunities?

• What vision do you have for the future of Seeley Lake? 

• What would you like to see happen in 2, 5, 10, 20 years?

The resource team will assist the Seeley Lake Community Foundation by developing an objective community assessment based on community input, holding listening sessions for the community at large, facilitate a town meeting and delivering a team report to the community.

For the complete listening session schedule or information about the resource team please contact the Seeley Lake Community Foundation 406-677-3506 or email annebeach@slcfmt.org

Open House to Discuss Swan River Draft Floodplain Maps, Sept. 20

SWAN VALLEY – Missoula County is working with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update floodplain maps for the Swan River within Missoula County. They will host an Open House Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 6-7 p.m. at the Swan Valley Community Hall. The community is invited and encouraged to attend.

Revising the existing floodplain maps is a key step in providing the best available data to help keep families, homes, roads and other infrastructure safe. The draft floodplain maps will eventually replace existing floodplain maps for the Swan River that were produced in the late 1970s. Since the proposed map changes will affect certain properties, the county and DNRC will host a public open house to give property owners an early look at the draft maps and provide them with key information related to the identified flood-prone areas.

What Will Be Discussed

• The status of the Swan River floodplain mapping update project and what comes next.

• Which properties will be affected by the proposed floodplain map changes.

• How draft map data could affect your property, property insurance regulations, new development and more.

• How floodplain maps help keep families, homes and infrastructure safe from flood risk.

Missoula County Parks and Trails Matching Grant Applications Due Oct. 31

 MISSOULA - The Missoula County Parks and Trails Advisory Board wants to hear ideas for a project in a County Park or other public recreation facility. 

These grant funds allow the Missoula County Parks, Trails & Open Lands Program to partner with dedicated community members interested in improving and maintaining public parkland. There is $40,000 of funding available for Capital Improvement projects and $10,000 for Maintenance projects on county parks, trails and recreation sites outside the Missoula city limits. Grant recipients are reimbursed for half the cost of the project, not exceeding the award amount.

Matching Grant applications are due Monday, Oct. 31.

 Matching Grant Program changes: There will only be one call for grant applications for Fiscal Year 2017, as opposed to a Fall and Spring call. Applications will be reviewed throughout late Fall 2016. The Parks and Trails Advisory Board will vote on projects at their January 2017 meeting.    

 Grant applications can be found online at: http://tinyurl.com/Matching-Grants or by visiting the CAPS office at 323 W. Alder for a print copy.

For questions, application, or to discuss a project idea, please contact Parks & Trails Coordinator John Stegmaier at 406-258-3458, jstegmaier@missoulacounty.us