tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31156334880334810412024-03-13T20:21:22.089-06:00Missoula CountyWhat is local government? Who works there and what do they do? Why is their work important?
This blog is designed to answer these questions and many more. Missoula County is comprised of exceptionally hardworking employees who are committed to serving their community.
Here you will be able to learn more about our work, who we are, and how our efforts affect the public.
Thank you for your interest in Missoula County. Enjoy this blog!Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-46163288646474991632015-12-01T13:49:00.002-07:002015-12-01T13:49:59.912-07:00Busy Time of Year!<span style="color: white; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">Happy December, Missoula
County! It’s going to be a busy month ahead. Here are a few things on our
calendar that you may be interested in.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"><b>Tuesday, December 8 at 6 p.m.:</b> Commissioners will consider the Agricultural Review from our Community and Planning staff as they work through Growth Policy updates. The Commission will meet in City Council Chambers. This meeting is open to the public. More info: </span><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">http://bit.ly/1ltjAU0</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">Thursday, December 10 at 1:30 p.m.: </b><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">Parks and Trails Award presentation ceremony. Please join the Commissioners and County Parks, Trails and Open Lands staff as they present the 2015 Parks Stewardship Award. This is open to the public.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">Wednesday, December 16 at 1:30 p.m.:</b><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"> The Commissioners' Public Meeting. Meetings are held in Conference Room B14 within the County Administration Building, located at 199 West Pine Street. Topics for action consideration include family transfers, upcoming events and proclamations. Meetings are also telecast by MCAT. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">The Commissioners will hold their routine Administrative Meetings:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">Dec. 8-10 at 10 a.m. in Conference Room 206 - located at 199 West Pine Street.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">Dec. 15-17 </span><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">at 10 a.m. in Conference Room 206 - located at 199 West Pine Street.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">Dec. 22 </span><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">at 10 a.m. in Conference Room 206 - located at 199 West Pine Street.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">Dec. 29 </span><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">at 10 a.m. in Conference Room 206 - located at 199 West Pine Street.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">All Administrative meetings are open to the public. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;">Commissioners' Office will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25 in observation of the Christmas holiday.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-18436510057379260252015-10-29T13:48:00.000-06:002015-10-29T13:50:12.310-06:00Tax Bills Available Online Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Missoula County tax bills
will be mailed the first week of November to all area residents. Tax bills will
also be available online Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. Instructions to access these
bills are below. Taxes are due Dec. 10, 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Montana law requires that
taxes are due within 30 days after the tax notice is postmarked. Tax payments
will be accepted as early as Oct. 31. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Taxes can be paid:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Calisto MT', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">By mail: 200 West
Broadway, Missoula MT, 59803.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Calisto MT', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Online payment: </span><a href="https://csa.co.missoula.mt.us/itax/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">https://csa.co.missoula.mt.us/itax/</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Calisto MT', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Calisto MT', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">In-person: Missoula
County Courthouse Annex.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Calisto MT', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Courthouse drop box:
located within the west parking lot of the Courthouse.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To access tax bills online:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Calisto MT', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Visit: </span><a href="https://csa.co.missoula.mt.us/itax/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">https://csa.co.missoula.mt.us/itax/</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Calisto MT', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></li>
<ul>
<li>Searches can be completed by last name or tax ID.</li>
<li>After the query has run, click “Show Current Tax Bill”
within the middle of the screen.</li>
<li>Electronic versions of the bill can be saved or printed
from this window.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-74381378887441441212015-10-05T11:27:00.002-06:002015-10-05T11:27:39.131-06:00Dispelling Election Myths <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Euphemia, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">“When
I update my address at the post office, DMV, or any other government office, my
voter registration is updated too.”</span></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">MYTH:</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Even though your information is updated via one government agency, it does not
mean that information is updated in sister agencies. Changes in a voter’s
information require a signature, meaning your information can not be updated in
other agencies without that signature. Only one government office partners with
ours to register you and that is the Driver’s License Center. There, voters can
register to vote as they update or receive a new driver’s license. In the end,
if you’ve moved, changed your name, or opened up a new PO Box, add filling out
a new voter registration card to the list of things to update.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Euphemia, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">“If
you vote, you will be summoned to serve as a juror.”</span></h4>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">MYTH:</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
Voter registration was formerly the only source to summon jurors. However, over
time, due to huge shifts in voter registrations, vehicle registration was added
to the juror pull. This helped reduce the number of new registrations and
cancellations before and after elections and keep voter registration numbers
steady. Election Administrators rely on accurate voter registration numbers to
run a successful election (for example, they need to know how many ballots to
print!). As long as you own a car and/or are registered to vote, you will be
called for jury duty!</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Euphemia, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">“Election
voting machines are rigged because they’re programmed overseas.”</span></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">MYTH:</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">False, false, and false! Election reform kicked off after the Election of 2000
(remember the hanging chad?). Before 2000, systems and practices were not
uniform across counties or states. But after this controversy, Congress passed
the Help America Vote Act in 2002 to reform voting systems and practices. Today,
there is intense scrutiny on voting equipment and it can take years for a
voting machine to be approved. For instance, any new technology has to go
through rigorous testing at the federal level, which can take years as they
test equipment for everything (heat, cold, elevation, humidity, fire, you name
it!). After the federal certification process, voting equipment must be
certified at a state level. This can take several months of rigorous testing.
Any software or hardware associated with the voting machines goes through all
the same processes. Missoula County works with a vendor from Omaha, Nebraska
named Election Systems & Software. ES&S covers 75 percent of the United
States and is in good standing with the Election Assistance Commission. Any
programming, or technical assistance is all done domestically. In fact, our
technician who services and maintains all of our equipment is from Butte! All
of our machines are tested several times before an election to confirm their
accuracy. The greatest testament to the accuracy of our voting machines is that
the results have always been upheld when recount (ballots counted by hand) have
been done over the years.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Euphemia, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">“If
you don’t vote all the races on the ballot, it won’t count.”</span></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">MYTH: </span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">As a voter, you have the right
to vote every race on the ballot, a few, or none. If you skip a race, it will
not invalidate your ballot. When a voter opts out of a race, that blank race is
counted as an “under vote” and the remaining voted races will be counted. A
vote does not count if you make too many selections in a race. When too many
selections are made, that is called an “over vote.” But again, the remaining
races will be counted if done so correctly. Voters also do not have to vote on
every issue within the same ballot. Only those voted upon will be counted.
Those left blank will in no way invalidate your ballot.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Euphemia, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">“Absentee
ballots are not secret.”</span></h4>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">MYTH:</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> An absentee ballot packet
includes: Instructions, a ballot, a blue secrecy envelope, and a signature
envelope. The blue secrecy envelope protects the voter’s ballot from viewing as
it goes through the receiving process. For an absentee ballot to be accepted,
the signature on the outer signature envelope must be verified and accepted in
the voter database. The ballot packet is placed with other accepted ballot
packets to be reconciled. Once it has been determined that the number of
physical ballots match the number that have been recorded in the system, the
separation process begins. It is at this stage that the blue secrecy envelope
is removed from the signature envelope and is grouped with other blue secrecy
envelopes in preparation for counting. Up to this point, the ballot has not
been removed from the secrecy envelope, which prevents anyone working in this
process to see how someone has voted. Sometimes voters fear that someone will
see how they voted, so they remove their name and address from the signature
envelope. If our office receives a ballot packet without any identifying
information, which prevents us from assigning voter credit to that person, we
cannot accept that ballot.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Euphemia, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">“Ex-Convicts
cannot vote.”</span></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0in;">MYTH: </span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">This is a rule that varies
state by state, and Montana is a state that allows ex-cons to vote. If you are
serving in a penal institution, meaning a judge has sentenced you and time is
being served, you lose your right to vote. However, once you leave that penal
institution, your right to vote is reinstated. A half-way-house or probation is
not a penal institution, so even in these circumstances you can vote.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Euphemia, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">“If
you live overseas, you cannot vote.”</span></h4>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><b style="text-indent: 0in;">MYTH:</b><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> Totally false! If you are a
member of the military, whether domestic or overseas, or if you’re a U.S.
citizen residing overseas, you still maintain a right to vote. Voters living
overseas are protected by the Uniform & Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting
Act (UOCAVA) which requires that UOCAVA voters be mailed a ballot 45 days
before a federal election, have access to electronic ballots, and have the
option to return their mail ballot electronically. Missoula has roughly 600
UOCAVA voters and they have a strong voting presence! UOCAVA is a federal
program and a voter may register for this status by completing a Federal Post
Card Application. It is through this application that the voter affirms their
voting status and can list their voting preference (mail, fax, paper). Having
options to vote can ensure the voter receives a ballot and its return to our
office. Other country’s mailing systems are questionable and lengthy, therefore
by emailing or faxing a ballot adds security and confidence to voting overseas. </span></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p>Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-16295429605167109072015-10-05T11:22:00.001-06:002015-10-17T10:21:25.841-06:00Late Registration Voting Process <div class="MsoNormal">
Not all states have the option to register to vote after the
30-day deadline before an election. In fact, only ten states and the District
of Columbia have a form of late registration in place Montana is one of those
ten states! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thirty-days before an election, there is a deadline to
register to vote which is known as “close of voter registration.” In some
states, if you miss this deadline, you could potentially miss your opportunity
to participate in that election. In Montana, voters are fortunate to have Late
and Same Day Voter Registration. The 29<sup>th</sup> day before an election kicks of late
registration. Within that 29 day window, voters are able to register to vote,
update their information and receive an absentee ballot. An absentee ballot
essentially means you’re absent from the polls. Since 1999, Montana voters do
not have to list a reason for requesting an absentee ballot. Prior to that, an
absentee ballot was only issued if you were out of town or ill and could not
make it to your polling place. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Voters who have moved within Missoula County or Montana,
changed their last name, are a new registrant, or any other changes in voter
information are eligible for late registration. The voter simply provides
either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their social
security number for verification. The voter’s information is then entered into
the voter database and their information is affirmed by them signing a voter
registration card, swearing that all of the provided information is true and
correct. The final step is the voter receives voting instructions and a ballot.
Late registrants may only deposit their ballot at designated election offices,
such as the Missoula County Courthouse or Elections Center, located at the
Western Montana Fairgrounds. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Election Day, late registration transitions into same day
voter registration. The same processes in late registration applies with same
day registration. The one difference is that some voters are required to vote a
provisional ballot. Voters who move within Missoula County, or from another
county must vote provisional to ensure only one vote is counted. This is a
safeguard in case a voter cast a ballot in their old precinct, which is rarely
found. Provisional ballots are counted the Monday following the election. This
provides sufficient time to check the precinct register or previous county of
that voter to ensure another ballot was not counted. A voter who is new to the
voter database casts a regular ballot on Election Day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, the 29 days before an election, the Election Office
sees very little wait times or lines. However, on Election Day, lines do happen
with same day voter registration. The registration process on Election Day can
take 10 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on that voter’s situation. Take this
time and multiply it by the number of voters who appear, and lines are
inevitable. In 2012, the Elections Office experienced 3.5 hour wait times for
same day registration. We have changed our processes and procedures to combat
wait times. This was proven in November of 2014 with only 30 minute wait times
but the possibility of lines still remains. The highest voter turnout for an
election is during presidential years. The Missoula County Elections Office is projecting
anywhere from 2,000 to 2,500 voters to appear for same day registration in
November of 2016. We urge voters to take advantage of the 29 days before an
election and not wait until Election Day. We don’t want lines as much as the
voter wants to wait in one. As the modified, old saying goes: “vote early and
in every election!”<o:p></o:p></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-53392402270204723122015-10-05T11:19:00.003-06:002015-10-05T11:21:01.976-06:00The Life of Your Ballot <b><span style="color: blue;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Type of Election, Filing and Deadlines</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The date the election is held determines the type of ballot to be generated. School, Municipal, Special Election, Federal Primary, Federal General are the types of elections held in Missoula County. </li>
<li>The “close of candidate filing” varies from 75 days to 85 days before Election Day, depending on the type of election. In addition, ballot issues must satisfy the petition process or be passed by a governing body 70-75 days prior, depending on the election.</li>
<li>These deadlines allow the Elections Office to have final language to put on the ballot. This information is entered in a portal for the ballot vendor can create a proof. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Proofing </span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The proofing process can take several days as text on the ballot is cross-checked against the original paperwork. The Elections Office looks at the way the candidate wants their name to appear on the ballot and any resolution or petition paperwork for a ballot issue. </li>
<li>For a small election the proofing process can take a day or two. For a federal election, it can take more than a week. For example, in the 2014 June Primary, the Elections Office proofed 75 ballot styles due to both Republican and Democrat ballots. The voter may choose which party ballot they intend to vote, but they cannot vote both.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finalizing</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>While the Elections Office proofs ballots, they are simultaneously finalizing printing numbers. Law requires that the Elections Office print a ballot for every active voter. To ensure we do not run out of ballots during an election, we also print a ballot for every inactive voter, plus extra for replacement ballots and new registrants. Missoula County currently has nearly 74,000 voters.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Printing</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Once the ballot is finalized and the Election Office has determined how many ballots to print, the ballot goes to a local printer for printing. The printing process can take several days, especially if there is print on the backside of the ballot. It takes a day for the front side to dry before printing on the back. The printing process is very meticulous and an Elections staff member is present through the whole process. </li>
<li>After printing, ballots are delivered to the Elections Center where they can be stored with high security measures. Ballots are then divided into ballots for polling places and ballots being mailed to absentee voters. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mailing</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Absentee ballots must be mailed 25 days prior to the election. Ballot preparation can start 40 days before the mailing date to ensure our office can successfully mail within the 25 day time-frame. </li>
<li>For a large election, the Election Office uses 30 to 40 staff members to prepare ballot packets for mailing. </li>
<li>Once ballots are mailed, voters can track their ballot through the process by visiting the Secretary of State My Voter Page. Voters can confirm their mailing address and see the current status of their ballot for federal elections. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Testing</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>At least two times before an election, ballots are tested in each voting machine used on Election Day. This ensures accuracy and proper tabulation of the ballot. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Verifying & Accepting</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>As absentee ballots are returned in the mail or in person before (and on) Election Day, the signature portion on the absentee packet is verified. The signature on the envelope must match the signature on the voter’s file. An election worker verifies each signature manually.</li>
<li>Accepted ballots are then reconciled to ensure the physical count matches what has been recorded in the database. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Counting </span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Ballots are not counted before Election Day. Ballots for a federal election can be opened the Monday before a Primary or General to ensure the ballot is flattened, which helps the ballot go through the tabulation machine more efficiently. This also provides the Elections Office a head start on tabulation on Election Day so that we have a large percentage of votes recorded by the close of polls. </li>
<li>Ballots cast at a polling place are tabulated through the precinct counting machine, also known as the M100. Each precinct’s results are added to the absentee results for an overall total. This is done after 8 p.m. on election night. </li>
<li>After all the ballots are counted, they are stored by their ballot type in boxes. Once sealed, they can only be reopened with a court order, unless a recount or post-election audit is conducted. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Post-Election Audit</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>A post-election audit is when the Secretary of State assigns a handful of precincts to be counted by hand. This ensures the hand count number can verify and validate the voting machine results. Post-election audits are only conducted for Federal Primary and General elections.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Storage</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>After an election, a ballot is stored for two years for a federal election and one year for a local election in our warehouse. After its retention time, the Elections Office submits a request to state and county agencies to destroy the ballot. Once all of the agencies have signed off on a destruction form, the ballots are then taken to the landfill for their final resting place. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-20542464519341314932015-10-05T11:16:00.002-06:002015-10-05T12:05:09.244-06:00Phyllis Sauter, Missoula County Election Deputy Extraordinaire <div class="MsoNormal">
Phyllis Sauter is no stranger to Missoula County Elections.
Even before she became an Election Deputy 15 years ago, Phyllis was a
long-standing Election Judge. Her love of politics and history first drew
Phyllis to elections and she has been a strong advocate of the democratic
process her entire life.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ve always thought that if people don’t take advantage of
voting and don’t show their preferences by voting that we as a country could
lose our privileges,” Phyllis said. “I got involved in the early 1990s because
I care about our process and don’t want that to happen.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although Phyllis’ day-to-day work varies between helping
customers and working in the Elections Office warehouse, she is one of the main
contributors in the ballot preparation process. She helps to oversee the ballot
printing process, distributes ballots to voters, verifies and works through
petitions and sets up the equipment for poll elections.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hf4OYuXlEgc/VhK7pFt95SI/AAAAAAAABLI/6MEGg_PyZGE/s1600/Phyllis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hf4OYuXlEgc/VhK7pFt95SI/AAAAAAAABLI/6MEGg_PyZGE/s400/Phyllis.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phyllis Sauter prepping ballots for the November election. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I do many different things throughout the election
process,” Phyllis said. “What can be the most difficult at times is entering in
voter registration information. There can be hundreds of entries, especially
before an election, and reading everything on a card can be hard.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But for Phyllis, all the hard work and stress pays off on
Election Day when she sees all the citizens turning out to vote. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s good to know you’re a part of this process and that
people are taking advantage of it,” she said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Phyllis is not working at the Elections Office she
enjoys spending time with her husband of 35 years, Dennis. She has two sons, Ron and Duane , and a
daughter, Kelly. Her two grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, one
great-grandchild and five great-grandchildren keep her busy. She also likes
reading anything written by James Patterson. <o:p></o:p></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-6851611154149077462015-09-21T15:34:00.000-06:002015-09-21T15:34:17.489-06:00Missoula Shelter Ordinance Missoula City-County Animal Control wants to remind residents that as the colder fall weather approaches, pets who live outside must have proper shelter. The ordinance is provided below for reference. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Animal Control at (406) 541-7387 or stop by their facility, located at 6700 Butler Creek Road.<br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Shelter/Dog
House” means a structure that is moisture proof and windproof of suitable size
to accommodate the dog and allow retention of body heat. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It shall be made of durable material
with a solid, moisture proof floor or a floor raised at least two inches from
the ground. Between November 1 and March 31 the structure must have a windbreak
at the entrance. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The
structure shall be provided with a sufficient quantity of suitable bedding
material consisting of hay, straw, shavings, blankets, or the equivalent, to
provide insulation and protection against the cold and dampness and promote
retention of body heat."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfPmpFo4PiQ/VgB3oMvSQ_I/AAAAAAAABKI/tz2XXP3NOkA/s1600/Sampson%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfPmpFo4PiQ/VgB3oMvSQ_I/AAAAAAAABKI/tz2XXP3NOkA/s320/Sampson%2B3.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sampson wants a warm home this fall and winter. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span>Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-53733207719622710922015-09-14T14:00:00.000-06:002015-09-14T14:00:48.510-06:00Meet Animal Control's Nikki Wood & Sonney White <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3LZKP0RcMEE/VfckvzMK_bI/AAAAAAAABJs/-JdQLlA59L8/s1600/DSC_0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3LZKP0RcMEE/VfckvzMK_bI/AAAAAAAABJs/-JdQLlA59L8/s400/DSC_0501.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missoula City-County Animal Control Shelter Attendant Nikki Wood (left) and Officer Sonney White (right).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Missoula Animal Control organizational structure can be
narrowed into three distinct functions: Shelter Attendants, Officers and
Volunteers. Shelter Attendants are those who work at the front desk, help the
public obtain dog licenses, answer questions about animals, dispatch officers,
plan events and organize outreach efforts. They also, and very importantly,
form relationships with the animals at the shelter by learning behaviors and
assessing their physical, emotional and medical needs. Officers, on the other
hand, are out in the field to investigate cases of neglect and abuse. They are
more of Animal Control’s law enforcement agency. Both, however, have the same
goal in mind; to either reunite lost animals with their home or to find them a
new loving family.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nikki Wood is one of Animal Control’s Shelter Attendants who
has worked with animals throughout her 15 year career. Nikki has a degree in
Professional Zoo Keeping and worked at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in Fresno, California
in the mammals division. There she cared for all types of animals, ranging from
lemurs, sea lions, wolves, tigers, bears to ant eaters. Nikki loved her time
and experiences in California, but having grown up in Helena, decided to leave the zoo and come back to Montana
to be near her family and friends a few years ago. Shortly after returning to the Missoula area,
Nikki applied for her position with Animal Control and has been happily serving
our community ever since. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having worked with animals for so many years, Nikki has a
true passion for her profession. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXdHdHe-IOc/VfckpcNd-KI/AAAAAAAABJY/ej4WlSyYRcc/s1600/DSC_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXdHdHe-IOc/VfckpcNd-KI/AAAAAAAABJY/ej4WlSyYRcc/s400/DSC_0502.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nikki Wood and Lebowski. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We genuinely care about the animals here. Everything we do
is for them, whether it’s fundraising or working with those who have very poor
social skills to help them find homes,” Nikki said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many things Nikki enjoys about her work, including
her coworkers and interacting with the public, but most of all Nikki says the
best part of her job is being able to build trust with an animal so that she
can then help find the perfect home. Similarly,
it can be challenging when animals are very aggressive and hard to care for.
But once that relationship is built, Nikki says, there is nothing more
rewarding.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Animal Control Officer, Sonney White, agrees that nothing is
more gratifying in his job than when he is able to help an animal find his/her
home. Sonney is a recent addition to the Animal Control office, having spent 11
months in his current position. Before working at Animal Control, Sonney served
the Granite County Sheriff’s Office for more than 30 years. During this time,
Sonney was the Search and Rescue coordinator, a DARE officer and served six
years as Undersheriff. Throughout this tenure, Sonney often worked on Animal
Control issues, including licensing, abuse cases and locating strays. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I retired three years ago from the Granite County Sheriff’s
Office so that my wife and I could move into our beautiful home in
Stevensville,” Sonney said. “I was working part time as a University of Montana
campus officer a year ago and saw that this position with Animal Control was
available. I knew Jeff [Darrah, Animal Control’s Director] and thought it would
be a good opportunity. I like it here very much.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lAT3hvjoTBU/VfckvyqxptI/AAAAAAAABJo/_u8kk0KJMYY/s1600/DSC_0497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lAT3hvjoTBU/VfckvyqxptI/AAAAAAAABJo/_u8kk0KJMYY/s400/DSC_0497.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonney White with his Animal Control Officer vehicle. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his role, Sonney patrols parks and other County spaces to
ensure owners are compliant with city and county ordinances. Sonney also is in
the field investigating cases of neglect and abuse.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It can be a hard job but it’s all worth it when you know
you helped someone find a good home,” Sonney said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sonney enjoys helping lost animals find their home or
helping them find a home by keeping them safe. Sometimes, Sonney says, it can
be very challenging for officers to help educate the public as to why they need
to license their dogs and why it is important.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“People sometimes don’t realize that by licensing your dog
you are helping to keep your animal safe in case they get lost or if we need to
monitor rabies,” Sonney said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although their roles may vary, Missoula’s Animal Control
staff care very much about the work they do for our community. If you’re interested in learning more about
Animal Control, please visit their website.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-14543348430681002312015-09-11T12:57:00.001-06:002015-09-11T12:57:35.234-06:00Commissioner Curtiss' Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony Speech <h2>
September 11, 2015, Missoula County Courthouse Lawn, Remembrance
Ceremony, Jean Curtiss</h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good Afternoon<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are joined here today to remember and honor those who
died on September 11, 2001.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 72.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Those in planes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Those in the World Trade Towers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Those in the Pentagon<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 72.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Those who responded- including firefighters and
people on the street<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 72.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This blue spruce tree was planted by the Missoula County
Employee Council on October 11, 2001 in remembrance and honor of the tragedies
on September 11<sup>th</sup>. It is a
nice memorial. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have read the poem titled “One” by Sheryl Sawyer at
previous remembrances of this tragic day. It is a powerful poem about how the
attacks on September 11, 2001 pulled our nation together. It ends with ‘We are the Power of One. We are
United. We are America.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We must be cautious not to become One and let fear and
prejudice shape our perceptions, opinions and actions. I think we all came to realize we were more
vulnerable than we believed. Our feeling of safety in our own land was
violated. It was easy to get sucked up
into the ‘you will get your just due’ whoever you are who attacked us. The
United States was quick to engage in a ‘war against terrorism’. We felt
justified and called upon to do so. We
sent men and women to war, called them patriots, but did not provide for their
safety with adequate armoring of vehicles and vests etc. And we surely have not
provided adequately for their return.
Organizations and individuals are always out raising money to provide
for returning veterans from this war and previous wars. 22 Veterans take their
own life every day. We have to continue to work on this issue. OK, maybe that should be my Veteran’s Day
speech. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I would like us to step back and focus on where that
attitude of justification can take us, unintentionally. There is a danger of painting
all people we associate with the Middle East with the same brush as those
responsible for the events of that day. – That brush is colored with fear and
hate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I found a few quotes I would like to share:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘There was never a good war or a bad peace.’ Ben Franklin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘There can be no
greater motive for evil than a sense of justice.’ Bill Ward <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘The act of war is the last option of a democracy.’ Joseph Wilson, New York Times, July-6-2003<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘War may sometimes be
a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a
good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s
children.’ President Jimmy Carter, Nobel lecture, December-10-2002<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So let’s not allow what brought us together and made us One
destroy what America is about. Many have
become fearful, suspicious, mistrustful, hateful, accusatory, hypocritical of
religious freedom (if it is not the same religion as theirs), and confused
about freedom vs rights. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we go forward from this day, let us go with empathy and
compassion and seek to understand. Let us look the person who is struggling
with addiction and homelessness in the eye. Let us understand that the veteran
who cannot hold a job right now and is self-medicating with alcohol has seen
Hell and came home to find we don’t provide the supportive services he or she
needs to survive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
September 11, 2001 was a tragic day in our history. But so was:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
April 19, 1995
(Oklahoma City, 168 dead -19 in a day care; 100’s injured); <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
April 20, 1999 (Columbine High School, 13 dead; 20+
injured);<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
August 29, 2005 (Hurricane Katrina, 1833 dead, millions
homeless);<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
April 16, 2007 (Virginia Tech, 32 dead, 17 wounded);<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
July 20, 2012 (Movie Theater in Aurora, CO, 12 dead, 70
injured);<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
October 29, 2012 (Hurricane Sandy, 149 dead-7 states and 3
countries);<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
December 14, 2012 (Sandy Hook Elementary, Newtown, CT, 20
kids, 6 adults and his Mom);<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May 6, 2015 (on Brooks Street in Missoula, MT 3 dead, 5
children lost one or both parents);<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
June 17, 2015 (Charleston,
So. Carolina in a church prayer meeting, 9 dead) – Just to name a few.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the world, currently, watches the giant exodus of people
from Syria and other countries who have been engaged in war for a long time,
there are those who have responded with fear of inviting the refugees into
other countries, including ours. It is
less personal to focus on fighting terrorists, who are like the faces on wanted
posters than on the little brothers who washed ashore because their boat
capsized. I remember hearing once that we have no idea how hard life is in some
of these countries until we think about what it must take for a parent to put
their child at risk by placing them in that boat knowing they may not make it
to the other shore. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So let’s call this our Tree of Hope and use it to remind us
that people all around us are facing a crisis.
It may not be in the news for weeks. It may not be in the news at all
but it is still a crisis for them. So we
remember those who lost their lives and those who lost loved ones on September
11<sup>th</sup>. But, as you add a ribbon to the tree today, I ask you to also
think about honoring someone going through a crisis today. Maybe you know them, maybe you don’t but
let’s honor them, too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let us be Powerful. Let us be United. Let us be America. And
let us make a difference in people’s lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Go and show compassion and spread Hope. I wish you Peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RmeY4RPY4Lg/VfMjMeX8ESI/AAAAAAAABIc/mbpPxI5m2uQ/s1600/Shirley%2B%2526%2BJean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RmeY4RPY4Lg/VfMjMeX8ESI/AAAAAAAABIc/mbpPxI5m2uQ/s400/Shirley%2B%2526%2BJean.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clerk of District Court, Shirley Faust, singing the National Anthem </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TEAsswMy9zY/VfMjOXv1reI/AAAAAAAABIk/DRzLmFfa8xc/s1600/Jean%2B%2526%2BDeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TEAsswMy9zY/VfMjOXv1reI/AAAAAAAABIk/DRzLmFfa8xc/s400/Jean%2B%2526%2BDeb.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commissioner Jean Curtiss and Senator Tester's Representative Deborah Fransden. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hPWt_jLRxx8/VfMjQ0imZsI/AAAAAAAABIs/pRlU5QcBeao/s1600/Ribbons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hPWt_jLRxx8/VfMjQ0imZsI/AAAAAAAABIs/pRlU5QcBeao/s640/Ribbons.jpg" width="402" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staff and members of the public placing remembrance ribbons on the Blue Spruce in front of the Courthouse. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-49309887865217769202015-09-08T09:49:00.001-06:002015-09-08T10:22:37.249-06:00Dogs Off Leash Ordinance <h4>
With the beginning of September comes the beginning of a new
academic year. Fall is a wonderful time to go enjoy the cooler weather with
your pets. It is also during this time that Missoula Animal Control sees an
influx of dogs on campus, which is not a leash free area. Many students have
dogs (how can we blame them!) and we would like to remind everyone of the
rules. </h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re taking your dog for a walk on the University of
Montana’s campus, remember that they must be on leash, even when hiking Mount
Sentinel to the M. While in class, or for any other reason, dogs cannot be tied
up and left unattended anywhere on campus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a reminder, all dogs within Missoula County must be
licensed. Students who may be attending the University from out of state but
who own a dog should know that their dog is considered a Missoula resident and
must be licensed within Missoula County. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All licenses can be obtained at the Missoula Animal Control
facility, located at 6700 Butler Creek Road, or at the Missoula County Motor Vehicle/Treasurer’s
Office within the Courthouse. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ordinance text is copied below. Please don’t hesitate to let
our shelter attendants know if you have any questions! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aHG5UnUJr64/Ve8DY4r0lcI/AAAAAAAABHs/sjufI7kei0c/s1600/Leashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aHG5UnUJr64/Ve8DY4r0lcI/AAAAAAAABHs/sjufI7kei0c/s400/Leashes.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Section_6_07_600"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">6.07.600 Dogs
at large or off leash</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 21pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It is unlawful for the
owner, custodian or keeper of a dog to knowingly, purposely or by neglect allow
the dog to be at large or off leash unless:</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 39pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">the dog is located in a vehicle with the permission of the
vehicle’s owner. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 39pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">the dog is actually participating in dog shows or instructional
dog obedience training classes. A dog may be temporarily off of a leash for
these purposes as long as the dog’s owner or custodian is personally present
and able to effectively control the dog at all times. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 39pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">3.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Any dog under actual </span><a href="http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1028#Voice_restraint"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">voice restraint</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> in a Designated Voice Restraint Area,
subject to the conditions established in 6.07.618, shall not be deemed off
leash or at large.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 21pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">B.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tying a dog to an object
such as a light pole, parking meter, bicycle rack, tree, or other
object, etc. while the dog is on public property, or on private
property without the permission of the property owner or occupant and leaving
the dog unattended is considered to be a dog at large and is a violation of
this section.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 21pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">C.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">An animal control
officer may return a licensed dog to the custody of its owner in lieu of impoundment;
however all at large dogs are subject to immediate impoundment.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Ord. 3472, 2011)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 21pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Section_6_07_605"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">6.07.605 Leash
length.</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">An owner, keeper, or custodian of a dog must
maintain a dog on a leash with no more than 6 feet of the leash’s length being
utilized with the following exceptions:</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 21pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a retractable leash
extending a maximum of sixteen (16) feet is allowed in open areas away from
streets, alleys, or sidewalks. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 21pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">B.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">an obedience trained dog
shall be allowed to participate in obedience training, field trials, dog shows
or competition.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 21pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 21pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">An owner, keeper or custodian violates this
section if the length of the leash violates the provisions specified herein.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Ord. 3472, 2011)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VfW6Cb5qRzY/Ve8LRSIz6SI/AAAAAAAABIA/KQWmqruD4kc/s1600/Leash%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VfW6Cb5qRzY/Ve8LRSIz6SI/AAAAAAAABIA/KQWmqruD4kc/s400/Leash%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-56390128993664555732015-08-31T12:48:00.002-06:002015-08-31T12:57:46.591-06:00The Western Montana Fair: An Enterprise-Wide EventAs you've seen throughout the month of August, an exceptional amount of work and year-long (if not <i>years-</i>long) planning goes into making the Western Montana Fair a success. Our Fairgrounds Director, Todd Garrett, and his senior staff, including Tracy Mullennix and Pirrie Harris, work with vendors, community groups, nonprofit organizations, contractors, rodeo personnel and countless others to organize the many diverse facets of the Fair. While the event itself may only span one week of the calendar year, it requires continual efforts to ensure that week is enjoyable for all who visit and participate in the Western Montana Fair.<br />
<br />
Dedicated Western Montana Fair and Events Center staff are knowledgeable, courteous and put in enumerable hours of work finalizing contracts, setting up the grounds, organization groups and training/coordinating volunteers. They are the face of the Fair. However, there is no way they could possibly do their job without the assistance of other Missoula County departments along the way.<br />
<br />
While walking the grounds, you likely noticed that some buildings have been moved and/or renovated. The grounds were clean and well maintained. The Fair Office was air conditioned. Fences were repaired and buildings were painted. This work didn't happen overnight. Our Facilities Management staff have been working nearly around the clock all year to improve the grounds for public and staff use. They worked to ensure the office was ADA accessible and included an entrance and exit to better accommodate the flow of foot traffic in and out of the building.<br />
<br />
They also had decided staff on the grounds throughout Fair week to manage all other miscellaneous tasks: ranging from post-storm set-up of tents, to air conditioning/cooler maintenance, to maintaining working bathroom facilities for public use. They worked with waste disposal vendors to ensure garbage was collected frequently. Staff has continued working at the Fairgrounds post-event to clean all buildings and public areas and to make improvements to the grounds for the many functions that occur each and every week.<br />
<br />
In addition to Facilities Management staff, the Missoula City-County Health Department plays a tremendous role in keeping public health and safety the top priority. Environmental Health inspectors work with each and every vendor to ensure food is being prepared, cleaned, stored and served safely. They provide training to vendors and those handling food to share their expertise in food safety. The Health Department continually performs checks throughout the week to sustain high standards. Health staff also share their findings with other Missoula County staff and keep the media informed of their findings and processes.<br />
<br />
Because the public's health and safety are our top priorities, the role of the Missoula County Sheriff's Office and the City of Missoula Police are invaluable. Not only do these agencies provide security to the public, staff and the grounds, they keep a watchful eye on conditions. Missoula County was experiencing storms on Monday of the Fair. Along with the Missoula County Office of Emergency Management staff, officials were working together to gauge the constantly shifting conditions to keep those in attendance safe. Emergency evacuation plans were reviewed by all and shared with senior staff had an emergent situation arose. Thankfully, despite some unfavorable weather days and a strong storm, no one - including animals were harmed.<br />
<br />
The need to share important updates, such as pending weather or evacuation protocols, is immediate and crucial during Fair week. Communications channels have to be working properly for staff to best serve the public. Our Technology department added WiFi, additional computers and phone lines. They were also at the ready in case any of these vehicles were not working properly.<br />
<br />
The Auditor's Office processes all payroll and payments. The County Attorney's Office reviews contracts. The Commissioners visit the grounds seeking feedback from the public, vendors and staff to identify ways we can always be improving. Communications staff help to answer inquiry and disseminate timely information. Staff volunteer to work the ticket booth or in the parking lot.<br />
<br />
It takes a tremendous County-wide effort to put on the Fair. We have an incredible staff, spanning all departments, who pitch in where and how they can to provide a service to their community. We hope you enjoyed the 2015 Western Montana Fair!Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-37494277177396312062015-08-28T11:29:00.001-06:002015-08-28T11:29:17.673-06:00Susie Edwards-Miller<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Susie Edwards-Miller</b></h2>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gwg8nUPRJKY/VeCaQ7Kw0QI/AAAAAAAABHA/S9qtQKnUCEU/s1600/Susie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gwg8nUPRJKY/VeCaQ7Kw0QI/AAAAAAAABHA/S9qtQKnUCEU/s400/Susie.JPG" width="242" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Title: </b>Senior Secretary</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Years at the Fair: </b>4 or 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>What will you remember most from
the 2015 Western Montana Fair?: </b>I was able to organize the Free Stage and
enjoyed that process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>What do you like best about your
role at the Fair?: </b>“My kids are in 4H and I really enjoy being able to see
them participate.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-70860824832807236092015-08-27T12:40:00.000-06:002015-08-27T12:46:27.495-06:00Commissioners Impose Stage II Fire RestrictionsMissoula County Commissioners voted today (Aug. 27, 2015) to impose Stage II Fire Restrictions in Missoula County, effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. Stage II Restrictions include all Stage I restrictions, including extending the perpetual prohibition of fireworks from County parks, Forest Service and State lands to private lands within the county, as well as placing additional restrictions within the county.<br />
<br />
The following acts are prohibited until further notice: building maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire; smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.<br />
<br />
The following acts are prohibited from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.: operating any internal combustion engine; welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame; using an explosive; operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails; and all fireworks.<br />
<br />
Individuals can be fined up to $5,000 or $10,000 for an organization and imprisoned for up to six months for violating restrictions and closures. Individuals can be held liable for all suppression costs and damages if they are responsible for starting a fire.<br />
<br />
Stage II Restrictions have nine exemptions, including exempting those who have written permits and emergency repair of public utilities and railroads.<br />
<br />
This move comes on the heels of the Missoula County Fire Protection Association’s determination that fire danger in Missoula County is Extreme. That determination is in consultation with all local fire agencies, land management agencies and local government and is based on information related to weather, fuels, and current and expected conditions.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CnUpkSIW57U/Vd9YDsn5CEI/AAAAAAAABGo/msxF-ViDG3I/s1600/Stage%2B2%2BRestrictions%2Band%2BExemptions-page-001%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CnUpkSIW57U/Vd9YDsn5CEI/AAAAAAAABGo/msxF-ViDG3I/s640/Stage%2B2%2BRestrictions%2Band%2BExemptions-page-001%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage II Restrictions </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vqHosSQ53MA/Vd9X7lTQeMI/AAAAAAAABGY/VAsjeQMD6s4/s1600/Stage%2B2%2BFire%2BRestrictions%2BResolution-page-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vqHosSQ53MA/Vd9X7lTQeMI/AAAAAAAABGY/VAsjeQMD6s4/s640/Stage%2B2%2BFire%2BRestrictions%2BResolution-page-002.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Resolution, Page 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i53jJagIvEk/Vd9X74uahUI/AAAAAAAABGc/z9mE4YUlBR4/s1600/Stage%2B2%2BFire%2BRestrictions%2BResolution-page-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i53jJagIvEk/Vd9X74uahUI/AAAAAAAABGc/z9mE4YUlBR4/s640/Stage%2B2%2BFire%2BRestrictions%2BResolution-page-001.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Resolution, Page 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-150848839935355022015-08-27T08:38:00.003-06:002015-08-27T08:38:47.578-06:00Marissa McClintock: Western Montana Fair's Seasonal Senior Secretary <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Marissa McClintock</b></h2>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_dDWOcrE6rY/Vd8gvdo1_BI/AAAAAAAABGE/iBb12xOtPSM/s1600/Marissa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_dDWOcrE6rY/Vd8gvdo1_BI/AAAAAAAABGE/iBb12xOtPSM/s320/Marissa.JPG" width="258" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Title: </b>Seasonal Senior
Secretary</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Years at the Fair: </b>2<br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>How did you become involved?: </b>“I
was looking for summer job after my first year of student teaching. A family friend,
Patty Baumgart [Missoula County's HR Director], said she would look to see what was available at the County.
This was that opening.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>What will you remember most from
the 2015 Western Montana Fair?: </b>“We always pull together and make whatever
it is work.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>What do you like best about your
role at the Fair?: </b>“The people. Everyone is very nice and brings their own
unique talents.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-71148739980044903412015-08-26T08:28:00.000-06:002015-08-26T08:29:37.849-06:00Tracy Mullenix: The Fairgrounds' Amazing Administrative Aide<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Tracy Mullennix</b></h2>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Title: </b>Fair Administrative
Aide</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Years at the Fair: </b>1<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>How did you become involved?: </b>“I
have lived in Missoula for 15 years and always came to the Fair with my kids. I
was working at the Count Attorney’s office
and saw that this position was available. I have a degree in Parks and
Recreation. This job more closely aligns with that and with my passions. My
experience in recreational planning has served me very well in this role.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>What will you remember most from
the 2015 Western Montana Fair?: “</b>As a staff, we have really grown together
and have the ability to laugh and be helpful and provide as much service to the
public as possible.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>What do you like best about your
role at the Fair? </b>“Teamwork. I am able to put my passions into what I’m
working on and have great people around to support all our efforts.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-61adjb8Oe5g/Vd3NDqCElsI/AAAAAAAABFo/Di02IrvNqpE/s1600/Tracy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-61adjb8Oe5g/Vd3NDqCElsI/AAAAAAAABFo/Di02IrvNqpE/s400/Tracy.JPG" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tracy Mullennix</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-85145386345867092832015-08-24T09:21:00.000-06:002015-08-24T09:58:51.107-06:00Meet Fairgrounds Support Services Manager, Pirrie Harris <h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Pirrie Harris</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Title: </b>Support Services
Manager<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Years at the Fair</b>: 3<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>How did you become involved?:</b>
“I started here in an occasional laborer position working outside picking up
the garbage and maintaining the grounds during the week of the Fair. The next
year I was promoted to work in the office and have been in my current role for
the past year.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-irI6-mKOR5k/Vds18u6Uc7I/AAAAAAAABE0/IUS4iU_p2R0/s1600/Pirrie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #4c1130; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-irI6-mKOR5k/Vds18u6Uc7I/AAAAAAAABE0/IUS4iU_p2R0/s400/Pirrie.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>What will you remember most from
the 2015 Western Montana Fair?: “</b>This is the 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary
of the rodeo. I was able to design the buckles which is something I will never
forget.” <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fSQoQG6O3Pg/Vds_JyZ8y4I/AAAAAAAABFM/rgU4Tp6gGXg/s1600/MISSOULA%2BSTAMPEDE%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fSQoQG6O3Pg/Vds_JyZ8y4I/AAAAAAAABFM/rgU4Tp6gGXg/s320/MISSOULA%2BSTAMPEDE%2B2015.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>What do you like best about your
role at the Fair? </b>“I love working with the people I work with. We all work
well together and we bring this event together well. I like the opportunity to
be able to see how all our efforts pay off once the Fair does kick off.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-530475973651279332015-08-13T08:53:00.000-06:002015-08-13T08:53:18.770-06:00Time-Lapse Video: Carnival Set Up and the Storm We had a large storm Monday evening with wind gusts recorded at hurricane strength. We were also in the process of getting carnival vendors set up for the Fair. Check out this time-lapse video to see just how intense the storm was and just how much work goes into Fair preparations. Aside from one tree, no one, including animals, were injured in the storm!<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa_biXcfQdg/Vcyus2dF6GI/AAAAAAAABDw/UQRXKwaLTnU/s1600/Western%2BMontana%2BFair%2BCarnival%2BSet%2BUp%252C%2B8-10-15.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa_biXcfQdg/Vcyus2dF6GI/AAAAAAAABDw/UQRXKwaLTnU/s320/Western%2BMontana%2BFair%2BCarnival%2BSet%2BUp%252C%2B8-10-15.mp4" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-1038627950435674762015-08-07T15:17:00.000-06:002015-08-07T16:45:08.119-06:00What You Need to Know for the 2015 Fair<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Excitement is
building for the Western Montana Fair which kicks off on Wednesday, Aug. 12! Whether you’ve been attending for years, or are going for the first time, we
want to make sure you have all the information you need to make 2015 the best
year yet! Read more to find out about hours, ticketing, prices, events and
other important links to check out. Let us know you have any questions. We look
forward to seeing you soon!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When
is the Western Montana Fair?</span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
Western Montana Fair is scheduled for August 11-16, 2015.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Where is the Fair?</span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The fairgrounds are located
on the corner of Russell Street and South Avenue in Missoula. Some buildings
have moved as part of our renovations. Check out this </span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Full-page-photo1.pdf"><span style="background: white; color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">updated
map</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What time does the Fair open?</span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Gates are open to the public from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A gate ticket, 4-H/FFA wristband, season pass or ID badge is
required for admittance at all hours, including prior to the 11 a.m. opening.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How much is admission?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt;">Adult (16+): $6.00</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt;">Student (6-15): $3.00</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt;">Ages 5 and Under: Free</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt;">Senior Citizen (55+): $4.00</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt;">Military (with ID): Free</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt;">Family Pass (2 adults, 3
students): $15</span></li>
<li><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Daily Gate ticketing
information can also be found on our </span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/tickets/" style="line-height: 15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #00b0f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">website</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></li>
<ul type="circle">
</ul>
</ul>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Where can I park?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Check
out our </span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Full-page-photo1.pdf"><span style="color: #00b0f0;">map</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. Parking is available around the
outside of the grounds and nearby offered by outside businesses for a cost.
Please note, many of these organizations are not affiliated with the fair. Be
sure to park only in designated areas. Please be considerate of our neighbors! </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
events will be going on?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Fair is a grand tradition offering the best of an eleven
county region in agriculture, education, history, and family entertainment
while showcasing new technology and science. This six day event features
4-H Exhibits and </span><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">livestock,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/western-montana-fair/entertainment/carnival/" title="Carnival"><span style="background: white; color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">carnival rides</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/western-montana-fair/entertainment/night-show/" title="Night Show"><span style="background: white; color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">night shows</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">,</span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/western-montana-fair/entertainment/free-stage-entertainment/" title="Free Stage Entertainment"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #3f9a31; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">free
daily entertainment</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">, </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">commercial displays, great
food vendors, a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/western-montana-fair/entertainment/demolition-derby/" title="Demolition Derby"><span style="background: white; color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Demolition Derby</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/western-montana-fair/entertainment/pbr-bullorama/" title="Bullorama"><span style="background: white; color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Professional Bull Riding</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and the</span><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/western-montana-fair/entertainment/rodeos/" title="PRCA Rodeo"><span style="background: white; color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Missoula Stampede PRCA Rodeo</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.
</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Come and see Western Montana’s best floriculture event
consisting of five distinctly different shows. Fine Arts, Photography,
Home Arts and Culinary displays can be found throughout the fairgrounds.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How many people go to the Fair?</span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We typically host more than 60,000 participants.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Who will be performing at the Fair?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Tyler Barham will be out Friday night Stampede Stage
Entertainer. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Where do I buy event tickets for night shows?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Night show event tickets </span><a href="http://www.168tickets.com/tickets_venue.php?venueID=191"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">purchased in advance</span></a><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">include gate admission.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Day-of-show purchasers <i>must</i> purchase a gate ticket and
purchase their event ticket at the Fair Office after entering. There will
be a Will Call list at each gate; one person from the group may enter to obtain
tickets that were purchased in advance from the Fairgrounds Office,
then exit and distribute to rest of party.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Youth</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> – ages 5-15; Lap children (4 and under) –
Free; Adult –
ages 16+.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You can buy tickets
online </span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/tickets/"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When is the rodeo? Does it have an additional cost?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Tuesday:
Missoula Ranch Rodeo - </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Reserved
seating for $10</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Wednesday:
Bitterroot Motors Bullorama</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thursday:
Missoula Stampede Ram Rodeo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Friday:
Missoula Stampede Ram Rodeo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Saturday:
Missoula Stampede Ram Rodeo - </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Reserved
seating and general admission Wednesday - Saturday</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">$16
adult; $12 youth; $12 open bleacher</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is there an events schedule?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Yes! You can find the schedule on our </span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/2015/07/daily-schedule-fair-2015/daily-schedule-2015-2/"><span style="background: white; color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">website</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><b style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How much do event tickets cost?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Tuesday Missoula Ranch Rodeo on </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Aug. 11 at 7 p.m.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Reserved seating: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">$10</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Wednesday Bitterroot Motors Bullorama on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Aug.
12 at 7 p.m.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Reserved
seating and general admission</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">$16
adult; $12 youth; $12 open bleacher</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thursday
Missoula Stampede Ram Rodeo on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Aug.
13 at 7 p.m.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Reserved
seating and general admission</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">$16
adult; $12 youth; $12 open bleacher</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Friday
Missoula Stampede Ram Rodeo on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Aug.
14 at 7 p.m.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Reserved
seating and general admission</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">$16
adult; $12 youth; $12 open bleacher</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Saturday
Missoula Stampede Ram Rodeo on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Aug.
15 at 7 p.m.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Reserved
seating and general admission</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">$16
adult; $12 youth; $12 open bleacher</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Napa
Demolition Derby on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sunday,
Aug. 16 at 4:30 p.m.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">All
reserved seating</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">$16
adult/youth</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Which
days have free admission?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Wednesday through
Saturday</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> from 11am – 1pm gate
admission FREE</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Tuesday: Gates open at 5pm – Free Gate
Admission. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Bring a Canned food donation for the Missoula
Food Bank and get Free Gate admission.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Wednesday: “Seniors’ Day” – Seniors (55+)
gate admission Free.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thursday: “KPAX Kids’ Day” – Ages 6-17 enter
Free until 6 p.m.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sunday: “KECI Family Day” – Free gate
admission for everyone</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: bold;">H</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-weight: bold;">ow much do </span><a href="http://www.missoulafairgrounds.com/western-montana-fair/entertainment/carnival/"><b><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">carnival</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> rides cost?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One
day and week-long passes are available for advanced sale until Tuesday, Aug. 11
at 3 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Office and Noon’s.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One
Day Pass: $20</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Unlimited
rides for one day; you choose which day!</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">All
Week Pass: $80</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Unlimited
rides all week long!</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
are the carnival hours of operation?</span></b></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Tuesday, August 11:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> closed</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wednesday,
August 12:</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 12pm – close</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thursday,
August 13:</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 12pm – close</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Friday,
August 14:</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 12pm – close</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saturday,
August 15:</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 11am – close</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sunday,
August 16<b>:</b></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 12pm – close</span></li>
</ul>
<b style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who can I call if I have
questions?</span></b><br />
<div>
<ul type="disc">
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt;">Our
Fair Office is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Call us at (406)
721-3247</span></li>
</ul>
<b style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How can I stay updated?</span></b><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Check out our</span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissoulaCountyFairgrounds"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Facebook</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">page. Also follow Missoula County on </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Missoula.County?ref=hl"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Facebook</span></a></span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">and </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://twitter.com/MissoulaCounty"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Twitter</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">for news and information. Share your
experiences with us using #MslaCoFair!</span></li>
<ul type="circle">
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-2785211360797418462015-07-30T12:38:00.000-06:002015-07-30T12:38:26.381-06:00Meet CAPS Office Manager, Laurie Hire<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“If you’re going to
have a work family, this is a good one to have.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Creating this warm sense of place within an office setting
is certainly no easy task. Doing so requires a certain skillset and mentality
that helps to accommodate diverse personalities and work styles. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These staff
members make Missoula County great and we are immensely fortunate to have them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you walk into the Community and Planning Services office,
a friendly face will be there to greet you.
After even a brief conversation, it becomes evident that Office Manager,
Laurie Hire, is exceptionally knowledgeable, curious and helpful. Having the
opportunity to work with her, it is even more evident that she is an incredible
person and helps to make our Community and Planning Services department (CAPS)
a special place.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having worked at the County since 2005, Laurie has come to
know many individuals and processes well. However, it was a unique and
unplanned situation that initially brought her here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I was working at the Missoulian when a friend left for a
job in Justice Court. She called me the next day to say that the job wasn’t for
her and that I should do it,” Laurie said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was at this time that Laurie was hired as a temporary clerk
to migrate civil files into newly purchased software. After a year of work,
Laurie was hired full time as a judicial aide and worked in that office for
four years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8BS4azfx2w/VbpvD3963gI/AAAAAAAABCE/73sXjCSeYIY/s1600/Laurie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8BS4azfx2w/VbpvD3963gI/AAAAAAAABCE/73sXjCSeYIY/s400/Laurie.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I was able to bring my boys to work after they were born
which helped to bring some happiness into the office. I enjoyed my time there
but after a while I was interested in other opportunities at the County.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was at that time that Rural Initiatives was hiring for an
Administrative Aide. The position was a perfect fit for Laurie where she could
use her journalism and graphic design background.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I knew I didn’t want to leave the County but that I wanted
to do work that more closely aligned with my degree. This position offered
outreach and to work on publications.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the Office of Planning and Grants went through a restructuring
process, Laurie’s position grew into her current role where she works on a
variety of things including the eNewsletter, brochures and redesign of both the
RI and CAPS logos.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, as CAPS Office Manager, Laurie ensures the daily operations
of the office run smoothly. She connects with the public through outreach
efforts, including email correspondence, website updates and drafting the CAPS
newsletter. Laurie also pulls together all CAPS budget reports, pays bills,
edits letters and takes minutes for meetings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ve gotten to know everyone really well and make sure that
they have what they need to accomplish their work. When we transitioned into
CAPS it took time to develop working relationships with new staff. I wanted to
step in to find ways to bring people together and to have fun.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aside from these duties, Laurie works very closely with
community councils in providing administrative support. She is there to answer
questions about how meetings should be run and conducted, translates agency
jargon, maintains the handbook and supports their activities.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Councils are a valuable part of our department and Missoula
County. They’re the eyes and ears of their community and in turn help us share
our message with that community.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With such a wide array of responsibilities, Laurie enjoys
outreach work to be able to provide information to the community while sharing
CAPS’ projects. The most rewarding aspect of her role is knowing that in some
way or another she is making someone’s job easier.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We have a good staff. They’re fun and easy to work with.
Everyone is professional, responsible and fun. I could not do my job without
Genevieve [MacDonald] and am so thankful to work with her.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Outside of work, Laurie enjoys many hobbies including
reading and spending time with her husband and two sons. In fact, Laurie’s
husband, Sean, also works for the County. They met in French class while
attending the University of Montana and have been married since 2004.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although Laurie wanted to be a creative writer as a child –
and still enjoys doing so when she has the time – Laurie is happy with her
career choice and to be working for the County.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m in a really great place. It’s not what I thought I
would be doing but I have the flexibility to take care of my family and myself.
I have fun here which makes it enjoyable and rewarding. Missoula County really
looks out for each other. I don’t think people fully understand how much the
County values staff. Feeling support by your coworkers and elected officials is
something really special.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Favorite Book: </b>I
love everything from Camus to David Sedaris. My mom was an English teacher.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Favorite Movie: </b>Star
Wars trilogy, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Shawshank Redemption.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Favorite Color: </b>I
love color in general, so The Pantone chart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Favorite TV Show:</b>
I Netflix binge and can watch<b> </b>Arrested
Development and Deadwood over and over again.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-36491537258781387302015-07-26T21:00:00.001-06:002015-07-27T08:24:30.142-06:002015 Land Stewardship Award <div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On Friday, July 24 the Missoula County Commissioners and staff toured Chuck and Mary Erickson's property in Piltzville. The Ericksons were then awarded the 2015 Land Stewardship Award in recognition of their immense efforts to repair and maintain their land. We had a wonderful afternoon with the Ericksons and cannot thank them enough for the wonderful work they do. Enjoy these photos from the Land Stewardship Award celebration. </div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />You can also learn more by reading the Missoulian's <a href="http://missoulian.com/news/local/monday-s-montanans-piltzville-couple-recognized-for-land-stewardship/article_aa4be8cb-1cce-5db6-978a-dbe6b104b1b8.html" target="_blank">article</a>, "Monday's Montanans: Piltzville couple recognized for Land Stewardship." </div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6kUtQURBJlU/VbWd4A71LWI/AAAAAAAAA-o/kpUXnXZu_UA/s1600/DSC_0431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6kUtQURBJlU/VbWd4A71LWI/AAAAAAAAA-o/kpUXnXZu_UA/s400/DSC_0431.JPG" width="301" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDipbsQAK8A/VbWd4FD10_I/AAAAAAAAA-k/IbOLtTR1LdY/s1600/DSC_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDipbsQAK8A/VbWd4FD10_I/AAAAAAAAA-k/IbOLtTR1LdY/s400/DSC_0432.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbciwnJlaXw/VbWd3VhQ2YI/AAAAAAAAA-c/wMJ9sncxvS4/s1600/DSC_0433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbciwnJlaXw/VbWd3VhQ2YI/AAAAAAAAA-c/wMJ9sncxvS4/s400/DSC_0433.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w1nIWoDXLls/VbWd5DVKbBI/AAAAAAAAA-0/sSqTnXxjRt8/s1600/DSC_0439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w1nIWoDXLls/VbWd5DVKbBI/AAAAAAAAA-0/sSqTnXxjRt8/s400/DSC_0439.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e1JZyRQY4ic/VbWd7EJVfAI/AAAAAAAAA_A/Nj7Qxo8XveE/s1600/DSC_0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e1JZyRQY4ic/VbWd7EJVfAI/AAAAAAAAA_A/Nj7Qxo8XveE/s400/DSC_0440.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MS8o3KynL0s/VbWd60SrJUI/AAAAAAAAA-8/IQMcUOuCf8w/s1600/DSC_0441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MS8o3KynL0s/VbWd60SrJUI/AAAAAAAAA-8/IQMcUOuCf8w/s400/DSC_0441.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9LLYZOrdyCo/VbWd7PG2L9I/AAAAAAAAA_E/PS1FibPASqo/s1600/DSC_0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9LLYZOrdyCo/VbWd7PG2L9I/AAAAAAAAA_E/PS1FibPASqo/s400/DSC_0445.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQ-plyhSk7U/VbWd8lOI1fI/AAAAAAAAA_U/5YE2gLnKavc/s1600/DSC_0449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQ-plyhSk7U/VbWd8lOI1fI/AAAAAAAAA_U/5YE2gLnKavc/s400/DSC_0449.JPG" width="351" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3wFwQgmxfg/VbWd9u_6tiI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/oLL88aqHo1I/s1600/DSC_0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3wFwQgmxfg/VbWd9u_6tiI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/oLL88aqHo1I/s640/DSC_0450.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-idkZL0b4JEY/VbWd-hRzIgI/AAAAAAAAA_k/uoyS-t2jK_Q/s1600/DSC_0452_picmonkeyed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-idkZL0b4JEY/VbWd-hRzIgI/AAAAAAAAA_k/uoyS-t2jK_Q/s400/DSC_0452_picmonkeyed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-FV04M4F7w/VbWeDpiSjRI/AAAAAAAABAE/xkjH6pCtp7A/s1600/DSC_0453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-FV04M4F7w/VbWeDpiSjRI/AAAAAAAABAE/xkjH6pCtp7A/s400/DSC_0453.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vN6o4yFxoI4/VbWeA-5BkmI/AAAAAAAAA_w/J7k1H77xtIs/s1600/DSC_0456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vN6o4yFxoI4/VbWeA-5BkmI/AAAAAAAAA_w/J7k1H77xtIs/s400/DSC_0456.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UPV21wLY_Ms/VbWeC-HU4bI/AAAAAAAAA_8/8XrRnaB5MCE/s1600/DSC_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UPV21wLY_Ms/VbWeC-HU4bI/AAAAAAAAA_8/8XrRnaB5MCE/s400/DSC_0460.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gRVy0gw6o8g/VbWeDRQHNBI/AAAAAAAABAA/4N3dKEXJ3ro/s1600/DSC_0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gRVy0gw6o8g/VbWeDRQHNBI/AAAAAAAABAA/4N3dKEXJ3ro/s400/DSC_0461.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s29_epcgmhU/VbWeFnnZ-rI/AAAAAAAABAY/ZUzyMM4pjzI/s1600/DSC_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s29_epcgmhU/VbWeFnnZ-rI/AAAAAAAABAY/ZUzyMM4pjzI/s400/DSC_0463.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bOdzw0J-pS4/VbWeFaQWu9I/AAAAAAAABAU/AqblPBMoISc/s1600/DSC_0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bOdzw0J-pS4/VbWeFaQWu9I/AAAAAAAABAU/AqblPBMoISc/s400/DSC_0465.JPG" width="288" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_hnkD-kU3Y/VbWeF9Dk_gI/AAAAAAAABAc/qjl9dCD19dg/s1600/DSC_0468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_hnkD-kU3Y/VbWeF9Dk_gI/AAAAAAAABAc/qjl9dCD19dg/s640/DSC_0468.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfgCeBj9Iqc/VbWeHj0JZzI/AAAAAAAABAs/2UpGVWEG-1A/s1600/DSC_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfgCeBj9Iqc/VbWeHj0JZzI/AAAAAAAABAs/2UpGVWEG-1A/s640/DSC_0469.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SU9NKPDxmek/VbWeIr9XusI/AAAAAAAABA0/E6hiwXeqtq4/s1600/DSC_0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SU9NKPDxmek/VbWeIr9XusI/AAAAAAAABA0/E6hiwXeqtq4/s400/DSC_0472.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-06ltxGT3hk8/VbWeItbk5oI/AAAAAAAABA4/jA55LplsTUY/s1600/DSC_0475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-06ltxGT3hk8/VbWeItbk5oI/AAAAAAAABA4/jA55LplsTUY/s400/DSC_0475.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hEFw_FhveaU/VbWeJdZxGPI/AAAAAAAABBE/lEYwDT58LSE/s1600/DSC_0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hEFw_FhveaU/VbWeJdZxGPI/AAAAAAAABBE/lEYwDT58LSE/s400/DSC_0476.JPG" width="253" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6glZlC9HqM/VbWeKoy3a1I/AAAAAAAABBM/VR4eBECiC3I/s1600/DSC_0477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6glZlC9HqM/VbWeKoy3a1I/AAAAAAAABBM/VR4eBECiC3I/s400/DSC_0477.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-khAFeK7_5V8/VbWeLHLh0wI/AAAAAAAABBU/mXVR2ML0RNE/s1600/DSC_0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-khAFeK7_5V8/VbWeLHLh0wI/AAAAAAAABBU/mXVR2ML0RNE/s400/DSC_0481.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xar75ixbBFg/VbWeLudOPBI/AAAAAAAABBY/NOJvbcXZ9GU/s1600/DSC_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xar75ixbBFg/VbWeLudOPBI/AAAAAAAABBY/NOJvbcXZ9GU/s400/DSC_0484.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-10889607126558678002015-07-23T15:30:00.000-06:002015-07-23T15:31:44.813-06:00Planning: From Most Experienced to the New Kid on the Block <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We often hear of planners working on various projects
throughout Missoula County. They help the public in many ways, ranging from
answering questions, identifying areas of concern, to granting permits and
weighing many sides of an issue to present a recommendation for the
Commissioners’ consideration. Those in the development business or with
questions about their land get to know our planners quite well as they jointly
navigate many processes together. This
position is one that requires a vast knowledge of not only our area – land,
laws, permits, regulations – but also of institutional knowledge. The history
of a parcel of property, and those who have owned or managed it, often comes
into play. Knowing this background can be beneficial to a tenured planner but approaching
a long-standing issue with a fresh perspective also has its strengths. Missoula
County is fortunate to have planners who have worked in the department for more
than 25 years. We also have a well-educated planner who just put on her planning
hat less than four months ago. We spoke with Missoula County’s longest serving
planner, Pat Keiley, and most recent addition, Christine Dascenzo, to learn
more about their work and experiences. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EaSvFfcO_h0/VbFbjbc_r2I/AAAAAAAAAx4/q4ZVBnOV2lM/s1600/Christine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EaSvFfcO_h0/VbFbjbc_r2I/AAAAAAAAAx4/q4ZVBnOV2lM/s640/Christine.JPG" width="432" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Job title?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat: “Planner
III.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine: “Planner
II.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>How long
have you worked in this particular position?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat: “26
years.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine: “4
months.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Previous
work experience?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat: “Worked
for Boeing in Seattle immediately following college graduation. I only lasted
six months before realizing that I wanted to return back to Missoula. I applied
for an open planner position and have been here ever since.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine: “Before
coming on as a planner, I worked as the Parks and Trails Assistant. I started
there in January, 2012. That role was a mix of administrative work with the
Parks and Trails advisory board, billing, working with the matching grants
program, noxious weed mitigation and day-to-day parks issues. Before that I
interned with a labor union in New York City, worked in Detroit as the business
manager for a labor union magazine – <i>Labor
Notes</i> and then moved to Phillipsburg
where I worked for Project Vote Smart.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Where did
you grow up?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat:
“Helena, Montana.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine: “Plymouth, Michigan. “ <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Where did
you go to college? What did you study?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat:
“University of Montana where I studied Business and Public Administration. The
program was much more broad then.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine:”
Michigan State; I majored in Political Science. I also have my masters in
Geography from the University of Montana.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How did you
come to work at Missoula County?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat: “I
knew I wanted to get back to Missoula after college and saw an ad in the paper
for a planning position. I got the job and moved back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine:
“I was studying geography at the University of Montana and saw that Parks and
Trails was hiring a part-time position. I applied and got the job.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How do you
explain the work you do to people who are unfamiliar with your role?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat: “In
general, I’m a problem solver. Specifically I help to answer questions at the
information desk, I work with planning and zoning, building permits and
floodplain regulations. I also review permits and process complaints and zoning
violations.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine: “It’s
a mix of subdivisions, zoning, land-use questions at the County. After I get past
subdivisions, people either ask more questions or the conversation stops
there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>What do you
like best about being a planner?</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat: “I
like helping people problem solve and resolve their issues. They’re often
facing a variety of different things and I like to work to help solve it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine:
“I like helping figure out what exactly their question is. This can involve
this history of their land and it seems like a big puzzle to always be
solving.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>What is the
most challenging aspect of your job?</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat: “Since
I’ve started things are really going good. The amount of time that this job
fills up in life is something that I’m always working through.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine:
“There are many different wants and needs in a given situation that I need to
try and explain to those involved and others. That is challenging while also
trying to keep health and safety as the top priority.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What is
most rewarding?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat:
“Finding solutions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine:
“Finding that one nugget of information that a land owner doesn’t know and
showing folks new tools and technology that can help them in the work they’re
doing. I also work with really dedicated people.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>What have
you learned being a planner?</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat: “I
didn’t really know zoning or the subject matter when I first started. The job
was much different then. I’ve learned how to communicate with others and I’m
always learning that; whether it’s my presentation skills or getting along with
coworkers. I had to grow. It’s all about being your own self while being a team
player to be helpful with others and staff.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine:
“When I first started, I kept thinking that I should know more than I do. It’s
one thing to conceptually know planning from your education but you need to be
in the office to learn how to actually do it.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What do you
see as being an advantage of being an experienced planner?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Pat: “I’ve grown a lot since I first started.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine:
“I wish I had knowledge of case studies.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>What do you
see as being an advantage of being a beginning planner?</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat: “I’m
still learning computers and software. That’s second nature to Christine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine:
“I am able to come into a long-standing issue without baggage and a fresh set
of eyes.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>It’s the
weekend or after hours. Where do we find you?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pat: “I
love going to Griz games – all the different sports. I also love exercising:
hiking, jogging, walking in the Mount Jumbo and Rattlesnake areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christine:
“I always enjoy my bike ride home from work. My husband and I are avid Lady
Griz basketball fans, as well. We like to travel and are going to Chile in
September.”<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-43275374530699138932015-07-17T14:54:00.002-06:002015-07-17T14:54:49.420-06:00Missoula County Subdivision Rewrite: Natural & Cultural Environment<div>
<i>Approximately one month ago, Missoula County Community & Planning
Services (CAPS) released a preliminary draft of proposed revisions to the
Missoula County Subdivision Regulations, Article 3: General Design Standards for
All Subdivisions – Section 3.1 Natural, Cultural Environment and Hazardous Lands
(renamed Natural and Cultural Environment).</i></div>
<div>
<div>
<i><br />A roughly one-month comment period commenced on June 8, 2015 and
resulted in limited comments. This draft (Draft #2, July 17, 2015) has been
forwarded on to the Planning Board for their public hearing on August 4, 2015.
The purpose of the attached memo is to invite you to comment on the second draft
and to participate in the public review process if you are able. You can also
review the memo by clicking <a href="http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/mccaps/CurrentPlanningPermitting/SRRP/Docs/HazLands/2015-07-17-HazLandsPublicMemo.pdf">here</a>.
</i></div>
<div>
<i> </i></div>
<div>
<i>For more information on the overall Subdivision Regulations REWRITE
project, visit the project webpage here: <a href="http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/mccaps/CurrentPlanningPermitting/SRRP/SubRegRewriteHOME.htm">http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/mccaps/CurrentPlanningPermitting/SRRP/SubRegRewriteHOME.htm</a></i></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Please contact Missoula County Community and Planning Services at <a href="tel:4062584657">406-258-4657</a> with further questions. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<div>
Missoula County Community and Planning Services is moving forward with updates to the subdivision regulations that address development within or adjacent to hazardous areas. Missoula County contains a variety of natural and unnatural hazards that can affect our residents, economy and communities. Such hazards include flooding, wildfire, avalanches, high voltage power and gas lines, among others. Development of land within or adjacent to these hazardous areas threatens the safety and well-being of our residents and communities.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Staff recently completed draft revisions to the Hazardous Lands portion of Article 3.1 (renamed Article 3.1 Natural and Cultural Environment). Attached to this memo is the July 2015 Hazardous Lands #2 draft and the Hazardous Lands Table of Changes.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Public Hearing Schedule</b></div>
<div>
The public hearings for these proposed revisions are as follows:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1. Missoula Consolidated Planning Board on Tuesday, August 4, 2015. This meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. in Missoula City Council Chambers, located at 140 W. Pine Street in Missoula.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. Missoula Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, September 9, 2015. This meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Room B-14 of the County Administration Building, located at 199 W. Pine Street in Missoula.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Please note there may be multiple items on the agendas of these meetings.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-31056294019236908982015-07-16T15:55:00.001-06:002015-07-16T15:55:36.629-06:00"International land managers learn conservation at UM seminar, on Potomac ranch" <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<i>On July 14, 2015, Keila Szpaller wrote a wonderful article about Denny Iverson. Denny was the chair of the Open Lands Committee for a time, and he also worked with
FVLT to place a conservation easement on his property which was supported with
Open Space Bond funds. His work has greatly benefited Missoula County throughout the years. The article is copied below. Enjoy. </i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
POTOMAC – It's haying season here, but Denny Iverson took some time out of his day Tuesday to tell conservationists from around the world about the night he understood he wouldn't be selling the family ranch.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Iverson, a farmer and rancher, was having dinner with friends and telling them about his retirement plan. The plan involved selling the acreage his father bought in the beautiful valley east of Missoula.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Iverson had worked the land as a child, and his own children had grown up on it. Hearing his plan that night, they protested.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"Dad, you can't sell the ranch. It's our home," Iverson remembered.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"I always get emotional about that because it was an epiphany for me. It wasn't my home, but it was their home."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
The epiphany came with a problem, Iverson said. All of a sudden, his retirement plan went out the window.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
To keep the land, Iverson hammered out a conservation easement with the Five Valleys Land Trust to protect the property from development. He also worked on a new plan for retirement, one that meant making the ranch more productive.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
The conservation easement is an idea stewardship manager Jenny Tollefson views as a manifestation of Iverson's private property rights, his power to protect the land in perpetuity. Five Valleys is one of 12 land trusts in the state, one of 1,500 in the country, and it holds some 145 easements in western Montana.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"It doesn't matter who owns this land. Forever, it will remain ... a largely undeveloped landscape," Tollefson said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">On Tuesday, some 24 land managers who are participants in the University of Montana Wilderness Institute's annual International Seminar on Protected Area Management stood in a half circle around Iverson, on a corner of his acreage used for calving, and heard his story. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
The institute is part of the UM School of Forestry and Conservation, and the seminar examines strategies to conserve the world's special places. From its base in Missoula, the group will visit national forests, wilderness areas, the Flathead Indian Reservation and Yellowstone National Park, among other places.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"What better place than Missoula to bring this diverse group from around the world to explore public landscapes in the western U.S. as an inspiration?" said Wilderness Institute director Natalie Dawson.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
***</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Swapna Sarangi</strong> of India was flabbergasted that Iverson likely gave up a lot of money, possibly millions of dollars, to place property into a conservation easement.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"This is absolutely rare, beyond impossible," Sarangi said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
In India, it would be hard to imagine a property owner choosing to give up rights, she said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"This is like, foolish," she said of the view the move would likely receive in her country.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
In fact, Iverson said people in the U.S. also have called him foolish. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"You are a blessed one to be foolish that way," Sarangi replied.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Iverson, though, tells people that if they are considering a conservation easement for the money, they're on the wrong track. And Tollefson said she views an easement as one way a landowner exercises – not abdicates – property rights.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
After the group discussion, Sarangi said she planned to talk to people in India about the concept of conservation easements. She said India, too, has lessons for the U.S. in conservation.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
One lesson is that farming must be done in a way that is close to nature, she said. Indians have a growing consciousness of the importance of doing so, of the dangers of pesticides in food, for instance.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"That's something India will try to do and teach to the world," Sarangi said of natural farming.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
***</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Members of the group</strong> also came from Palestine, Georgia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Moldova, Brazil, Guyana, Israel, Zambia, Armenia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Gabon, Ecuador and Nepal. They already spent two days in Washington, D.C., to meet with the U.S. Forest Service.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"They're conservation heroes," said Jim Burchfield, dean of the College of Forestry and Conservation.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
In some cases, land managers in other countries don't have any other colleagues to help them in their job to protect the landscape. They deal with poaching and human encroachment, and Tollefson said the U.S. already has dealt with similar problems.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
"We've made all these mistakes," she said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
The mistakes offer lessons, and participants can find them at the seminar. People go into conservation because they love the outdoors, Tollefson said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">To protect it?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">"I learned very quickly that it's really all about the people," Tollefson said.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px;">Source: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">http://missoulian.com/news/local/international-land-managers-learn-conservation-at-um-seminar-on-potomac/article_cefb7687-6a11-566a-a41c-21e95a1cb2bc.html</span></span></div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-42158104426946419892015-07-06T13:52:00.000-06:002015-07-06T13:52:22.717-06:00Celebrating Montana's First Open Land Month<h4>
<i>Missoula County is among many proud partners celebrating Montana's first Open Land Month this July. Our Community and Planning Services staff have been instrumental in bringing this recognition to light, especially Kali Becher, Missoula County's Rural Landscape Scientist. Kali's dedication to her work and the work of Montana's Open Land Month is truly inspiring. To honor MOLM, Kali has written the following editorial about what this month means to her and how open lands impact all of us in Western Montana. Enjoy. </i></h4>
<div>
____________________________________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This
July has been designated as Montana Open Land Month by Governor Bullock as a
way to recognize the importance of open land to our way of life and well-being.
Open Land Month helps to remind Montanans of the importance and value of public
and private open land that surrounds us. For many of us this is a key part of
why we live here. We celebrate and appreciate these places throughout the year,
while hunting, fly-fishing, bailing hay or driving through our beautiful state.
In addition, Montana Open Land Month provides a special opportunity, not only
to recognize the importance of open land and celebrate the places we love, but
to recognize the tremendous efforts that have gone towards keeping them whole. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Through
working for Missoula County, I have the opportunity to meet some incredible
people and learn about inspiring work being done by private landowners,
organizations and public land management agencies. Some of these efforts have
been highlighted through the County’s Land Stewardship Award. These individuals
play a critical role in resource conservation and do it voluntarily. In 2013 I
had the opportunity to meet Dave and Kay Owen, landowners in the Swan Valley,
who received the Land Stewardship Award that year. Walking through stands of
towering lodgepole pines and carefully planted western larch was truly humbling
as it showed the incredible amount of care and work the Owens have put into
their property. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Bf8ZPlXMVU/VZrZxVgxtxI/AAAAAAAAAr0/cpPqC7KZnm8/s1600/FLVT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Bf8ZPlXMVU/VZrZxVgxtxI/AAAAAAAAAr0/cpPqC7KZnm8/s400/FLVT.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marshall Wildlife Management Area.</b> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Photo Credit: Five Valleys Land Trust. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In
addition to efforts by individuals to care for our open land, there is also
incredible work being done by organizations. Since the passage of the Open
Space Bond in 2006, the County has worked with local land trusts on projects to
protect water quality, wildlife habitat, working lands, and maintain open land
and scenic landscapes. These projects have involved private landowners
voluntarily protecting their land with conservation easements, public agencies
protecting vital wildlife habitat, and providing access to rivers and trails.
Since 2006, Open Space Bond funds have been used to protect more than 25,000
acres in Missoula County. This level of achievement could not have been reached
without the dedicated land trust staff, private landowners and agency
employees. As a result, Missoula County is full of diverse and beautiful places
that will be here for future generations to enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Partnership
agencies such as the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Montana
Fish, Wildlife and Parks play a vital role in giving residents and visitors
access to our open lands. In Missoula
County alone, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently created the 24,170 acre
Marshall Wildlife Management Area; a beautiful landscape enjoyed by both people
and wildlife in the scenic Seeley Lake area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">These
lands represent our way of life and are inextricably linked to our well-being.
They tie us together—upstream to downstream, valleys to mountain tops. Take
some time this month to enjoy the abundant open land near you, and celebrate
the people and the places that make Montana such a great place to live, work
and play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115633488033481041.post-28935733096373422872015-07-01T09:07:00.001-06:002015-07-01T09:07:29.980-06:00Stage 1 Fire Restrictions FAQ<h3>
Missoula County Commissioners have voted to impose Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.</h3>
<h4>
As of July 3 at 12:01 a.m. these restrictions will go into effect. To learn more about what this means to those in Missoula County, please see the following Q&A. </h4>
<div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">What is a Missoula County Stage 1 Fire Restriction?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">Stage 1
Fire Restrictions are brought before the Board of County Commissioners for
consideration. Once the resolution is passed, this restriction prohibits the
use of fireworks on both public and private lands within Missoula County. </span><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">Restrictions extend the perpetual prohibition of fireworks from County
parks, Forest Service and State lands to private lands within the county.</span><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">When are restrictions effective?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">The
County Commissioners voted to impose Stage 1 Restrictions on June 30, 2015
during their administrative meeting. The Stage 1 Restrictions will be effective
</span><b><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">12:01 a.m. Friday, July 3, 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">Why isn’t the restriction
effective immediately?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Delayed
implementation allows agencies to ensure the effective date is the same across
all agencies. It gives every entity time to get through their adoption process
and it gives land managers the time to post notices on the ground. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">Why did the Board of County Commissioners approve Stage 1 Restrictions?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">This move comes on the heels of the Missoula
County Fire Protection Association’s determination that fire danger in Missoula
County is Extreme. That determination is in consultation with all local fire
agencies, land management agencies and local government and is based on
information related to weather, fuels, and current and expected conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">Who enforces these restrictions? <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">Missoula County and city law enforcement will be
responding to the best of their ability and as resources allow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">Are any fireworks allowed?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">Because they pose a
fire hazard, all fireworks including the following are prohibited: snakes,
smoke bombs and sparklers. This is contrary to what is allowable within
Missoula </span><a href="http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/1763/Fireworks"><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">city</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">
limits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">Can I sell fireworks?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Stage 1 does not prohibit the
sale of fireworks. Stage 2 restrictions prohibit the sale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">Can I have a campfire?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Building, maintaining, attending
or using a fire or campfire are prohibited unless:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">a.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The person is using a device solely fueled by
liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">b.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The person is conducting the above activities in
designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written
posted notice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">c.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an
organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">d.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">All land within a city boundary is exempted (maybe
– waiting to see if the city enforces the same)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">Can I smoke under Stage 1
Restrictions? <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Smoking, except within an
enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in
an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all
flammable materials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">Who can I contact if fireworks are being used?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">The Office of Emergency Management staffs a
fireworks report line. That number is 406-258-4850. The public is encouraged to
report the use of fireworks. To report a fire, call 9-1-1. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">Are public displays still permitted?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">The Southgate Mall
Fourth of July fireworks display and the Missoula Osprey post-game displays are
only those permitted. Those events have gone through fire marshal’s office for
approval. The displays are provided by people who are licensed, bonded
and insured. They have a pre-approved safety plan in place. The public is
encouraged to attend those shows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">What are the publics’
ramifications if Stage 1 Restrictions are ignored? <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Violation of these restrictions
is a misdemeanor offense. Violators are subject to imposition of reimbursement
for costs incurred for fire suppression activities resulting from prohibited
activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">Who is held financial responsible for a fire under Stage 1
Restrictions? <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">Stage 1 Restrictions prohibit all fireworks
and create severe restrictions on campfires and smoking. Stage 1 Restrictions
also mean that responding agencies can hold an individual that starts a fire as
a result of fireworks financially liable for the costs of fighting the fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">How long does this restriction last?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">In
accordance with §7-5-104 MCA, a second reading of this ordinance is waived due
to the emergency conditions existing in Missoula County and it shall become
effective on passage and approval and remain in effect for no more than 90
days.</span><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid #71685A 6.0pt; border: solid #71685A 1.0pt; margin-left: .1in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #71685A .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #71685A 6.0pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-border-themecolor: accent2; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 4.0pt 0in 2.0pt;">
<h2 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 112%;">How can I stay informed?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">Missoula County will be sharing all information
related to Stage 1 restrictions with the media and on our </span><a href="https://twitter.com/MissoulaCounty"><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"> and </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Missoula.County"><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"> pages.
We encourage the public to check with these resources and share information to
keep our community updated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has a helpful
website if you’re interested in learning more about Stage 1 and 2 fire
restrictions: </span><a href="http://fwp.mt.gov/news/drought/definitions.html"><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">http://fwp.mt.gov/news/drought/definitions.html</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">. </span><span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Katie Klietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11579978731980582433noreply@blogger.com0