On the agenda: Missoula County Bonner-Milltown Community Council Meeting — Data center (Oct 12)

Bonner Milltown Community Council
Bonner School Cafeteria and Via Zoom
October 12th, 2026, at 7:00 PM
To Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7489963769?pwd=c1pIYVcvR3pNUFYvM0Z1YVdteDJZUT09
Meeting ID is: 748 996 3769 Password:
Bonner
Phone In: 1(253)215-8782 US (Tacoma)
About the Bonner-Milltown Community Council: Our Role & Responsibilities
The Bonner-Milltown Community Council exists to promote the interests and welfare of the residents
of our area — the neighborhoods and communities within Bonner School District #14, including Bonner,
Milltown, and West Riverside.
What we do:
• We serve as a liaison between residents and the Missoula Board of County Commissioners,
carrying our community's concerns, comments, and suggestions to the County.
• We provide a forum for residents to discuss local issues, concerns, and opportunities.
• We share information back to residents about issues before the Commissioners that may affect
our communities.
• We offer leadership and support for community efforts to guide orderly growth and development
in our area.
• We serve as a channel of communication with local, state, and federal officials on matters of
concern to our community.
What's important to understand about our role:
• The Council is purely advisory. We have no power to levy taxes, approve or deny projects, or
impose decisions on residents. Our role is to inform and advise — the authority to decide rests
with the County Commissioners.
• Because we are advisory to the Commissioners, we cannot directly comment to tribal, state,
federal, or other agencies. When our community wishes to weigh in on a project, we forward our
recommendations to the Commissioners, who may then act accordingly.
• Our seven members are appointed by the Commissioners, must live within the Council Area, and
serve as volunteers without compensation.
• When the Council takes a position on an issue, it does so by majority vote at a properly noticed
public meeting.
Our goal is simple: to listen, to inform, and to make sure our community's voice reaches the decisionmakers who represent us. We encourage every resident to participate.
Additional Notes:
• On any action or discussion item, the Chair may limit public participation to one question and
one comment per person, each limited to three minutes.
• The Community Council is not a debate forum. We ask the community members make statements
to the Council rather than direct questions or responses to other members of the public.
• Expectation: All Community Council members and members of the public are expected to
conduct themselves in a civil and respectful manner toward all individuals present.

Call to order: (Please put cell phones on vibrate or silent)
Roll Call:
Approval of Agenda:
Approval of Minutes: September 14th, 2026
Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda 1st Opportunity:
Bonner History Tidbit:
Announcements:
• Brett Stevenson – resigned from the community council on September 14, 2026
• All Community Council Town Hall (Sept. 23) recap – summary of County updates available
from the Secretary. Next All Community Council meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m.
• Treasurer’s Office services closer to home – starting in October, vehicle registration and title
transfers, license plates, and property tax payments are available at:
○ Lolo School & Community Library (5305 Farm Lane) – 2nd & 3rd Wednesday, 4–6
p.m., beginning Oct. 14
○ Frenchtown School & Community Library (17620 Frontage Rd) – 2nd & 3rd Thursday,
4–6 p.m., beginning Oct. 15
○ Clinton School Annex/Food Pantry (20397 E Mullan Rd) – 3rd Wednesday, 3:45–5:15
p.m., beginning Oct. 21
○ Seeley Lake Foundation Building – regular office hours continue. Questions:
[email protected] or 406-258-4747
• October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month – the Missoula County Rural Program offers
free, confidential rural crime victim advocates: 406-258-3830 (Mon–Fri, 8–5). For 24/7 help,
call the YWCA Missoula crisis line at 1-800-483-7858. Book club on No Visible Bruises: Oct.
19 at noon, Missoula Public Library (hybrid). Purple Thursday: Oct. 22.
• Free virtual support group for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence,
and stalking who live outside Missoula city limits – Wednesdays, Oct. 21–Nov. 18, 9–11 a.m.
via Zoom. Register by texting Erin Goudreau at 406-540-1505.
• Community Council board training – Friday, Oct. 30, 2:30–5:30 p.m., Missoula Public Library.
Required for new members; recommended for all.
Guest Speakers:
• CoBuild Montana / Ecocity Builders – A statewide initiative based in Missoula creating
collaborative and cooperative pathways to housing, food security, energy resilience, forest
health, and other issues communities bring forward. Over the past year CoBuild has worked on
Bonner-Milltown questions — workforce housing at Blackfoot Crossing and other uses at the
Bonner Industrial Park, including biocarbon/biochar production and a possible community
center, grocery and regional food outlet — and ran workshops with a University of Montana
student cohort open to area residents. What has been learned so far, possible new ideas and
options, and the CoBuild Summit at the UC Center, October 20–22 – Kirstin Miller.
• Missoula Rural Fire District – Monthly report on call types and significant incidents in the area
– Interim Chief Kirk Paulson.
• Missoula County Comprehensive Plan Update (Growth Policy) – Overview of the County’s
public engagement process over the coming year, including a community-wide survey,
listening sessions, mapping workshops, policy meetings, and community polls, and how
council members and residents can participate – Izzie Varley, AICP, Planning Manager,
Missoula County Planning, Development & Sustainability.

Bouquet Period:
Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda 2nd Opportunity:
Communications:
• West Riverside Park barn – the County's survey on the barn's future and on community
priorities for the park closes Oct. 30.
• West Riverside Park playground – County fundraising is underway with a community partner;
design target roughly 3,000 square feet, construction in the spring, grand opening early 2027.
See Action Items and Appendix A.
• Woody Mountain Overlook Trail – Montana FWP awarded approximately $15,000; a County
trails bond request is pending. Construction anticipated spring 2027.
• Community Health Assessment – the CASPER household survey runs Tuesday, Oct. 13
through Saturday, Oct. 17; volunteers 18 and older are still needed.
• Data center emergency zoning study – staff are drafting the study under the one-year
moratorium, with public presentations planned for early November.
• Rural grants open – Community Parks & Recreation Grants ($90,000 available) close 5 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30; Micro Grants ($100–$500) are accepted monthly.
• City / community signage – a micro grant of up to $500 was approved; County Public Works is
working with MDT on encroachment permits for six signs (Pine Grove, West Riverside and
Piltzville). The County deadline was extended to Oct. 31.
• Voter registration – update your registration if you have moved; the federal general election is
Nov. 3.
• Bear aware – bears are in hyperphagia this fall; secure garbage if you live in the expanded bear
buffer zone.
• Wildfire readiness – free home assessments from the County wildfire mitigation team, plus
location-based emergency alerts.
• New official council email (Ordinance 2026-001) –
[email protected] will be a County-managed shared mailbox; all
council members receive its mail. Members must confirm the email address they want council
mail sent to by the Oct. 28 All Community Council meeting. Setup expected around Nov. 1; the
council Gmail will then be retired and the email distribution list moved over.
• Agendas and minutes – now posted on the County’s CivicClerk public portal (filter by
“Community Council”), also linked from the Bonner community profile page.
• Letters of support – as an advisory body, the council sends letters only to the Board of County
Commissioners, after a formal vote at a noticed meeting with the draft attached to the agenda.
The County then routes or attaches the letter as appropriate. See Action Items and Appendix A.
• Ordinance follow-up – the County is requesting access to council Zoom and social media
accounts; the County Communications Manager is contacting each council about its Facebook
page. The 2026 Community Council Handbook is online, with printed copies being delivered.

Treasurer's Report:
• Annual Budget Report Out – due at the Oct. 28 All Community Council meeting (about 5
minutes): summary of council activities, summary of expenditures (June 2025–July 2026), and
year-to-date status of council accounts.
Action Items:
• Motion: Approve the Bonner-Milltown Community Council letter of support for the West
Riverside Park Playground project, addressed to the Missoula County Board of County
Commissioners, and authorize the Chair to sign and submit it to the Commissioners – see
Appendix A
• Motion: Formation of a Community Development Sub-Committee (brought back from the
September 14, 2026 meeting).
• Motion: To accept Annual Report to Commissioners – see Appendix B
Discussion Items:
1. Blackfoot Crossing – Wastewater Treatment Plant (Sept. 23 Commissioner update: idea only;
no TIF application has been filed)
2. Missoula County Data AI Center Moratorium (Sept. 23 Commissioner update: draft zoning will
be released for public comment)
3. City / Community Signage – encroachment permits and installation
4. Milltown State Park – River closures this summer and next
5. Discuss community development steering group and past effort there
6. New County council email and distribution list – setup and member email addresses
Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda Final Opportunity:
Next Meeting: November 9, 2026
Agenda Items for Next Meeting:

Adjournment:
Council Members: Jessica Glebke, Chair; Kaaren James, Vice Chair; Emily Herndon, Secretary; Cassie
Hemphill, Treasurer; Members at Large: Keturah Huisken, John Wilke, (one open spot available); email
[email protected]

Appendix A – Draft Letter (for council vote)
Bonner Milltown Community Council
PO Box 655
Milltown, MT 59802
October 12, 2026
Board of County Commissioners
Missoula County
199 W. Pine St.
Missoula, MT 59802
Re: West Riverside Playground Project – Letter of Support
Dear Commissioners:
The Bonner Milltown Community Council writes to express our full support for the West Riverside Park
Playground project. West Riverside Park is the only public park serving the West Riverside community
and provides vital neighborhood infrastructure for residents to gather, play, and connect.
The park’s former playground served local families for decades but was recently removed after the aging
equipment posed safety concerns. This has left the community without any play amenities. Replacing
the playground will restore an important recreational resource and provide a safe, welcoming place for
local children to play and spend time outdoors without the need to drive into the urban core of Missoula.
This project matters to our community for three reasons. First, safety: the previous equipment was
removed because it was no longer safe, and modern, code-compliant equipment will give families a place
to play without that risk. Second, healthy development: unstructured outdoor play is how young children
build balance, coordination, strength, and confidence, and a neighborhood playground is one of the few
places where that happens daily rather than occasionally. Third, access: West Riverside is a rural
community, and without a playground, families who lack a reliable vehicle or time to spare cannot take
their children to one at all. Driving into Missoula is no substitute for a park within walking distance.
West Riverside Park is also our neighborhood’s only public gathering space, and right now it offers
nothing for children once they arrive.
Restoring the playground will provide lasting physical and social benefits to local children, families, and
the broader community. We respectfully ask the Board of County Commissioners to support this project
as an investment in the future of West Riverside.
Sincerely,
Bonner Milltown Community Council

Appendix B – Report to Commissioners (for council vote)

Bonner-Milltown Community Council
Annual Report to the Missoula County Commissioners
To: Missoula County Board of County Commissioners
From: Bonner-Milltown Community Council (BMCC)
Period: September 2025 – August 2026
Prepared by: Emily Herndon, Secretary · September 26, 2026
As required under the 2026 bylaws, this report summarizes the council's activities, spending and
account status for the past year.

Overview
BMCC held 11 regular meetings and 1 special meeting this fiscal year, all hybrid at Bonner School and
on Zoom (no August meeting). The council spent very little, closed out its small bank balance, and
moved to county-paid expenses.
•
•
•

Leadership: Rick Hall retired as Chair in July 2026 after five years; Jessica Glebke was elected Chair. Jane
Kipp stepped down as Vice Chair.
New members: Keturah Huisken, Brett Stevenson and Cassie Hemphill were seated in July 2026, filling
three open seats.
Governance: Adopted the 2026 county ordinance, Resolution 2026-007 and 2026 bylaws. Meetings now
open with a statement of the council's advisory role, and public comment can be time-limited on highturnout items.

Money
The council opened the year with $110.41 and ended at $0. Spending went to the community picnic
banner and signs. Starting in November 2025, the county pays council bills directly instead of giving
councils funds.
Date
Sept 2025
Mar 9, 2026
Apr 13, 2026
Jun 8, 2026
Jul 13, 2026

Item
Opening balance (treasurer requested $800 to refund the account)
Remaining balance donated to Friends of Two Rivers for a reusable
picnic banner
PO Box renewal invoice received; check placed on hold
FY 2027 budget approved: PO Box, community signage, Zoom,
summer picnic, $300 contingency
Picnic banners and yard signs, total $176.87 (half covered by Gary
Matson); council reimbursed Rick Hall for the rest

Amount
$110.41
–$110.41
$88 (pending)
$900 (budget)
$88.43

Account status: $0 council balance. The county now holds the council's sub-accounts, and the old
Trail West bank account has been closed. The banner and signs came in under the roughly $300 set
aside for them.

Motions and Action Items
The council passed 12 substantive motions, all unanimously, and sent 6 support or comment letters.
Routine agenda, minutes and adjournment motions are not listed.
Date
Jul 13, 2026
Jul 13, 2026
Jul 13, 2026

Motion or action
Elect Jessica Glebke as Chair
Reimburse Rick Hall $88.43 for picnic banners and signs
Resident letter on the Bonner Mill data center

Jun 8, 2026
May 11, 2026

Approve FY 2027 budget ($900)
Limit public comment to 3 minutes per person after data
center speakers
Donate $110.41 to Friends of Two Rivers for a reusable
picnic banner
Letter supporting neighborhood signage grant (Piltzville,
West Riverside, Pine Grove)
Letter supporting History Center native garden signage
Adopt Blackfoot Crossing community letter (summary of
community views, not an endorsement); sent to
Commissioners Dec 22
Letter supporting County's Trail Stewardship Grant for the
West Riverside trail
Seat alternate Jessica Glebke as voting member for
Blackfoot Crossing (Chair Hall recused)
Continue support letters for Bonner School PTA
playground grants
Letter to MDT requesting Piltzville community signage
Blackfoot Crossing letter of support requested by
developer

Mar 9, 2026
Feb 9, 2026
Feb 9, 2026
Dec 17, 2025

Dec 17, 2025
Dec 8, 2025
Nov 10, 2025
Oct 13, 2025
Oct–Nov 2025

Result
Passed
Passed
Held for revision;
application withdrawn and
county moratorium in
place
Passed (roll call)
Passed
Passed
Passed
Passed
Passed

Passed
Passed
Passed
Passed; sent
No position taken; led to
the December community
letter

Key Activities
The council's main role this year was hosting public forums on two large land-use proposals, alongside
regular community updates.
•

•

•
•
•

Blackfoot Crossing (former West Bonner log yard): Developer and county presentations at most meetings.
Commissioners approved the rezoning in July 2026 with the travel plaza removed. Resident questions on
the wastewater plant continue as a standing item.
Bonner Mill AI data center: Four meetings of county, state and expert Q&A (March–June 2026), with large
turnout. The application was withdrawn and the county adopted a one-year data center moratorium by
July.
Community signage: Rural Impact Grant for Piltzville, West Riverside and Pine Grove signs was declined; a
micro grant (up to $500) was pursued instead.
Other topics: Proposed Blackfoot River gravel pit, train quiet zone, Milltown State Park river closures, West
Riverside Park playground and trail, and a new community development discussion.
Guest speakers: Missoula MPO, Missoula Public Health (vaccine survey; May 7 immunization clinic at
Bonner School), County Rural Grants, DNRC, Montana Tech and MEIC.

•

Community connection: Monthly Bonner History Tidbit with the History Center, legislative candidate
introductions, and the annual Free Community Picnic on July 29, 2026 with new reusable banners and
signs.

Since the Reporting Period
At the September 14 meeting, the council forwarded a community statement on data centers to the
Commissioners and filled its remaining officer seats. Officers are now Chair Jessica Glebke, Vice
Chair Kaaren James, Secretary Emily Herndon and Treasurer Cassie Hemphill. A motion to form a
community development subcommittee failed and returns in October. County Public Works expects
the six neighborhood signs to be installed by October 31.