All Community Council Town Hall October 28, 2026

Missoula County’s All Community Council Town Hall on October 28, 2026, included an update on a newly launched HUD Community Development Block Grant program to help eligible homeowners replace failing septic systems. The program was described as having $500,000 available and offers financial and technical assistance; homeowners must meet income, property, and septic-failure requirements. Staff also presented a draft data center study finding potential impacts to water, air quality, energy use, noise, heat, and public health. The study recommends developing protective zoning regulations, continuing county involvement in the Public Service Commission’s large-new-load docket so data centers bear their electricity and transmission costs, and engaging in related state legislative discussions. Staff noted that Montana’s 2025 Right to Compute Act constrains local regulation; the county may extend its interim zoning moratorium while legislative changes are considered. Public comment and further review are scheduled, with no final zoning decision or procurement award made at this meeting.

Community councils also reported budgets and expenses, including Clinton’s reported $7,478 in expenditures for fiscal year 2026 and smaller costs for supplies, events, signage, and Zoom services across councils. These were informational reports; no spending motions or procurement approvals were identified. Other updates covered the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, community engagement, and council discussions about a possible special district and a Bear Smart Community designation.