In late October, County Commissioners had a third meeting with the county planning department to discuss proposed revisions to the county’s zoning regulations. The first two meetings weren’t publicized and meeting noticed weren’t emailed to media or other county staff as is typically the case for commission meetings. Only a few members of the public attended the third meeting on
Read more
Cascade County Commissioners are being asked to consider a new fee for cattle producers to cover predator control. Commissioners discussed the proposal during Wednesday’s work session, but Commissioner Jim Larson said he wanted better public notice of the proposal. State law allows for the establishment of the fee if 51 percent or more of cattle producers in the county sign
Read more
406 Arena was approved for two special use permits during Thursday’s county Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. Jessica and Dusty Fryberger purchased the 180-acre property off U.S. 89 in Vaughn a few months ago and have been working to restore and improve the property that had been steadily declining, according to supporters of the project on Thursday. Now that their
Read more
Farmers and ranchers from across Montana shared their concerns related to trade policies and the upcoming Farm Bill with Sen. Jon Tester during a listening session in Great Falls on Saturday. Many of their concerns focused on the uncertainty related to international trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement with between the U.S., Canada and Mexico; and
Read more
A tax abatement for Montana Eggs LLC is back on the agenda for the Cascade County Commission. The commission denied the tax abatement in December in a 1-1 vote when Commissioner Jane Weber was out of town. Commissioner Jim Larson voted against the abatement and Commissioner Joe Briggs voted in favor. Dan Vuckovich of Anderson Zurmuehlen, representing Montana Eggs, sent
Read more
The Cascade County Commission split the vote for the requested Montana Egg, LLC tax abatement, effectively denying the request. Commissioner Jim Larson voted against the tax abatement and Commissioner Joe Briggs voted in support. Commissioner Jane Weber was absent. The proposed abatement was for new or expanding businesses and is allowable under Montana state law. The abatement lasts for 10
Read more
Todd Hanson, spokesman for the proposed Madison Food Park, spoke to Neighborhood Council 5 on Monday. Edward Friesen, the principal developer, also attended the meeting, but did not speak. The project is outside the city limits and outside the council’s district, but if approved, it would impact the area and the council often invites speakers from major developments to provide
Read more
The Montana Stockgrowers Association, Cross Four Ranch and JD.com, one of China’s largest retailers, have signed an agreement to purchase a minimum of $200 million in Montana-sourced beef over the next several years. Sen. Steve Daines was a key player in getting the deal and JD.com will also seek to invest up to another $100 million to build a processing
Read more
The proposed Madison Food Park would be constructed on a roughly 3,000 acre property on the southern side of Highway 89 between Great Falls and Belt. The property is zoned agricultural rural currently and under the county zoning regulations, the proposed meat processing plant would be allowable with a Special Use Permit. Brian Clifton, county planning director, said that the
Read more
Some photos of letters have been circulating Facebook and have been presented as letters from the developer requesting a zone change. The was not the case, according to Cascade County planning officials. The document was an internal memo was a half-sheet of paper used as scratch paper and a yellow sticky note was attached with a list of other definitions
Read more