Residents gathered at the Swan Valley School on Thursday night as the first joint meeting between Missoula and Lake County commissioners was held.
The topic is one filled with mixed emotions, will Condon secede from Missoula County? Many residents said that they are not in favor of the secession and they are happy with the services Missoula County provides.
Ken Donovan with the Swan Valley Preservation Group says the meeting was a for gathering information and getting questions answered. And the commissioners say as the idea of the secession moves forward, more information will come out.
Lake County officials say they can't guarantee to provide the same amount of services Missoula County already does to the Swan Valley. Those in favor of leaving Missoula County look forward to less regulations, while those opposed fear their services will be taken away.
Donovan says he won't push a petition immediately and 50% or more of voters must sign the petition to secede in order for there to be a vote in this next year.
The meeting saw a good turn out Thursday evening and grew pretty heated at times. Both Lake County and Missoula County would have to approve the secession in the general election.
(from December 3, 2009) A joint meeting between the Lake and Missoula County commissioners is set for Thursday in the small community of Condon where residents will have the chance to hear more about a plan some are pushing for the town to secede from Missoula County.
It's about the same distance to Polson or Missoula and one question being raised is which county is best for the residents living Condon.
Lake County Commissioner Paddy Trusler says they will have a hard time delivering services to all existing areas, and adding an additional area will be challenging if it happens.
He added that in the past 50 years there has not been a successful secession, but its not up to Trusler to decide, it's up to the voters.
The meeting set for Thursday will allow people who live in Condon to gather more information about seceding from Missoula County.
Trusler will be there, as well as Missoula County Commissioner Bill Carey. Carey says he will be curious to hear what people have to say, what questions they want to ask and how they react to information given by both sides.
Ken Donovan with the Swan Valley Preservation Group spawned the idea. Some people in Condon believe Lake County is a better fit for them, feeling fed up with Missoula County regulations on building permits and road maintenance.
Carey says they have good services like the building inspection program because it protects people.
Lake County doesn't have residential building codes, but they are the only county in the state zoned for density, something that could affect Condon. And Trusler says certainly if Condon moves over, that area would have to zone for density.
So, if Condon decides to be a part of Lake County they will have to wait, as the measure goes up for vote on the general election in November.
Carey believes its up to the people, if they feel better about being in another county and they get 50% or more of the votes, than they are free to move.
The meeting is this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Swan Valley Gym in Condon.
(from December 1, 2009) A meeting is set for this week in the Swan which will allow residents of Condon to gather more information about possibly seceding from Missoula county and joining Lake County.
This meeting will involve both Lake County and Missoula County Commissioners, as well as the group pushing the secession, the Swan Valley Preservation Group.
It was last year the idea took flight when the group voiced their idea to residents at a packed Swan Valley Community Council meeting.
Some residents of Condon believe in some ways they fit better with folks in Lake County, they also feel fed up with Missoula County regulations on building permits, open burning policies and road maintenance procedures. However other residents are on the fence and aren't so sure the secession is the best idea.
The meeting is Thursday December 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at the Swan Valley Gym in Condon. Missoula County Commissioners will hold a joint meeting with Lake County Commissioners on secession.
(from November 9, 2009) A Swan Valley group is still pushing the idea of having the small community of Condon secede from Missoula County and join Lake County.
Now, a meeting with both Missoula and Lake County Commissioners has been scheduled.
Back in April residents packed into the Swan Valley Community Council to hear from the group presenting the proposed secession, they are the Swan Valley Preservation Group.
The Swan Valley Preservation Group is excited to hear from both sides and hopes more information will unveil itself at this meeting. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for December 3rd.
"We want to make sure that this makes sense and its something we want to do and that its well thought out. I hope they are questions and issues that can be answered at this meeting and if we have to do follows up that's fine too," explained Ken Donovan of the Swan Valley Preservation Group.
Some residents believe Missoula County is too slow on building permits, too hard on open burning policies and difficult to deal with when it comes to road maintenance.
However, others say business licenses would have to be switched among other things if Condon secedes.
(from September 2, 2009) A Swan Valley Group is still pushing the idea of having the small community of Condon secede from Missoula County and join Lake County.
Back in April, many residents packed into the Swan Valley Community Council to hear from the group presenting the proposed secession, the Swan Valley Preservation Group.
But while Missoula County Commissioners say it would be a very difficult process, the group is still gathering more information in order to present the public with a petition.
Some businesses owners say they would have to switch over business licenses if the county secedes. But the Swan Valley Preservation Group believes Missoula County is too slow on building permits, too hard on open burning policies and difficult to deal with when it comes to road maintenance.
Some in the Swan Valley believe that another town meeting could help to answer some of those questions.
"What I think needs to be done is to have a representative from Missoula and one from Lake County and mainly just answer questions about what Lake County can provide and what Missoula County already provides" said Swan Valley Community Council Chairman Mike Holmes.
County Commissioners in Both Missoula County and Lake County also must pass the measure, if the Swan Valley Preservation Group gets that far.
(from April 22, 2009) There are some Condon residents who are unhappy with some Missoula county bond issues and building regulations, and now they want to secede from Missoula County.
Missoula County Commissioners heard their complaints and concerns on Tuesday evening during a special meeting held in Condon.
Members of the Swan Valley Preservation Group are pushing the idea of leaving Missoula County, saying that neighboring Lake County understands the way of life in the Swan Valley better than officials in Missoula do.
President Ken Donovan said the idea is not political in any way, but instead revolves around issues that affect Condon locals, like taxes, burning regulations and building permits.
But, Missoula County Commissioner Jean Curtiss told those attending the meeting that there are many things that Missoula County offers the Swan that Lake County just can't, like a library and resident deputy sheriff.
The meeting was used as a way to share information. But if the issue is pushed hard enough, then both Missoula and Lake counties would have to vote in favor of the move to switch counties.
If the Swan Valley Preservation Group is able to get the ball rolling, any vote on the change would not happen until Spring of 2010.
