Recent News

Community Wildlife Alert: We've Had a Visitor In Town, Staying Safe Around Moose

​Moose are a beautiful part of our local landscape, but they are powerful wild animals. Whether you are walking, driving, or simply in your yard, please follow these critical safety rules to prevent dangerous encounters.

 Maintain a Safe Distance (The Golden Rule)

  • If a moose reacts to you, you are too close. If it stops feeding, raises the hair on its neck, or pins its ears back, back away immediately.
  • ​Never approach a moose. Do not try to feed it, pet it, or take a close-up picture. It is dangerous and illegal.

Be aware of seasonal risks: 

  • Spring/Early Summer: Cow (mother) moose with calves are extremely protective and aggressive. Never get between a cow and her calf.
  • ​Fall (Rut): Bull (male) moose are easily agitated and more aggressive during mating season.
  • Keep all dogs leashed. Moose view dogs as predators (like wolves) and will often charge to defend themselves against a dog, putting you and your pet at risk.

 Roadway Safety

  • Slow Down at dawn, dusk, and during bad weather when moose are most active and difficult to see.
  •  ​Flash your hazard lights to alert other drivers if you see a moose near or on the road.
  • If you see one, look for another. Moose often travel in groups, especially a mother with her young.

Scenarios.

Moose is Calm.
Give it a wide berth—at least 50 feet. Talk calmly or make noise to let it know you are there. Slowly walk away in the direction you came from. 

Moose Shows Signs of Aggression.
Look for pinned ears, raised hackles (hair on the neck), or lip-licking. Do not wait. Back away and find cover immediately.

Moose Charges You.
RUN! Unlike with bears, it is okay to run from a moose. Get behind a large, solid object like a sturdy tree, a car, or a building. Moose usually will not chase you far once they have driven you off. 

If Knocked Down.
Curl into a tight ball and use your arms to protect your head and vital organs. Stay still until the moose leaves the area.

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Balancing Community Safety and Pet Protection

Mayor Wiley and the staff would like to address the recent concern regarding a cat that was caught in a trap and taken to the shelter, where it was later adopted by another family. We understand how difficult and heartbreaking this situation has been for the family involved, and we wish to extend our deepest sympathy.

This was not the result of intent to seize a specific animal, but rather an unfortunate circumstance that arose while the Town was responding to a resident’s complaints about stray cats causing a nuisance on their property. 

Following town codes and state/county codes and procedures, efforts were made to contact residents within the vicinity to identify the animal. Despite those efforts, the cat remained unidentified and was taken to the county shelter, where it was adopted before it could be reclaimed, sixteen days before the animal was reported missing.

There are significant public health and safety concerns regarding stray animals, and the duty of the Town governance is to protect the health and safety of Town residents. Abiding by and participating in the observance and enforcement of the codes of governance are shared by all and are an important aspect of living in a community.

What might it look like if the Town hadn’t taken action?

Scenario: For weeks, neighbors were calling Town Hall about cats roaming the streets, knocking over trash cans, using flower beds as litter boxes. Some folks reported that their own pets were being chased or scratched. At night, the sound of fighting and yowling kept families awake. One resident even shared that her child was attacked while playing in the yard.

In this scenario, if the Town had not taken action, those calls would have only grown louder. Instead of people being upset that action was taken, the community would be upset that no action at all was taken. Social media would be filled with posts such as:

  • “Why isn’t the Town doing anything about all these stray cats?”
  • “The stray problem is out of control, and nobody at Town Hall cares.”
  • “If this was a pack of stray dogs, it would have been handled already. Why are cats being ignored?” 
  • “If nothing is done, there will be kittens everywhere and the problem will double in a few months.”

In that scenario, the Town would be accused of ignoring public complaints and letting the problem grow.

The truth is, we responded to the concerns that were brought to us. And while a deeply sad and unfortunate circumstance occurred in the process, it came from trying to address a real and ongoing problem.

Our responsibility is to balance compassion for pets with the safety and concerns of our residents, and sometimes that balance is difficult. There are subtle nuances to consider in each situation. But every step we take is done carefully, lawfully, with the intention of serving all the needs of our community as a whole. 

Going forward, we will be reviewing our process to strengthen communication and to add extra safeguards, so that we may better balance the concerns of the community with the importance of protecting family pets.

We thank our residents for their understanding as we continue work to provide a clean, safe and peaceful environment for the people and pets of Clyde Park.

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Public Budget Hearing Notice
Town of Clyde Park

The Final Budget Hearing for the Town of Clyde Park will be held:

Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Clyde Park Town Hall
516 Miles Ave, Clyde Park, MT

The purpose of this hearing is to review and receive public comment on the Final budget for the upcoming fiscal year.


Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 821 6967 2276
Passcode: 938541
Public Meeting Notice

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Town of Clyde Park – Working Preliminary Budget Meeting
The Town of Clyde Park will hold a Work Session Meeting to discuss the Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. 

Aug 6, 2025 @ 7 pm
Clyde Park Town Hall

All council meetings are open to the public.

Please note: This is a work session for the Town Council to develop the annual budget. No final decisions will be made, and public comment will not be taken during this meeting. Opportunities for public input will be provided at future meetings where budget decisions are considered for adoption.
Public comment is required only before a final action is taken (MCA 2-3-103(2))

Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 821 6967 2276
Passcode: 938541

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Public Meeting Notice
Town of Clyde Park – Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) Meeting

The Town of Clyde Park will hold a public meeting to discuss the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER). Community members are encouraged to attend and participate.

Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM (Mountain Time)
Location: Online via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 821 6967 2276
Passcode: 938541

For questions, please contact the Town Office at 406-686-4719 or clerktreasurer@clydeparkmt.net.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

Clyde Park Town Council Meetings Have Moved!

Starting this month, Town Council Meetings will now be held on the second Wednesday of each month (instead of Monday). Join us and stay involved in your community—from wherever you are!

New Meeting Day: Second Wednesday of each month
Time: 7:00 PM
Join via Zoom: https://rb.gy/mvkhoz
Meeting ID: 873 9839 1494
Passcode: 304829

All are welcome to attend. Let’s work together for Clyde Park!

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PUBLIC NOTICE
Town of Clyde Park, Montana
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning Project

The Town of Clyde Park has received notice of the award of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning Grant funds from the Montana Department of Commerce. The Town of Clyde Park will soon commence the preparation of a Water System Preliminary Engineering Report (PER), an important step toward addressing aging water infrastructure and ensuring the continued delivery of safe drinking water to residents.

CDBG regulations governing the grant require that to the greatest extent feasible, opportunities for training and employment arising in connection with this CDBG-assisted project will be extended to local low- and moderate-income residents. Further, to the greatest extent feasible, business concerns located in, or substantially owned by residents of, the project area will be utilized.

For more information about employment, training, or contracting opportunities related to this project, please contact:
Stacey Mills, Clerk/Treasurer
Town of Clyde Park
P.O. Box 177, Clyde Park, MT 59018
Phone: (406) 686-4719
Email: clerktreasurer@clydeparkmt.net

The Town of Clyde Park is committed to promoting economic opportunities for its residents and encouraging local business participation in this important community project.