The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee

unanimously appointed a new member Thursday, Dec. 2.

Joyce Mitchell will take the seat held

by the late Chuck Gough.

Mitchell was a close friend of Gough’s

and together the two co-founded the Friends of the Bigfork Fire

Department. She also spent time working on the Bigfork Neighborhood

Plan’s development and helped write the commercial section, board

member Shelley Gonzales said.

“She, in his honor, really wants to

fill his position,” Gonzales said. “She’s very committed to being a

part of this board and very active.”

Mitchell will serve until the position

comes up for election in May 2011.

The committee had intended to also

appoint a member at large at the meeting to replace Peter

Strelinger, who moved out of the zoning area and had to, therefore,

vacate his seat.

The committee opted to open up the

position for another application period to try to get more

interest.

The person appointed will serve until

the end of May. The member at large is an annually appointed

position each June by BLUAC. Applicants must have lived within the

Bigfork Zoning District for at least two years. Letters of interest

can be sent to chair Paul Guerrant at PO Box 1988, Bigfork, MT

59911. For more information, call 837-2124. The deadline for

applications is Dec. 29, with the position scheduled to be

appointed at the Dec. 30 BLUAC meeting.