The Agenda with the Missoula County Commissioners

Latest Episodes:

Taking the Pulse of Missoula County’s Economy Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Every day we’re inundated with economic forecasts related to inflation, layoffs, remote work and unemployment. But what is happening here in Missoula County? Does it reflect national trends? How does a desirable place like ours foster more jobs without sacrificing the values that make it so desirable in the first place?

This week, the commissioners spoke with Grant Kier, director of the Missoula Economic Partnership. Kier spoke to local employment rates, how to balance growth, quality of life, housing access and more.
Links mentioned in this episode:

Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund
MEP Strategic Plan, 2022-2026

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Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

Connecting Communities: The Big Year for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

This week, commissioner Strohmaier gives an update on the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. The rail authority is a division of state government that encompasses 19 counties in Montana that are working to bring back passenger train service in the southern part of the state.

2023 is a major year for this effort: the U.S. Department of Transportation is studying which inactive rail lines could be restored. The North Coast Hiawatha stretched from Chicago to Seattle and passed through Missoula County until 1979, when the line was discontinued. Listen to this episode to learn more about how tribal communities and private businesses are involved and what’s next for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority.
Learn more at bigskyrail.org.

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Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

It's Easy Being Green: How to Take Advantage of New Clean Energy Incentives Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

A slew of new tax credits, rebates and incentives encouraging investment in energy efficiency are now in effect. What does this mean for renters, homeowners and small business owners in Missoula County?

This week the commissioners sat down with Caroline Bean and Andrew Valainis from the Department of Planning, Development and Sustainability to talk about Missoula County’s sustainable energy goals and how these new incentives help residents and businesses of all types.

Links mentioned in this episode:

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A Constantly Shifting Crime: Addressing Human Trafficking Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

The Missoula Human Trafficking Task Force is a vast network that spans law enforcement at all levels, nonprofit organizations, schools, hospitals and others. Together these groups work to educate the public, expose traffickers and support victims in healing.
This week, the commissioners sat down with Ryan Prather of the Missoula County Sheriff's Office to learn about this complex issue. Prather oversees Sheriff's Office detectives who specialize in criminal investigations, including child exploitation and human trafficking.
This episode mentions difficult topics like relationship and sexual violence. The Crime Victim Advocate Division of Missoula County is here to help you. Please call 406-258-3830 or visit their office at 317 Woody Street. YWCA Missoula is another resource and their crisis line is 1-800-483-7858. Get more information at the Missoula Human Trafficking Task Force website.
Additional resources include:

All Nations Health Center and Missoula Project Beacon
YWCA Missoula
First Step Resource Center
406stop.com, Montana State Human Trafficking Hotline

Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

Tackling Challenges Together: City and County Year in Review with Mayor Hess Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

As 2022 comes to an end, the Missoula County commissioners sat down with Missoula City Mayor Jordan Hess to discuss lessons learned and what they’re looking forward to in 2023. They reflect on notable collaborations from this year and how a strong partnership between municipal governments enables solutions for our community.
Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

Proactive Planning: How Zoning Enables Efficiency & Sustainable Growth Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

This summer, Missoula County overhauled and updated its zoning code for the first time in nearly 50 years. But why does zoning matter and what kind of development does the new code enable?

This week, the commissioners spoke with Andrew Hagemeier, senior planner in the Department of Planning, Development and Sustainability, to answer some of these questions. Andrew also gives some history about the origins of the current housing crisis and how the new zoning code* incentivizes housing options while balancing valuable assets like our rivers and agricultural land.
*The County’s new zoning update applies to the Missoula urban area outside city limits, including Bonner, East Missoula and the Wye.

Links mentioned in this episode:

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Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

Not Just a Bill: Missoula County & The Montana State Legislature Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

On Jan. 2, 2023, the 68th regular session of the Montana state Legislature will convene in Helena. All 50 state senators and 100 representatives will meet for 90 days to draft, propose and review bills, which could become new state laws.
Missoula County is a general powers government, which means that county government only has authority that is explicitly granted by state laws. Because of this, the legislative session is a major event and new laws can greatly affect how local government works.
So how does Missoula County keep track of the hundreds (if not thousands) of bills that come before the two chambers of the Legislature? This week, the commissioners sat down with Anne Hughes, chief operating officer for Missoula County, to talk about what goes on during a legislative session.
Links mentioned in this episode:

leg.mt.gov - Legislature homepage
LAWS - Bill Database
Missoula County Voice
Find Your Legislator

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Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

But A Moment in Time: Reflecting on Gratitude Nov 23, 2022

Show notes

This week, Commissioners Vero, Slotnick and Strohmaier immersed themselves in the spirit of the holiday season by talking about gratitude. They share some of their favorite adages and how they stay grounded through the pressure of productivity.

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Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

Talking Taxes Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

Autumn is property tax season in Missoula County. Property owners typically receive their tax bills in the mail in early November, which can generate a lot of questions like “what are these specials funds and districts paying for?” and “who can I call with questions about my bill?”

Missoula County Clerk & Recorder Tyler Gernant joined the commissioners this week to answer these questions and debunk some myths. They also discussed the difference between countywide and county only taxes, property appraisals and how taxes relate to the county budget. Tyler also gave a brief history of recent changes to the revenue base for local government in Missoula County and across Montana.
Links mentioned in this episode:

iTax - View and pay tax bills online
Missoula County Clerk & Treasurer
Montana Dept. of Revenue - Property Appraisals
Missoula County Taxing Jurisdictions - Contact List

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Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

Calibrating Success: How the County Attorney's Office Effectively Redirects Defendants Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

In 2019, the Missoula County Attorney’s Office debuted a program called Calibrate, with the goal of moving people out of the criminal legal system and addressing the root cause of why they found themselves involved with it in the first place. Calibrate is a prosecution-led pretrial diversion program, meaning eligible candidates meet individualized milestones, like community service or counseling, in place of awaiting trial and court proceedings. To date, diversion coordinator Ray Reiser has enrolled 106 individuals, and close to 90% of them have successfully graduated from Calibrate.

This week, the commissioners talked with Ray about how Calibrate works, who is eligible to participate and the importance of separating low-risk individuals from high-risk individuals. Tune in to learn more about how Calibrate helps the entire criminal legal system, from courts to the jail to probation, function more effectively.

Learn more: