The Agenda with the Missoula County Commissioners

This week we take a break from our regularly scheduled civic programming to dive into the spooky history of Missoula. Dani Brown and Liv Carmichael, local historians and guides from Unseen Missoula, joined the commissioners to talk about murders, missing bodies, secret rituals and ghostly apparitions. Happy Halloween!

• Click here to see photos mentioned in this episode.
• Click here to buy tickets to Unseen Missoula tours!

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

On July 9, the Missoula County commissioners adopted a countywide one-year moratorium on new or expanded data centers outside Missoula city limits. The moratorium was adopted through interim zoning, which is used to temporarily halt development when an emergency situation exists.

As required by law, County staff immediately began a study to verify the circumstances of the emergency data centers present and identify potential options to address it. That draft study is available now for public comment and review on missoulacountyvoice.com.

This week, the commissioners spoke with Svein Newman, climate action program manager, and Patrick Swart, planner, about what they learned from the study and what the next steps are.

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The Watershed Navigation Center in Missoula is a day center that provides access to basic needs, court services, medical and behavioral health services to people who have recently left correctional facilities, or who are experiencing homelessness. Partnership Health Center, the Missoula County Community Justice Department and other service providers work together to provide a supportive and helpful environment for these clients.

This week, the commissioners spoke with Ty Robinson, the reentry coordinator at Watershed, about individual success stories and how this model works.

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Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking living in rural areas often face barriers to support, including limited access to services, transportation and safe places to stay.

This week, the commissioners spoke with Jessica Koch and Lisa Tipps from the Missoula County Community Justice Department about how Missoula County is working to combat domestic and sexual violence in our communities. Initiatives include collaborating with law enforcement, teaching healthy relationship programs in schools and supporting survivors through the court process.

This episode deals with difficult topics like relationship and domestic 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 Missoulais another resource and their 24-hour crisis line is 1-800-483-7858.

Links mentioned in this episode

• Rural Program
• Just Response
• Missoula County Family Justice Center
• Domestic Violence Court

The Rural Program is supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-24-GG-01024-RURA awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice.

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Did you know that Missoula County is home to the first water quality district in Montana? Efforts to give local governments a tool to address water quality arose out of chemical contamination of local wells in the early 1990s.

This week the commissioners spoke with Travis Ross of the Missoula Valley Water Quality District to discuss water rights, how the district monitors our aquifer, and more.

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

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 2006 city-county open space bonds, which have supported public projects like Marshall Mountain Park and the Rock Creek Confluence. But did you know that the first open space bond was approved by Missoula voters back in 1980?

This week the commissioners spoke with Jenny Zaso, open lands manager for Missoula County, about how conserving open space is both a shared value for our community and valuable tool for private landowners.

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This episode was originally released on July 16, 2024.

Did you know Missoula County has a whole department dedicated to emergency planning? The Office of Emergency Management, or OEM, is tasked with planning for and responding to natural and man-made disasters in our communities.

This week we’re re-airing an episode of The Agenda from summer 2024 featuring an interview with OEM Director Adriane Beck. She touches on emergency alert systems, evacuation planning and shelters, fire restrictions and more.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Sign up for Smart911
• “Go bag” or emergency kit checklist
• Pre-disaster mitigation and other emergency plans
• Ready.gov - Emergency preparedness resources

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

The Western Montana Fair returns to the Missoula County Fairgrounds July 31-Aug. 8! Fair activities and events will stretch over two weekends to give visitors ample time to enjoy everything from fair food and arena events to carnival games and live music.

This week, the commissioners spoke with Billie Brown, fairgrounds events and operations manager, to discuss what’s new this year and how to plan your best visit to the Western Montana Fair.

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Sitting on 31 acres just west of the Missoula Airport is the only museum in the country dedicated to the history of the U.S. Forest Service. On July 17, the museum will open the National Conservation Legacy Center, which celebrates our public lands and the many groups and individuals who made them possible. The Legacy Center building is an ode to America’s forests and incorporates more than a dozen species of trees into the design.

This week, the commissioners spoke with Lisa Tate, executive director of the National Museum of Forest Service History, about the project and the grand opening.

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If a new business wants to open in Missoula County, there’s a good chance the property owner has spoken to someone in local government about it. Then it goes through the development review process, which is dependent on the location, type of business and many other variables. Does it have to be this complicated? What kind of discretion does county government have when it comes to growth and development?

Enter: land use planning and zoning. This week, the commissioners spoke with Karen Hughes, director of the Missoula County Planning, Development and Sustainability department, about these questions and more.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Comprehensive Plan Update
• Swan Valley Neighborhood Plan

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The Wye is named for the “Y” shaped intersection of Highway 93 and Interstate 90, west of Missoula on the way to Frenchtown. In the last few years, the Wye has been a hotspot of activity, including a new public water system, two targeted economic development districts and the influx of new businesses.

How did this area become primed for growth in the Missoula Valley? Couldn’t a development moratorium help address concerns about affordability and preserving the culture that Missoula is known for? Community and Economic Development Director Andrew Hagemeier joined Josh Slotnick on this episode to answer these questions and more.

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Housing vouchers, tax credits and area median income are phrases tossed around in the perennial conversation around access to affordable housing. What do they actually mean, and how can they determine the eligibility of a person or a housing development?

Sam Oliver, executive director of the Missoula Housing Authority, joined the commissioners this week to break down how the various factors, organizations and investments come together to help residents find places to live.

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Scenes of whole towns burned to the ground in areas like Maui and Malibu have been high-profile news stories in recent years. But what if your house could survive a wildfire? It’s not magic – it’s the home ignition zone!

Post-fire investigations and research have popularized attainable changes and recommendations that you can make to your home, yard and property that decrease the risk of total home loss in the event of a wildfire. And luckily for residents, the Wildfire Mitigation staff at Missoula County offer free home risk assessments to help them make a plan to safeguard their properties.

Missoula County Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Olivia Anderson joined the commissioners this week to answer their burning questions about wildfire preparedness.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Community Wildfire Protection Plan
• How to prepare your home for a wildfire
• How to schedule a free home assessment with Olivia
• National Fire Protection Association tips

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

Whether you have an established garden or are curious about growing some herbs on your windowsill, Missoula County extension agents can help you! From cooking classes for all ages to introductory gardening courses, you can grow your skills and be supported along the way.

This week, Commissioner Josh Slotnick sat down with Sarah Holden, horticulture extension agent, and Kelly Moore, family and consumer sciences extension agent, to talk about the many programs they offer to residents.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Gardening in Montana series
• Master Gardener volunteer program
• Plant Clinic
• Rocky Mountain Gardens
• Upcoming cooking classes

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

Did you know that the solar panels on the roof of the Missoula County jail are the largest rooftop solar array in Montana? That project represents one piece of the county’s plans to reduce emissions and invest in clean energy in government operations. This week, the commissioners are joined by Svein Newman, climate action program manager for Missoula County, to talk about the recently adopted carbon neutrality plan, data centers and more.

• Climate Action plans
• Home Resource Hub
• Home Retrofit series - starts May 6!
• Green Power Program

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

Since 2018, 93 people have graduated from Missoula County ROAD Court, a program that facilitates the rehabilitation of adults accused and convicted of alcohol and drug-related traffic offenses.

This week, Justice of the Peace Landee Holloway joined the commissioners to discuss how the court works with the County Attorney’s Office and how law enforcement and substance abuse treatment providers help individuals stay sober.

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Have you considered what it takes to age in place? Infrastructure like handrails and ramps comes to mind, but what about a network of people with symbiotic relationships? That’s exactly what Missoula Aging Services' new Villages model creates: a grassroots network of vetted volunteers who offer their skills to others.

This week the commissioners spoke with Ria Overholt, community services director at Missoula Aging Services, about this innovative model that supports elderly residents and provides meaningful connection that goes both ways.

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The Missoula Public Library and its rural branches are more than just places to check out books, and the proof is in the numbers. In 2025, 23,000 people attended programs at the main library and its six branches. More than 50,000 Missoula County residents have a library card, giving them access to traditional media and so much more.

This week, the commissioners spoke with Slaven Lee, director of the Missoula Public Library, about everything from the bookmobile to cooking classes and more.

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

The Agenda is on a hiatus this month, so we’re inviting you to check out some of our most popular episodes in recent years.

This is the next installment of “The Infamous Reserve Street,” which aired in January 2024 and features planning manager Aaron Wilson from the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization. They discuss roundabouts, planning for growth and much more.

Plus, a draft of the Reserve Street Safety Action Plan he mentions is now available for final public review on engagemissoula.com.

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

The Agenda is on a hiatus this month, so we’re inviting you to check out some of our most popular episodes in recent years.

First up is “The Infamous Reserve Street,” which aired in January 2024 and features planning manager Aaron Wilson from the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization. He discusses everything from the history of the Reserve Street area to crash data and future infrastructure planning efforts.

Plus, a draft of the Reserve Street Safety Action Plan he mentions is now available for final public review on engagemissoula.com.

This is a two-part episode, so be sure to listen and subscribe!

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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