The Agenda with the Missoula County Commissioners

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 doz...

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 develo...

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 morato...

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, orga...

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 hom...

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 cons...

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 carb...

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 hel...

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 dir...

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 t...

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 Rese...

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 infrastructur...

Are you interested in hobby farming but don't know where to start? Maybe you know a kid in your life who wants to get into robotics or animal husbandry? Missoula County extension agents can help you get connected and grow your skills! Extension agents represent the practical application of research at land grant universities, like Montana State. In Missoula County, we are fortunate to have fo...

2026 is a federal election year, and thousands of voters will cast their ballots by mail or at polling places across Missoula County for both the June primary and November general election. It takes more than 600 people to run these elections, and you could be a part of the action as an election judge!  This week, the commissioners spoke with Bradley Seaman, elections administrator, about what ele...

If you’ve lived in the Missoula Valley, you’re familiar with the inversion that often happens in the winter months. What’s actually happening during an inversion, and what do wood stoves have to do with it?  This week, the commissioners spoke with Kerri Mueller, air quality specialist, and Elena Evans, environmental health manager at Missoula Public Health, about the history of air quality regulat...

Jordan Thompson, acting executive officer of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes , recently joined the commissioners for a jam-packed episode on tribal government. Jordan gives a history lesson on the formation of the Flathead Indian Reservation, a breakdown of land ownership and so much more. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes look at CSKT! Text us your thoughts and comments on this episod...

Another year is almost at a close, which means another round of myth busting! This week all three commissioners take turns quizzing each other on local government myths about how tax dollars can be spent, jurisdictional authority, tax increment financing and more! Heard a myth about county government? Submit it on missoulacountyvoice.com!  Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!   Than...

The federal process for approving and recommending seasonal respiratory vaccines deviated from the typical schedule this year. That led to confusion about who is eligible for Covid vaccines and delayed shipping and distribution of the shots. This week, Jeanna Miller and Sara Heineman from Missoula Public Health joined the commissioners to unpack how all of this happened and how the Immunization Cl...

Mountain Line is the Missoula Valley's zero-fare bus system that helps residents and visitors work, play and connect to their community. From electric buses to a new facility by the airport, Mountain Line is anything but stationary. This week the commissioners spoke with Jordan Hess, CEO & General Manager at Mountain Line, about how the bus system keeps Missoula rolling. Text us your thou...

Recently, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency published updated floodplain maps for Rock Creek and the Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers. Missoula County Floodplain Administrator Matt Heimel joined the commissioners this week to discuss what homeowners need to know and the next steps in the adoption and regulation process.  The pr...

Big things are happening at the Missoula Montana Airport : the recent terminal expansion has given the airport an entirely new look, the runway was re-paved and airlines are offering more routes and destinations. In the last year and a half, passenger traffic has broken records month after month. This week the commissioners sat down with Brian Ellestad, director of the airport, to discuss the deta...

From artisans to restaurants to manufacturing, Missoula County is home to businesses of all shapes and sizes. The Missoula Economic Partnership exists to facilitate growth, collaboration and mutual understanding between the private and public sectors. Christine Littig, business development director at MEP, joined the commissioners this week to discuss local business trends and how entrepreneurs ar...

Marshall Mountain Park sits between East Missoula and Bonner and is publicly owned by Missoula County. Many lifelong residents learned to ski there as kids, and the legacy of learning continues today.  This week, the commissioners spoke with Jackson Lee, park manager, to review what’s new at Marshall Mountain Park since it was acquired by the county in spring 2024. They discuss new trails, planned...

Youth and young adults transitioning from foster care or incarceration in Missoula County are at elevated risk of homelessness and continued involvement in the criminal justice system, according to the 2025 Just Home report. The report is part of a larger initiative between the Missoula County Community Justice Department and Homeword to address the connection between housing instability and incar...

Front Step Community Land Trust (formerly the North Missoula Community Development Corporation) is tackling one of the largest issues facing residents: affordable housing. This week, the commissioners spoke with Brittany Palmer, director of Front Step, to discuss what community land trusts do and how their work can help push back against the rapid economic changes facing small towns and cities. Re...