The Agenda with the Missoula County Commissioners

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 regulations and why clean air matters for all residents.

Links mentioned in this episode: 

• Missoula Public Health Air Quality Division 
• AirNow Map 
• Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality Air Quality 

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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!

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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! 

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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 Clinic at MPH is here to help. They also discuss what they learned from the health department’s recent countywide vaccine access and barrier report. 

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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.

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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 preliminary maps will be presented to the Missoula County commissioners during their public meeting on Thursday, Nov. 6. See the agenda at missoula.co/bccmeetings.

Learn more at https://missoulacountyvoice.com/clark-fork-river-bitterroot-river-and-rock-creek-floodplain-mapping-update

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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 details of running a busy regional airport.

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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 are responding creatively to the economic landscape.

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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 improvements, forest health and Commissioner Slotnick’s nascent mountain biking career.

Learn about how Marshall came into public ownership in this episode from 2023.

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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 incarceration.

This week, the commissioners spoke with Karissa Trujillo, executive director of Homeword, and McKenzie Javorka, program evaluator at the University of Montana Rural Institute, about what the report revealed about marginalized populations in Missoula County and actionable next steps.

Related links:

• Coordinated Entry System 

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