The Agenda with the Missoula County Commissioners

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.

Related links:

• Thursday, July 17: Housing Night with the Missoula Paddleheads

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

The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula is home to the largest intact World War II internment site in the United States. From 1941 to 1944, the U.S. Department of Justice managed two Alien Detention Center barracks at the Fort and imprisoned 1,200 Italian nationals and more than 1,100 Japanese Issei men.

The museum recently opened “Far from Home: An Internee Experience at Fort Missoula,” an immersive exhibit in a restored barracks building on the grounds of the Fort. This week, Commissioner Slotnick sat down with Matt Lautzenheiser, museum director, and Ron Wakimoto, board member of the Friends of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, to dive into the history of this site and why the stories of internment are still so prescient today.  

This episode opens with Commissioner Slotnick's remarks from the exhibition opening. Thank you to Dennis Bragg for supplying this audio clip!

• Alien Detention Center Barracks 
• Recording of the grand opening of Far From Home: An Internee Experience at Fort Missoula
• Learn more about Assembly Centers, War Relocation Sites and Alien Detention Centers

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Andrew Hagemeier, director of Community and Economic Development, is back on the podcast this week to help bust myths about subdivisions, zoning and land use. Other topics include tax increment financing, the Wye Water System project and affordable housing. 

Be sure to check out the TIF and TEDD 101 episode for a primer on how tax increment financing works.

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The Montana Legislature, which meets every two years, recently wrapped up the 2025 session in Helena. So, what happened at the Capitol this year? How do these new laws impact residents and county operations? 

From property taxes to jury duty summons to economic development, there is a lot to cover! This week, the commissioners spoke with Chris Lounsbury, Chief Administrative Officer for Missoula County, for a review of what went down. 

Learn more and see what bills Missoula County weighed in on during this session at missoulacountyvoice.com.

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This week, the Agenda takes on true crime in Missoula County. Since its inception in 2019, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case unit has solved seven cases of homicides or unidentified remains.

The commissioners spoke with Ryan Prather, captain of the Detective Division at the Missoula County Sheriff's Office. Captain Prather also coordinates the volunteer Search and Rescue and Cold Case divisions, who work tirelessly for all county residents.

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Do you know who to call if there’s a bat in your house? What if you’re concerned about the welfare of a pet in your neighborhood?

From sheltering strays and adopting out cats and dogs, Missoula Animal Services staff work to ensure the health and safety of animals in Missoula County. This week, the Missoula County Commissioners spoke with Holli Hargrove, manager of MAS, to talk about the exciting new remodel of the shelter and much more.

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From its roots as a county agency to leading cutting-edge educational programs, the Missoula Art Museum has grown a lot since its inception in 1975. This week, the commissioners sat down with Laura Millin who has been at the helm of the free contemporary art museum since 1990. As she prepares to retire this year, they look back on the history and unique character of this beloved nonprofit. 

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Montana currently has only one passenger train line: The Empire Builder, which runs along the Hi-Line in the northern part of the state. That wasn’t always the case – and the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is looking to reinstate a former southern route that would connect towns and cities to each other and neighboring states.

This week the commissioners were joined by Dan Bucks to discuss the status of expanding passenger train service, the potential economic benefits and much more. 

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Public Works Officer Shane Stack started working for the Montana Department of Transportation as a teenager and came to Missoula County in 2019. As Shane prepares to retire this summer, he reflected on the challenges facing public infrastructure, the ill-fated 2020 gas tax and how his department has gotten creative with funding solutions. 

Related links:

• Snow plow routes map (works best on desktop)
• Report a road maintenance concern
• Bridge maintenance updates

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

Transportation planner Aaron Wilson is back on The Agenda this week to talk about how the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization leverages federal funding for critical upgrades to roads and bridges. Aaron and the commissioners discuss traffic congestion, bypasses and how detailed planning gives Missoula an advantage during the federal grant process.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Reserve Street Safety Action Plan
• Missoula Long-Range Transportation Plan Update

Listen to Aaron's previous episodes:

• The Infamous Reserve Street, 2024
• Reserve Street: The Sequel, 2024

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