The Agenda with the Missoula County Commissioners

In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control awarded a $1.8 million grant to Partnership Health Center to set up a community health worker program in partnership with Missoula Public Health and All Nations Health Center. Since then, this team of seven has helped more than 500 clients. But what exactly does a community health worker do?

This week, the Missoula County Commissioners spoke with Eileen Lamble, a community health worker, and McKenzie Javorka, program evaluator from the University of Montana, about how this program helps marginalized individuals re-connect to healthcare services. 

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Community Health Worker StoryMap
• Training program at the University of Montana

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2024 marks the 50th anniversary of The Poverello Center, Missoula’s nonprofit homelessness shelter and advocacy organization. This week the Missoula County Commissioners spoke with Jill Bonny, director of the Pov, about the history, changing demographics and current challenges of serving individuals in need of housing, food and human connection.

Related episodes: "The Economic Impact of Homelessness in Missoula",  May 22, 2024.

Related links:

• Housing Solutions Fund
• Temporary Safe Outdoor Space
• Volunteer at the Pov

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Homelessness has been at the center of local, regional and national debate in recent years, with tensions rising between residents, advocates, business owners and politicians. 

This week, local economist Bryce Ward joined the Missoula County commissioners to discuss the findings of his most recent report, “Economic Impact of Homelessness in Missoula.” In this episode, they answer questions like “how does Missoula’s homeless population compare to other communities in Montana?” and “what does homelessness look like in rural areas?” Bryce also addresses common myths about the demographics of homelessness, plus the surprising link between our social lives and our personal stability. 

Reports and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Economic Impact of Homelessness in Missoula, 2024
• Housing Solutions Fund, administered by United Way of Missoula County
• Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness in California, 2023
• American Time Use Survey data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics

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Rivers are thawing, the call of the western meadowlark is floating through air, and other signs of spring are emerging in Missoula County. Maybe you’re inspired to pick up some plants for your patio, start an herb garden or even raise some livestock on your property. But where do you begin?

The Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension can help you with all of this and more. From their new headquarters at the G.W. Marks Exploration Center, down to the Lolo Mosquito District and up to the Clearwater Watercraft Inspection site, Ecology and Extension staff are experts in land resources and management.

This week the commissioners sat down with Bryce Christiaens, self-described plant nerd and director of this department, to hear about what programs are available to residents.

If you’re looking for more information on how the G.W. Marks Exploration Center came to be, click here to listen to this episode from 2022.

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The Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, located minutes from downtown Missoula, is part of the Lolo National Forest. Many know the Rattlesnake as Missoula’s backyard, offering ample outdoor recreation opportunities and access to the adjoining wilderness area. But did you know that in the 1930s there were homes, mines, a school and telephone lines scattered through the forest?

This week, the commissioners were joined by Andy Kulla, the former Recreation Area and Wilderness Manager for the Rattlesnake. Andy details how the grassroots efforts to preserve the area from development led to its designation by Congress in 1980. They also discuss how changes in the logging industry, wildfire research and recreation trends influence public land management.

Related links:

• Learn more about the ongoing Lolo National Forest Management Plan Revision and upcoming engagement opportunities
• Read the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness Act of 1980

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Andrea Davis was elected as the 52nd Mayor of the City of Missoula in Nov. 2023 and in her first few months of office she has been addressing the hot topics of housing, homelessness, public meetings and other issues. 

This week the Missoula County Commissioners caught up with Mayor Davis to discuss what has surprised her since taking office, how the city and county governments collaborate for their constituents and so much more. 

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When disasters like wildfires, floods and hazardous waste spills strike, Missoula County is ready to respond, thanks to the work of the Office of Emergency Management and the Western Montana Incident Management Team. 

On this week's podcast, the commissioners sit down with Deputy Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinators Nick Holloway and Ken Parks to talk about their recent deployment to help with recovery efforts in wildfire-ravaged Lahaina, Maui. They also discuss the importance of being prepared for emergencies on both the personal and government levels, and how the inter-state partnerships help strengthen communities across the country following disasters. 

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Domestic violence, also often referred to as intimate partner violence, can be difficult to address and has lasting effects on individuals, families and communities. Missoula County's Just Response program, made up of mental and medical health professionals, law enforcement, advocacy groups, child protection and criminal justice organizations, works to respond to DV cases and increase overall community safety. 

The commissioners recently sat down with Erin Shreder, Just Response coordinator, to discuss the tangible results of this inter-agency collective, the upstream causes of domestic violence and more.  

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 Missoula is another resource and their crisis line is 1-800-483-7858.

Related links and resources:

• Strangulation Protocol
• First Step Resource Center
• All Nations Health Center
• University of Montana Student Advocacy Resource Center
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

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The Agenda's foray into transportation issues continues this week with Shane Stack, director of Missoula County Public Works, and Erik Dickson, county engineer.

With the recent closure of Maclay Bridge in Target Range, residents have a lot of questions about how we got here. The commissioners, Shane and Erik tackle those questions and much more in this episode. Be sure to follow this project on Missoula County Voice for more updates and information.

This episode has a lot of acronyms and engineering terms, so here's a guide for you, in alphabetical order:

• BIP: The Bridge Improvement Program, a funding opportunity administered by the Federal Highway Administration.
• Categorical exclusion, also called a CE or Cat Ex: A finding of a National Environmental Protection Act process that determines a project has no significant effect on the human environment. If a CE is granted, the project does not need an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.  
• Creosote: A material derived from tar that is used to preserve wood.
• EA: Environmental assessment. If a categorical exclusion does not apply to a project, then an environmental assessment must be developed before the project can move forward. This is a public document that provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether the project meets the criteria for a Finding of No Significant Environmental Impact (FONSI) or if an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is needed. 
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): Federal agencies prepare an Environmental Impact Statement if a project is determined to significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The regulatory requirements for an EIS are more detailed and rigorous than the requirements for an EA.
• FHWA: The Federal Highway Administration, a division of the federal Department of Transportation.
• FONSI document: Finding of No Significant Impact. A FONSI document is the decision document of an EA and is signed by the federal agency.  
• HDR: An engineering firm employed by both Missoula County and MDT to assist with bridge planning.
• Load rating: The amount of weight a structure can safely carry. A load posted or load limited bridge is restricted by its load rating.
• Local option gas tax: A voter-approved 2-cent tax on gas sold within Missoula County. Revenue from this tax was specifically designated for road and bridge improvements. County residents approved this measure in 2020, but the state repealed in 2021. 
• MDT: Montana Department of Transportation, the state's transportation agency
• NEPA: National Environmental Protection Act, passed in 1970 to promote and protect the environment. 

Click here for the full glossary.

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This week the Missoula County Commissioners continue their discussion with transportation planner Aaron Wilson. They discuss the concept of 15 minute cities and how creating diverse, accessible transportation choices can reduce traffic congestion. Aaron also gives updates on the safety studies and plans for accommodating growth in areas like Brooks Street in Missoula and Highway 200 in East Missoula.

Don’t miss part two of this series on planning, traffic and transportation!

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