In 2019, the Missoula County Attorney’s Office debuted a program called Calibrate, with the goal of moving people out of the criminal legal system and addressing the root cause of why they found themselves involved with it in the first place. Calibrate is a prosecution-led pretrial diversion program, meaning eligible candidates meet individualized milestones, like community service or counseling, in place of awaiting trial and court proceedings. To date, diversion coordinator Ray Reiser has enrolled 106 individuals, and close to 90% of them have successfully graduated from Calibrate.

This week, the commissioners talked with Ray about how Calibrate works, who is eligible to participate and the importance of separating low-risk individuals from high-risk individuals. Tune in to learn more about how Calibrate helps the entire criminal legal system, from courts to the jail to probation, function more effectively.

Learn more:

• Calibrate 
• Federal grant to bolster Missoula program aimed at helping drug offenders - Missoulian, January 2022

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

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

In late 2020, Missoula’s Temporary Safe Outdoor Space (TSOS) began offering people experiencing homelessness a safe space during the pandemic. While United Way of Missoula County, Hope Rescue Mission and Missoula County government set up the space in response to COVID-19, it quickly became a model of how a service-rich environment with a collaborative community built on relationships can help reduce homelessness.

The success of the TSOS exemplifies the importance and need for a safe and secure space for people trying to obtain housing. The TSOS, currently located on private land south of Missoula, will soon relocate to a new site off Broadway and Mullan and be furnished with hard-sided shelters that will help make the site more sustainable in the long run. 

This week, Commissioners Slotnick and Vero spoke with Jim Hicks, executive director of Hope Rescue Mission, who talks about the importance of building relationships to help people find stability in their lives and the future of the TSOS.  

Learn more:

• Updates on Operation Shelter
• Initial FAQS about the Temporary Safe Outdoor Space 
• Crisis Services Levy 

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

In 2015, Missoula County began taking critical steps to address issues like overcrowding at the Missoula Detention Facility and over-incarceration. Chelsea Wittmann, the Safety & Justice Challenge coordinator at the Community Justice Department, is uniquely equipped to discuss these issues. Chelsea started as a detention officer at the jail, then worked for the County Attorney’s Office before landing in her current position.

This week, the commissioners talked with Chelsea about how the County and other stakeholders are evaluating the criminal justice system in our community. Tune in to learn how the County is approaching these complex topics with community input and strategic, evidence-based programs.

Links mentioned in this episode:

•  Jail Diversion Master Plan - 2022 Update
•  Safety and Justice Challenge
• Pretrial, Diversion and Reentry Programs

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

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

For decades, communities have relied on emergency services like law enforcement and first responders to handle people experiencing a crisis. Often these interactions led to a revolving door between a jail and emergency rooms, which left service providers, taxpayers and individuals without effective resolutions. The Mobile Support Team in Missoula was created in 2020 as a new approach to both divert people from hospitals and detention facilities while setting them on a path to stability by addressing the root cause of the crisis and connecting them to appropriate resources.

This week, the Missoula County commissioners sat down with three people who play an integral role in the on-the-ground operation of the Mobile Support Team: Becca Goe, director of innovation at Partnership Health Center (PHC); John Petroff, firefighter and operations manager for the MST; and Kiki Radermacher, behavior health manager at PHC. They discuss what it means when a person is in crisis, what resources are available, and the success stories they've experienced in the field.

Learn more:

• Mobile Support Team website
• Crisis Services Levy 
• MST Pilot Evaluation Report, 2021

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

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

In this week's episode, Juanita and Josh bust some myths around what the County is (or is not) doing. 

Topics include:

• Legal enforcement of covenants and HOAs
• Property taxes and the re-appraisal process
• Services for people experiencing homelessness
• Regulations, permits and affordable housing
• Larchmont Golf Course 

Have you heard something through the grapevine about the County? Submit your myth online https://missoulacountyvoice.com/myth-busters and we’ll answer it on-air!

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

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

Budget season is underway at Missoula County, and the commissioners have spent countless hours delving into what funding will be needed to keep up with current services and programs. They’ve also reviewed dozens of budget requests from departments that would enhance these services or pay for new initiatives. They’ve already declined to fund $2.4 million of those requests, and now they’re hoping the community will chime in on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2023. 

In this episode, the commissioners speak with Chief Administrative Officer Chris Lounsbury and Chief Financial Officer Andrew Czorny to provide an overview of the budget and the process that shapes it. They also discuss the top priority for this year’s budget: employee retention and recruitment. 

The increase to the base budget needed to sustain current services and operations is approximately $5.3 million. This includes increases to wages and personnel costs for County employees, who help keep our communities running by answering 9-1-1 calls, plowing roads and filling potholes, running elections, serving as law enforcement and detention officers, rescuing and sheltering stray pets, responding to public health emergencies and much more.

The commissioners opened the budget hearing on Aug. 25 and invite community members to review and provide feedback on the budget.  The more specific feedback you have, the more constructive and helpful it is to them. Review the FY23 budget requests and shareyour comments or questions at https://missoulacountyvoice.com/fiscal-year-2023-missoula-county-budget. They will make a final decision at their public meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8.

Learn more about your specific property taxes at itax.missoulacounty.us

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

Jerry Marks has worked in the Missoula County Extension Office for more than 50 years, and he knows a thing or two about collaboration. Years ago, he extended an offer to the Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium when he heard they were outgrowing their downtown location, and the offer was generous: a coveted spot in the middle of Missoula to create a unique science and discovery center.

In this week's episode, the commissioners talk with Jerry and Glenn about the Rocky Mountain Gardens & Exploration Center, which will open at the Missoula County Fairgrounds in 2023. Jerry also gives some history on how the Extension Office came to be and how the office is always adapting to the needs of the public.

Learn more about the projects mentioned in this episode:  

• Rocky Mountain Gardens & Exploration Center
• Missoula County Weed & Extension Office
• Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium

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

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

Jamie Jonkel, a bear manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, has nearly 30 years of experience working with black bears, grizzly bears and mountain lions. His phone rings off the hook each day with reports of bears in both Missoula County and the city.

In this week's episode, the commissioners sit down with Jamie to discuss what other areas in Montana are doing to address the bear issue and how Missoula is taking steps to become a safer place for both animals and people. Jamie gives insight on who to call when you see a bear (hint: it’s not 911) and where to find resources about how to manage attractants around your home.

Links mentioned in this episode:

1. Bear Smart Missoula 
2. Missoula Bears Website & Facebook Page
3. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Bear Managers
4. "Virginia City: The model Bear Smart Community," Missoulian, Jan. 9, 2022

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

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

Charged with overseeing growth and community development in a county with more than 117,000 residents spread across 1.6 million acres, the Office of Lands and Communities is responsible for a lot of moving parts.

In this episode, the commissioners sit down with Chet Crowser, head of the Office of Lands and Communities. This newly reorganized office helps our community address environmental issues, implement zoning policies, manage trails and parks, oversee grants that fund important programs and initiatives, and a lot more. Chet and the commissioners discuss pressing issues like affordable housing, climate change and resource protection as the county grows.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Climate Ready Missoula Project
• Electrify Missoula
• Climate Smart Missoula Nonprofit

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

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

With wildfire seasons starting earlier and lasting longer over the past few decades, Missoula County residents need to learn how to protect themselves from prolonged smoke exposure.  

In this episode, the commissioners speak with Air Quality Specialist Sarah Coefield and Climate Action Program Manager Caroline Bean to learn more about the history of wildfire smoke, populations that are most at risk in smoke, and what practical steps people can take to limit the impacts of wildfire smoke on their health. Visit the following sites to learn more about how you can prepare for wildfire smoke: 

• MontanaWildfireSmoke.org  
• ClimateReadyMissoula.org 
• Missoula.Co/CurrentAirQuality 
• DEQ’s Air Data Map 
• MissoulaClimate.org 

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

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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