The role of county auditor goes beyond numbers and spreadsheets. Missoula County Auditor Dave Wall shares how his office keeps the County’s spending in check not just by tracking  dollars and cents but through incorporating value into every transaction. 

Wall shares his journey of working up from the County mail room to elected official and the progression of learning how his personality and strengths can be used in public service. As an elected official, his office serves as the independent internal auditor for the County, so every claim is reviewed with equity and fairness, and taxpayers know their money is being distributed with due care. He also discusses why he’s decided to prioritize making sure the County’s policies reflect its values, which includes viewing them through the lens of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. 

Anyone who wants to learn more or view spending reports is welcome to contact Wall at [email protected] or by calling 406-258-3526.  

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

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

As they’ve been highlighted in the local news and across the nation, we’ve learned elections are no small task, and conducting fair and balanced elections requires the willingness of paid public servants and a community working together.   

To help explain what the election process looks like for Missoula County, Elections Administrator Bradley Seaman joins Commissioners Josh Slotnick and Dave Strohmaier to highlight updates on recent changes to state election laws/procedures, what races will be on the ballot in the May 3 special district and school board election, and how to get involved with the election process as an election judge. He also addresses the misconceptions around the process for mail elections.  

The Elections Office hopes to recruit more than 600 election judges, poll book judges and polling place managers for the upcoming election year. Election judges greet voters, issue ballots, operate equipment, answer questions and hand out “I voted” stickers. They are paid for their service and their training.  

New and returning election judges can sign up at www.missoulaelectionjudge.com, by calling 406-258-4751 or by emailing [email protected]. When registering, applicants will be required to provide their name, address and date of birth to verify they are registered to vote in Missoula County. 

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The Missoula County Commissioners are the regulatory authority who often make the final decision on public and private land-use proposals, and many factors weigh in on their final action.

Addressing the housing crisis seen nationally and locally is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a recipe with multiple ingredients, which include careful thought, public input, considering both a community and broad perspective and, for Missoula County, a new zoning code update, a new housing plan and smart use of public land.

Recently, the commissioners considered two land proposals related to housing. The public process of the proposals highlighted the importance and growing need for more affordable housing units in Missoula County. In this episode, the commissioners talk through some of the elements that go into their decision-making and factors they consider while talking with the communities their final action impacts. 

Missoula County invites public input on the newly published zoning code draft. Community and Planning Services staff will present the updated draft virtually during the first public hearing at the Missoula Consolidated Planning Board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 1. 

To view the proposed draft, provide comments and to find additional meeting information, people can visit www.mczoningupdate.com. While staff have already incorporated many changes into the zoning code based on the hundreds of comments received this past year, additional feedback is encouraged prior to the public hearing.

The newly adopted Housing Action Plan: Breaking Ground, is available online at  missoula.co/housing. The County developed the plan in response to the rapidly evolving housing market in the County and the growing population that has created an undersupply of housing at all price points.

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*This podcast discusses topics around sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and physical violence. Missoula County acknowledges this content may be difficult for some and if so, encourages listeners to seek support from one of the local resources listed below. 

Missoula Project Beacon Director Shayla Beaumont shares powerful stories of her work with human trafficking victims. She explains the importance of helping tribal members reconnect with their tribal culture, elders and the holistic approach to helping a victim heal from trauma. Addressing human trafficking is a community responsibility, and Shayla discusses how we can look out for each other and support one another in the healing process. 

To learn more about Missoula Project Beacon visit https://www.allnations.health/missoula-project-beacon/

If you are interested in a career with Missoula Project Beacon, they are hiring for a case manager. Visit https://www.allnations.health/careers/ for the job description and additional information. 
 

Human trafficking is the exploitation of another person for labor, domestic servitude or commercial sexual activity by force, fraud or coercion. It is also the act of enslaving or exploiting unwilling people.  

If you are a victim, or think someone is, please contact one of these local resources for help: 

9-1-1 call or text 

Missoula Beacon Project - All Nations Health Center 

• https://www.allnations.health/missoula-project-beacon/  
• 406-829-9515 
• 830 W. Central Ave., Missoula, MT 59801 
• Provides foundational support and services to Indigenous survivors of human trafficking using culturally relevant care. 

Missoula Human Trafficking Task Force  

• https://www.missoulahumantrafficking.com/  
• Call or text 1-833-406-STOP (7867), the local hotline for victims or for reporting human trafficking  
• Aims to end human trafficking through the process of education, awareness and  collaboration with local, state and federal resources and community partners.

Lifeguard Group

• https://thelifeguardgroup.org/  
• Call or text 1-833-406-STOP (7867), the local hotline for victims or to report human trafficking  
• Helps protect people and the community against sexual exploitation and human trafficking. 

YWCA  

• https://www.ywcamissoula.org/  
• 24-hour crisis line: 1-800-483-7858 
• 1800 S. 3rd St. W., Missoula, MT 59801 
• Provides life-saving services — shelter, counseling and more — for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, stalking and human trafficking. 

Missoula County Community Justice Department 

• 406-258-3830 
• Toll-free 1-866- 921-6995 
• Email - [email protected]  
• Promotes the safety of Missoula County citizens, the protection and healing of crime victims, the efficient and just treatment of defendants and offenders, the ongoing improvement and coordination of the justice system’s response to crime, and the prevention of crime and the reduction of recidivism. 

Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode!

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

*This podcast discusses topics around sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and physical violence. Missoula County acknowledges this content may be difficult for some and if so, encourages listeners to seek support from one of the local resources listed below. 

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and Tuesday, Jan. 11, is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. To understand how this issue impacts Missoula County, Commissioners Strohmaier and Vero visit with Missoula County Detective Captain David Conway and YWCA Pathways Program Manager Lyndayle Mattis.  

Unfortunately, human trafficking is here in the Missoula County community. This episode helps listeners understand what it is and provides resources for victims and tools for parents to help protect their children. 

Human trafficking is the exploitation of another person for labor, domestic servitude or commercial sexual activity by force, fraud or coercion. It is also the act of enslaving or exploiting unwilling people.  

If you are a victim, or think someone is, please contact one of these local resources for help: 

• 9-1-1 call or text 
• Missoula Human Trafficking Task Force  
  • https://www.missoulahumantrafficking.com/  
  • Call or text 1-833-406-STOP (7867), the local hotline for victims or for reporting human trafficking  
  • Aims to end human trafficking through the process of education, awareness and  collaboration with local, state and federal resources and community partners. 
• Lifeguard Group 
  • https://thelifeguardgroup.org/  
  • Call or text 1-833-406-STOP (7867), the local hotline for victims or to report human trafficking  
  • Helps protect people and the community against sexual exploitation and human trafficking. 
• YWCA  
  • https://www.ywcamissoula.org/  
  • 24-hour crisis line: 1-800-483-7858 
  • 1800 S. 3rd St. W., Missoula, MT 59801 
  • Provides life-saving services — shelter, counseling and more — for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, stalking and human trafficking. 
• Missoula Beacon Project - All Nations Health Center 
  • https://www.allnations.health/missoula-project-beacon/  
  • 406-829-9515 
  • 830 W. Central Ave., Missoula, MT 59801 
  • Provides foundational support and services to Indigenous survivors of human trafficking using culturally relevant care. 
• Missoula County Community Justice Department 
  • 406-258-3830 
  • Toll-free 1-866- 921-6995 
  • Email - [email protected]  
  • Promotes the safety of Missoula County citizens, the protection and healing of crime victims, the efficient and just treatment of defendants and offenders, the ongoing improvement and coordination of the justice system’s response to crime, and the prevention of crime and the reduction of recidivism. 

**This project was supported by Subgrant No. W05-753 awarded by the state administering office for the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice's STOP Formula Grant Program. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the state or the U.S. Department of Justice.

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Why would a county government need to engage in strategic planning? In this episode, Chief Operating Officer Anne Hughes and MSU Local Government Center Director Dan Clark join the commissioners to discuss Missoula County's strategic planning process and how it helps the organization advance beyond "the way we've always done it." This includes planning through the lens of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion; incorporating flexibility to accommodate all county departments; and infusing empathy into local government. 

Missoula County is carving out a courageous new path in hopes of creating an efficient model that will be used not only for the County, but also as a valuable resource across Montana. This episode is full of leadership nuggets and exemplifies the power of creating a framework that benefits not only your organization, but the community it serves in the best way possible. 

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Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, recreational marijuana can be legally cultivated and sold in Montana. This industry is expected to provide additional income for the community, both through product taxation and job creation.

Planner Jennie Dixon and Sustainability Program Manager Diana Maneta review how Missoula County is preparing to address the specific impacts associated with this new industry. They share details about state regulations, the authority Missoula County has and energy efficiency measures being proposed for cultivation operations. 

The community is invited to participate in the process to help create appropriate regulations to provide opportunity while minimizing negative impacts from this industry in Missoula County. Learn more and provide comments at http://missoula.co/cannabisregulations.

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Missoula County Justice Court Judges Landee Holloway and Alex Beal share their journeys to the bench and how they’ve aligned their offices as a unified resource to guide people on what can be one of the worst days of their lives. 

They share what it is like to be judges and describe the programs they’ve implemented to reduce recidivism and seek restorative justice,  as well as how they balance the desire to help people in the system succeed with the safety of county residents and the overall well-being of our community. 

Both forward-thinking, they outline innovative ideas of how to continually improve court services and the experience of navigating a day in Justice Court, with the end goal of positive outcomes.

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Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst shares her personal journey of becoming an elected official. The constituency elected her to represent the County both in civil and criminal cases, and she explains how her office works to increase transparency and use resources efficiently, and how the office works with community partners to ensure all participants in the system are treated with respect and human dignity. 

County Attorney Pabst’s team often deals with emotionally difficult cases, and she paints a visual picture to help listeners understand the work they do and how their lives are often enriched by helping others through a difficult case. 

From prosecuting felonies to enforcing zoning and building code violations, the Missoula County Attorney’s Office serves as legal adviser to county commissioners, all elected officials of Missoula County, the Health Department, Community and Planning Services and all other county departments. 

The Missoula County Attorney is a public prosecutor and oversees prosecution for all felonies in Missoula County and a portion of the misdemeanor crimes. The office is responsible for criminal prosecutions, youth court proceedings, special victims unit cases, child protection cases, involuntary commitments, guardianships, junk vehicles, community decay and others.

Learn more about the Missoula County Attorney's Office at http://missoula.co/calibrate.

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Matt Lautzenheiser, executive director of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, explains the importance of history and how it has shaped the culture in Missoula and the country. Making history relatable from one human’s perspective to another, the museum works hard to help educate about Missoula County and preserve the historical gems that give meaning to this place we call home. 

Matt explains how the museum decides what to memorialize and how that has shifted over time as cultures and lifestyles have evolved. He shares lessons learned from the internment camp, what it’s like to run a museum during COVID-19 and how all this good work is a part of Missoula County government. 

There’s also exciting news about a grant award that will help rebuild and restore two WWII Internment barracks on the museum grounds. The grant, paired with community donations, will help the museum continue to tell the story of the 1,200 non-military Italian men, 1,000 Japanese resident aliens, 23 German resident aliens and 123 Japanese Latin and South Americans who were sent to Fort Missoula during WWII. The funding will also help the museum expand, which will provide additional space for the museum to preserve their artifact collections. 

The episode is full of wisdom and inspiration for Missoula County residents and beyond. 

If you would like to contribute to the final push of restoring the barracks, donations are accepted at https://fortmissoulamuseum.org/restore-the-barracks/

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