The Agenda with the Missoula County Commissioners

If a new business wants to open in Missoula County, there’s a good chance the property owner has spoken to someone in local government about it. Then it goes through the development review process, which is dependent on the location, type of business and many other variables. Does it have to be this complicated? What kind of discretion does county government have when it comes to growth and development? Enter: land use planning and zoning. This week, the commissioners spoke with Karen Hughes,...

2026 is a federal election year, and thousands of voters will cast their ballots by mail or at polling places across Missoula County for both the June primary and November general election. It takes more than 600 people to run these elections, and you could be a part of the action as an election judge! This week, the commissioners spoke with Bradley Seaman, elections administrator, about what election judges do (no robe or gavel required) and how residents can get involved. Click here t...

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! Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode! Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

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 rec...

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 me...

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. Text us your thoughts and comments on this epi...

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 Homewor...

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 Sl...