Missoula County Government: Missoula County Weekly: June 28-July 2

Press release from the Missoula County Government:

06/28/2021 7:00 AM

Visit our Missoula County Events Calendar to see what events and classes the County is hosting! 

Vaccines are available to everyone 12 and older!  

As we continue our progress toward community immunity, data show that those 30 and under have lower COVID-19 vaccination rates than other eligible age groups in Missoula County. The vaccine is free, fast, convenient and available, and it significantly reduces the risk of COVID-19 and its potentially severe complications. Make an appointment at covid19.missoula.co and encourage your friends and family to get vaccinated! Share your experience on social media with the hashtags #endthepandemic, #vaccinatethe406 and #gotmyshot406. 

Stay up to date with Missoula County's COVID-19 vaccine distribution success! Visit covid19.missoula.co/vaccine-information and click on the Vaccination Distribution Map and Dashboard blue button. The data is updated every Monday. If you would like to track data across Montana, visit the Montana Response page. 

Commissioners to consider holding special election on countywide marijuana tax 

The Missoula County commissioners are seeking public comment as they determine whether to adopt a resolution to hold a special election for voters to consider a 3% local-option tax on marijuana sales. The first public hearing on the issue will be at the commissioners’ public meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 1. The meeting will be held in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse, and participants can also join remotely. Members of the public an submit comment at a public meeting by emailing bcc@missoulacounty.us or calling 406-258-4877.  

Find the meeting agenda and call-in information
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County, City decide next steps in Missoula Federal Building acquisition 

The City of Missoula and Board of County Commissioners approved next steps in the Missoula Federal Building acquisition, which included a memorandum of understanding between the City and County to enable join ownership of the Federal Building. The historic Federal Building at Pattee Street and East Broadway is surplus for the federal government and will go to auction if the City and County do not acquire it. Both local governments need more space in a growing city and county, and both also have interest in preserving the Missoula landmark, completed in 1913, and both have studied the efficiencies and costs of leasing additional buildings and building new buildings. (Photo credit: Missoulian).

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Watch the city’s meeting
Watch the county’s meeting

Independence Day reminders 

Independence Day is soon upon us! A friendly reminder that fireworks are prohibited in Missoula city limits, on open space, Forest Service and Fish, Wildlife and Park land, and in County parks and recreation areas. Please keep in mind that fireworks are stressful for many populations and also pose a serious fire risk. To report illegal fireworks, call 406-258-4850. 

County offices will be closed Monday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day. 

Commissioners to proclaim Wildfire Smoke Ready Week 

During Wildfire Smoke Ready Week, Missoula County and the City will inform and educate residents of the hazard that wildfire smoke presents and how to prepare and stay healthy as individuals, families, neighbors and as a community during smoky months. Commissioners will proclaim July 12 through July 18 as Wildfire Smoke Ready Week at their July 1 public meeting. 

Find the call-in information and a copy of the proclamation

Planning a day on the river? Recreate responsibly! 

It’s time to start enjoying the Clark Fork River, and as it starts heating up remember to recreate responsibly!  

• Check the status of parks before you visit and be prepared for it to be crowded.  

• Use nearby state parks and be mindful of your impact when you visit communities 

Missoula County employees are working hard for you! 

Laurie Hire, Office Manager, Community and Planning Services (CAPS) 

"There is rarely a dull day in the CAPS office – there are 26 of us spread through Current Planning and Permitting; Long Range Planning and Implementation; Grants and Community Programs; Parks, Trails and Open Lands; and Sustainability and Resiliency. I am so lucky to work in an office, and an organization, with such fun and knowledgeable people.  

My journalism degree has lent itself to so much of the outreach I do for CAPS, from creating our monthly eNewsletter, annual report, project brochures, fliers, mailings and display ads; to managing website development and being the office guinea pig for new software and application testing. As the office manager, I have a team of two, Heather Powers and Donna McCammon, and we make sure the daily operations of the office are running smoothly, as well as provide administrative assistance to various volunteer boards and committees.  

I have worked with CAPS for around 11 years, but I’ve been with the county for 15 total. It seems like my time working here has flown by, especially when I think about how I was able to bring both of my boys (now 14 and 12) with me to work when they were babies. In my experience, Missoula County has always been incredibly appreciative of employees and continues to find ways to show that appreciation to those who work here." 

What is Missoula County doing about … public infrastructure? 

Missoula County maintains 232 miles of paved roads and 242 miles of gravel roads year-round, providing maintenance such as asphalt overlays, pothole patching, sweeping, mowing, brush cutting, pavement marking, sign maintenance, gravel road grading and snow plowing on them. Missoula County also maintains 149 bridges and 289 smaller culverts, for a total of 438 crossing structures. The county is responsible for inspecting the majority of these, as well. 

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Missoula County in the News: June 19-25 

Largest in Montana: Missoula County inks agreement for solar array atop jail 
Montana’s passenger rail authority set for funding boost from Tester transportation amendment 
Missoula County: Don’t wait to appeal your property appraisal 
Pollinator week being celebrated in Missoula 

Upcoming Commissioners’ Meetings: June 28-July 2 

To join commissioner department, administrative and public meetings via Microsoft Teams and view the agendas, please visit the Missoula County Commissioners’ Meeting Minutes and Agenda Portal. Please note that agendas for department and administrative meetings are published two business days before the meeting, and public meeting agendas are published the Friday before the meeting. Administrative and public meeting video recordings are available on the Missoula County YouTube page after the meeting, and MCAT plays the public meetings live on their Spectrum Channel 190. Email bcc@missoulacounty.us or leave a voicemail at 406-258-4877 if you have any questions or comments on an upcoming meeting. 

• Monday, June 28 
  Community and Planning Services Update 

• Tuesday, June 29 
  Commissioners’ Administrative Public Meeting 

• Wednesday, June 30 
  Zoning Code Update 
  Chief Officers Update 

• Thursday, July 1 
  Chief Administrative Officer Update 
  Risk and Benefits Update 
  Commissioners’ Administrative Public Meeting 
  Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer Update 
  Commissioners’ Public Meeting 

• Friday, July 2 
  No department, administrative or public meetings are scheduled on this day. 

This press release was produced by the Missoula County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.