Myth Busters!

This is FALSE. 

Anyone is welcome to speak at public meetings.

Public meeting agendas have time at the beginning for “public comment on items not on the agenda” as well as opportunities to comment on a specific project or action.

All residents are welcome to listen and comment during these meetings. Please note that you will be asked to provide your name for public record.

Opportunities include:

• Administrative public meetings: Held most Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. in the Administrative Building (199 W. Pine St.) or you can join virtually via Microsoft Teams. During this meeting, departments bring contracts, agreements, policies and more to the commissioners for approval or denial.

• Public hearing meetings: Typically held the first, second and fourth Thursdays at 2 p.m. of each month in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse Annex, or you can join virtually via Teams. The agendas include items of broader public interest, like land use decisions, resolutions, proclamations, community plans or the budget. Projects listed on missoulacountyvoice.com are often considered at these meetings.

• All Community Council Virtual Town Hall: Held the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. Representatives from the seven community councils, as well as county staff and one commissioner, report on recent news and activities.

Find agendas and meeting times at missoula.co/bccmeetings

Bonus opportunities:

• Many advisory boards and committees meet monthly and allow public comment for items not on the agenda. These boards provide guidance to county staff and the commissioners on important decisions like open lands, parks, elections and much more.

• Community councils meet monthly and represent seven areas: Bonner-Milltown, Clinton, East Missoula, Lolo, Seeley Lake, Swan Valley and West Valley/Frenchtown.

Find agendas, meeting times and locations at boards.missoulacounty.us.

This is TRUE. 

This is FALSE.

This is FALSE.

Existing Legal Construction: While Missoula County recommends existing property owners in the floodplain take mitigation measures to protect their property, they will not be required to unless they plan to alter, substantially improve or replace a structure. 

New Construction: After the maps are finalized by FEMA, Missoula County must require new construction in the floodplain to apply for a floodplain permit and meet certain requirements.

This is FALSE. 

The County’s junk vehicle program is required to follow Montana state law, and revenue generated from that program is required to be reinvested in that program. If junk vehicle funds were ever used in a buyout situation, it would be a case where there was a willing property owner and could only be used for purchase of a mobile home that met the junk vehicle specifications. Buyouts are rare in Missoula County, can only occur with a willing, voluntary property owner. They have been in very high-risk areas with repeated flood damages such as off Tower Street and Kehrwald Drive in the Orchard Homes area.  

This is FALSE. 

This is FALSE.