Myth Busters!

This is TRUE! 

Here's how: When your septic system is permitted and installed correctly, it keeps poop (yes, poop!) and other contaminants out of your drinking water and your neighbor’s.

The system filters waste through soil layers, naturally breaking down harmful bacteria and chemicals before they can make their way into the groundwater.

Without a proper system, contamination can flow freely — bad news for wells, waterways and health. So if you have a septic system, keep it shipshape. It's not just a load of crap — it’s your first line of defense for clean water!

Have questions, looking for a septic permit or need to fill out a septic application? Contact Missoula Public Health at 406-258-4890, email envhealth@missoulacounty.us or visit missoulapublichealth.org/environment/septic 

This is FALSE. Not every structure in Missoula County requires a building permit. Certain types of small, non-habitable structures are exempt, although permit requirements differ between Missoula County and the City of Missoula.

Here are some common examples of permit-exempt structures in Missoula County:

• Non-Habitable Additions: Additions like covered porches, covered entry ways, a lean-to, or a patio are exempt, provided they're non-habitable. Reference Resolution 2024-072 
  
  
• Greenhouses and Hoop Structures: For residential use only, not for the public to enter and purchase products out of, are exempt from a building permit.
  
  
• Pergolas and Gazebos: These open-air structures, whether attached or freestanding, don't need a permit.
  
  
• Residential Sheds: Sheds under 200 square feet used for storage only don't require a building permit. Be sure to check with the zoning division for height and setback rules. Also check with the Health Department to ensure you are not placing it over a septic/drain field or water line. Reference Resolution 2022-123 for definition.
  
  
• Commercial Sheds: Sheds under 120 square feet are exempt, with similar zoning considerations for height and setbacks.
  
  
• Residential Decks: Under 30 inches high attached or unattached regardless of size don't require a building permit. Reference Resolution 2024-072 
  
  
• Storage Structures: Storage structures up to 200 square fee are permit-free. Reference Resolution 2022-123 

Note that these exemptions only apply to structures outside of Missoula City limits.

For clarification on specific projects, contact the Public Works Building Division at permits@missoulacounty.us or 406-258-3701, option #2. You can also visit www.missoulacounty.build to see if a permit is required before you start your project.

This is FALSE. The Missoula Public Library welcomes everyone in Missoula County and throughout the region, not just city residents.

With a library card, patrons gain access to a wide range of services, including books, workshops, community spaces, family services, STEM programs, media literacy, early literacy programs, MakerSpace access, and cultural events.

Beyond the downtown location, Missoula Public Library has six branches: Target Range, Lolo, Frenchtown, Seeley Lake, Potomac, and Condon. These locations host their own events and book clubs each month. The newly launched bookmobile will expand access to library services even further.

Additionally, the library is connected to other libraries across Montana, and the outreach programs bring our services to residents across the county and beyond. With its broad array of resources and services, MPL attracts visitors from near and far, making it a hub for the entire community.

So, wherever you live in Missoula County and beyond, the library is here for you!

THIS IS FALSE. While there were plans to move mail processing from Missoula to Spokane, this did not happen. The USPS offices in Missoula are ready to receive your ballot and ensure it gets to the Elections Center.

If you vote absentee, return postage is prepaid. Even with local processing, the USPS recommends mailing your ballot no later than seven days before Election Day, which is Tuesday, Oct. 29. Please hand-deliver your ballot to the Elections Center or a drop off location after Oct. 29.

Still want some reassurance? You can track your ballot at myvoterpagemt.com 

This is FALSE. This fall, Missoula County Parks, Trails & Open Lands started work to make improvements to Riverside Park in Lolo. This will include reconstructing the trailhead stairs, rerouting portions of the trail to prevent erosion, paving and striping the parking lot and restoring the vault toilet. No trails will be paved as part of this project.

In 2023, Missoula County received a Trail Stewardship Grant from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. This grant will provide 90% of the funding for the park improvements, with the other 10% coming from county revenue.

This is mostly false. The floodplain and rivers are natural systems that change over time. Missoula County is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to update some area floodplain maps to address potential flood hazards and comply with federal regulations.

The new maps for the Clark Fork River, the Bitterroot River and Rock Creek are intended to provide more reliable and detailed information about areas prone to flooding. Updated floodplain maps will depict the latest, most accurate flood risk data, and will eventually replace the existing floodplain maps, which are based on data from the 1970s. This process began in 2020 and is anticipated to last through 2026.

Following a public engagement period, Missoula County will need to adopt the updated maps for residents in the floodplain to be eligible to buy flood insurance through the National Floodplain Insurance Program, which FEMA manages. Residents will be eligible for this flood insurance only if the County adopts the updated maps.

Adopting the maps also ensures Missoula County is eligible to receive federal assistance in the event of a major flooding disaster. If the County does not adopt the updated maps, it wouldn't be eligible for federal funds, and recovery costs would likely fall to local property-tax payers.

The new maps also will help Missoula County base future land-use decisions on the most accurate data. Since flooding is the most common disaster in the United States, it is important to have up-to-date information for individuals and communities to be prepared for potential floods and to insure property. Click here for more information about this process.

This is false. While there are about 1,500 miles of public roadway within Missoula County, staff are not able to maintain all of them. The County’s Road and Bridge Department is responsible for maintaining approximately 447 miles of road (about 253 miles are paved and 190 are gravel) outside of city limits. The City of Missoula maintains most roads inside city limits, and the Montana Department of Transportation is responsible for state highways, like Reserve Street and Highway 93.

Road maintenance includes repair, snow removal, right-of-way maintenance, paving, grading and dust abatement. Some roads are private, meaning residents pay for maintenance (often through an HOA). Others are county non-maintained, meaning that while these roads are within county limits, they are not regularly maintained.

Though the County maintains 447 miles of road, funding to provide that maintenance is limited, which means staff prioritize roads based on traffic level, maintenance urgency and safety concerns. Click here to see an interactive map of county-maintained roads.

This is FALSE. Do not pour paint, gasoline or other household chemicals down the drains inside your home, into a storm drain or on the ground. Besides the potential to damage to the plumbing in your house, these liquids contaminate our aquifer, rivers and the larger ecosystem of the Missoula valley.

If you don’t know how to get rid of chemical waste (or anything else!) in your garage, check out Home ReSource’s Waste Wizard.

Keep our favorite recreation sites and our drinking water free from pollutants by disposing of chemical waste property. Employees from the Missoula Valley Water Quality District staff the new household chemical disposal facility at Home ReSource, which is open now! Visit homeresource.org/hcd to make an appointment.

This is FALSE. Residents seeking financial assistance for property damage should file claims with their insurance company. While there's a chance local government (the city and county) may receive financial assistance from the federal government down the road, that assistance will most likely be focused on reimbursing costs to repair public infrastructure, not to provide personal financial assistance to residents for property damage, like totaled cars or roof damage.

Additionally, a local and state emergency declaration does not mean that there will be individual financial assistance to homeowners and residents.