A year in review...

When I volunteered to write a "commissioners' first year in review" column last summer, I didn't anticipate it would include pandemic, threat of economic collapse or efforts to dismantle structural racism. "Droplet" wasn't in my vocabulary. I couldn't imagine bars, restaurants and schools closing and that many of those still employed would be working from home while homeschooling their children.

On my first day, July 1, 2019, the commissioners had a meeting with Chief Administrative Officer Vickie Zeier. It was 8 a.m. and she announced her retirement. I didn't know her but I knew she was an important, stabilizing force. She had spent 35 years with Missoula County, the last six as CAO. Ours was a very new commission and there were a handful of new department heads leading large departments. To say I felt anxious is an understatement.

Missoula County covers about 2,618 square miles, is home to roughly 119,000 people on a $188 million budget. Your commissioners are responsible for adopting the annual budget to provide quality public service to protect, enhance the well-being of the people, communities and environment of Missoula County.

Not until I flip through my journal do I realize it's taken the same amount of time- a year- to establish a 571-foot portion of public right-of-way known as Pine View Drive in Seeley Lake as it has to create the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, the first step to re-establishing passenger rail service across southern Montana. Government can work at both glacial and lightning speeds.

By late November, commissioners wrapped up three days of department strategic planning. Not only was I able to snap an administrators' "bring it in" selfie, reminiscent of a fourth-grade soccer huddle, but it was the moment we spoke aloud an ethos that guides county behavior, feeding a can-do culture. "Tip of the spear," or #tots. Yep, it's even become a hashtag around the office. It's to remind ourselves to do innovative work and challenges us to get to yes, whether it's with dust abatement or achieving clean electricity by 2030. It's also a reminder to, in the parting words of Vickie Zeier, "Always be kind to one another, know you never accomplish anything by yourself and remember who you work for (the people)."

We're getting deeper into budget season and by September there is an expectation that the budget will reflect community principles. I grew up in rural Greenough and I've grappled with what that means - what is a rural voice? At its best, I think it's collaborative, values-based, patient, resilient, authentic - brave enough to be vulnerable. Not words often used to describe bureaucrats and elected officials.

As we work through the budget, trust and vulnerability will be necessary to have essential discussions about how we're going to provide the best services with scarce resources. If 2020 has shown us anything, it's that we have no idea what the future holds. But if we stick to our values of justice, sustainability, equity and transparency, we'll survive, even flourish.