The encampment under the Reserve Street Bridge has been a topic of concern for both residents and County officials, especially with spring runoff on the horizon having the potential to wash garbage and other waste downstream.
Last week, Missoula County Public Works crews and equipment assisted with trash removal under the Reserve Street Bridge after Commission Chair Juanita Vero declared a state of emergency to enable the County to join community volunteers to remove trash that’s accumulated under the bridge due to people living illegally on the property for years.
In this episode, the Missoula County commissioners explain the history of this issue and its current complexities: how the encampment at one point had around 140 people and what the County and City of Missoula, in cooperation with many community partners, have done so far to address this problem, such as standing up the Temporary Safe Outdoor Space and Authorized Camp Site. They explain why it’s an environmental and safety problem to continue to have people living under the bridge, and why, because of the Martin v. Boise court ruling, neither the County, City nor the Montana Department of Transportation have been able to simply remove the campers from under the bridge if there is no alternative to send them.
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Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!
