Mission Town Council invited James Steele Jr., the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes councilman and St. Ignatius representative, to their meeting last Tuesday, Dec. 16, to begin an open dialogue about annexing land south of Mission Creek. 

With the city limits not encompassing the entire town, the council aims to unite the community. The council has also previously floated annexing other areas of Mission to expand property-tax revenue. 

Tribal members and businesses primarily populate the area south of Mission Creek, leading the council to question Steele about the Tribes’ biggest worries, public works responsibilities, and how to support tribal sovereignty while expanding the city boundaries. 

The council’s goal is to collaborate with the Tribes on this decision. Steele explained that he has brought the questions to various tribal departments to ensure they are properly addressed. However, with the holiday season, he said he doesn’t expect responses until January. 

Steele said the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority's water and sewer manager was already interested in speaking to the council. He said there may also be an opportunity for the tribal council or tribal staff to meet with the town council and answer questions. 

“My role is to be a bridge for you all to the different departments that we have at the Tribes and make sure that we're getting that answer to you,” Steele said. “I definitely appreciate the council thinking about how we collaborate with the Tribes in a good way and make sure we're doing this in a good cooperative way.” 

Steele explained that when they floated this idea last year, some residents expressed concerns about what annexation would mean for them and whether their water would switch to city water. The Mission Council wants those residents to stay on tribal water and sewer.  

Councilwoman Janis Heffern said she was glad to hear this perspective from Steele, because the council is only five people, and it can be hard to consider all aspects of the situation. 

“It’s not a threat, it’s an inclusion,” Heffern said. “That’s why I’m bringing it up. I want the bigger part of St. Ignatius to be included; there should be no exclusion. That is what I feel in my heart.” 

Other council members pointed out that some local business owners or residents don’t have an opportunity to vote or run for council because they live outside the city limits. Annexation would give these people a vote and potentially help the council fill its committees. 

Steele said it’s important for the council to articulate this not as a threat but as an effort to include the community in these city discussions. 

Steele explained he grew up in Arlee and is still learning the lingo of longtime Mission residents, who have called the south portion of the creek “Indian town” and the other “uptown.” He said it’s always been an unspoken separation. 

“But we’re no different. We’re no better than this side of the creek or that side of the creek,” Heffern said. 

Steele said it’s appropriate and admirable that the council feels this way. 

The council also discussed how the state disburses gas, cannabis, and liquor taxes because Heffern said they don’t want to take the Tribes' funds. Steele explained that tax money is determined by the number of enrolled members on the reservation, so the change in city limits would not affect those numbers, which Councilwoman Rikki Merchant called “a win-win.” 

Heffern said everything comes down to money, and they would like to avoid fighting over it. She was glad they had this discussion because it brought up more questions, and they plan to have many more conversations with Steele as annexation moves forward. 

“This is a good start, as far as I’m concerned,” Heffern said. “If we can get it done in a year or two years, great. If that’s what you guys decide, and we all come together in a good agreement.” 

Mayor Daren Incashola said it’s been great to work with Steele, and they have built a lot of bridges in the last four years with the Tribes and other agencies, such as the City of Bozeman, which recently donated a patrol car to the St. Ignatius Police Department, and Missoula County.  

Chief of Police Jason Acheson explained in an email that the vehicle is a 2016 Ford Explorer in fair-to-good condition. Acheson stated that a single patrol vehicle can cost between $80,000 and $90,000.  

He recently learned that Bozeman had ordered a new fleet and reached out to inquire about their older vehicles. After working with their chief and deputy chief, they generously agreed to donate one patrol vehicle.  

Acheson is currently getting the vehicle ready by having a radio installed and getting a cost estimate for decals.  

“We are extremely grateful for the support and generosity shown by the Bozeman Police Department and other agencies who have helped us over the past several years,” Acheson stated. “Contributions like this make a meaningful difference for small agencies like ours and help ensure that we can continue to provide safe and effective law enforcement services to our community.”  

During this meeting, the council also approved hiring Perla Bauer as the new librarian.