The Missoula County administrative meeting on Jan. 6 approved appointments to the Missoula Food Policy Advisory Board. A board member asked the board to appoint Thomas Andres to an active three-year term through Dec. 31, 2028, and to appoint Austin Kienes as an alternate for a three-year term.

A board member moved to elevate Thomas Andres to the active member position and appoint Austin Kienes as the alternate; another member seconded the motion. The board approved the appointments by voice vote, recorded in the transcript as 'Aye.' The transcript does not include individual roll-call vote names.

The board noted both candidates were interviewed in a prior meeting and characterized them as strong candidates for the board. No additional program funding or duties were announced at the time of the appointment.

Next steps were not specified in the transcript; the appointments take effect immediately and run through Dec. 31, 2028, unless the board provides further guidance.