SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Thursday July 9, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Laurel High School Auditorium
These minutes were prepared from the available video recording and reflect the best understanding of the Clerk regarding the proceedings and comments made. While every effort is made for accuracy, certain speaker attributions may be uncertain due to audio or identification limitations.
Commissioner Morse opened the meeting stating the this is a Special agenda
meeting of the Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners. It's for the
state of Montana's intent to use land contrary to zoning in the Yellowstone
County jurisdictional zoning area around the city of Laurel. Basically, this
is required by state law, this public hearing. The state purchased the land
just outside the city boundaries of Laurel, so that makes it in the county. And
that's where the Board of County Commissioners or the local governing
authority. And so, for the state to receive the land use contrary to zoning. When
the state notifies and requests the Board of County Commissioners to approve
that zoning, we have 30 days to hold a public hearing. So, at this public
hearing, you will be able to come up and give us public comment on that whether
you are for or against. We're going to give you 3 minutes because we probably
have several people who will do that, and there may be more that show up. We
as the Board of County Commissioners are not going to interact with you. This
is solely your time to make a public comment. That's going to be, depending
how many people are here, we may take a break if we're still here an hour and a
half or two hours from now. With that, I will turn it over to the
representatives from the state and they'll introduce themselves and they may
give you brief remarks. Thank you.
Good evening. My name is Chris Stoneback. I'm an attorney representing the Montana Board of Investments. As you've heard, the hearing is being held today by the local governing body Yellowstone County. Public comment is encouraged this evening. The Board of Investments is attending, and the hearing and our attendance is pursuant to Montana law. The forensic mental health facility, to the extent there are questions, is described in detail online at Hp5.mt.gov. Questions about the facility can be answered by reference to the documentation available publicly online. This litigation has been filed challenging the forensic mental health facility. The board has no additional comment.
Good evening. My name is Justin Kraske and I'm the Interim Deputy Chief Legal Counsel for the Department of Public Health and Human Services, and I'm representing the department here today for this public hearing. Commissioner Morse - Okay, so the way this is going to work when I open the public hearing, when you come up to give us your public comment, give us your name, give us your address, and when you start to speak, you're going to have 3 minutes. Erika's going to be keeping the time over there, and I know she has buzzer which will go off when your time is up. So, when you get to 3 minutes, you know, I'll maybe give you 15 minutes of grace, but try to, or 15 seconds, not 15 minutes, 15 seconds of grace, but you know, try to respect everybody's time here and keep to your 3 minutes if you can. Okay, so I will open to public hearing, and if anybody wants to be the first one to come up and give us comment, we're happy.
Steve
Krum - My first take away from this is this is sad. This is like this is like
us against them, but you are us and you're supposed to represent us and that’s
not what is happening. Anyways, I'm here to ask the county commissioners of
the local state officials to do everything in their power to stop the building
of the mental prison next to residential neighborhoods, elementary schools,
both private schools, all of those in the state proposed location. State laws
require a facility of this type, no prison or restroom facility, to not be
built closer than one air block of any school. I know I didn't include
contractors. Does this mean a contractor building or contractor running? In
any case, it was obvious that the concern at the time that this law was
implemented, the state was running all these types of different facilities, so
the state would never build near any of these locations. The only concern was
that the contractor would take over. That would have been hard. There need to
be limitations. It went without saying, well, the state would never build near
any of these locations. Now, with the state operating facilities, nothing bad
would happen, such as underfunding, understaffing, locking, locking special
safety features to protect the inmates. The state has failed miserably, a lawsuit
was lost by poor and active staff and unsafe conditions. Now we're supposed to
trust the state field, right? I don't think so. Gianforte’s administration has
been integrating the public legislature who have been in control of
legislation. They have underfunded these facilities to the point of losing
certification to treat forensic patients. With the state refusing to pay the
county jails, the actual cost of housing state inmates. This is the same
problem and now we want to put this in Laurel. This is just plain wrong. We
need the county and state to put on hold this entire project and go back and
research this law and only have discussion about its purpose. Again, I believe
the legislatures do not feel there was a need to rank in the state and only
contractors on this issue contracted out. My guess is no one thought the state
would ever do anything like that. Here we are worse case, still not certified
four weeks after the county. BOI is the leader disregarding the safety of the
rural community, children and elderly planning on building a criminal prison
right next to the playground in the back yards of our children. The state has
land to the north at a container site and could have used the excessive amount
of $4.2 million used to purchase a new suitable land that would cost extra to
build on and maintain it. Instead, they could have run water and sewer to the
north side and help with the new water tower, which the community needs. At
the same time building a location that is suited for a facility like this, away
from the community on solid ground.
I don't think I'm reading anything into the law. I feel they would follow the
law. Would it have been written? I'm asking the county attorneys, Laurel city
attorneys and state attorney general to this law.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Mr. Crum.
While we're waiting for our next speaker, I want to recognize Superintendent Matt Torix in the Laurel Public Schools for hosting us tonight with this meeting, and we are eternally grateful, Superintendent.
Shelbi Gragg – My son will be second grader at West in the Fall, so I have very strong feelings about this facility that would be built less than a mile from the school. Now, to be clear to the public, this is not, therapy, where you go talk to the counselor to work with your anxiety. This is a facility.
Commissioner Morse - Shelbi, address your comments forward.
Shelbi
Gragg - The community needs to hear. This is a facility to house and detain
people either waiting to go on trial to determine mentally unfit for trail or
have been found unfit to be in a general prison. These are people who we don't
want anywhere near our children.
They deserve care because they are human beings. Governor Gianforte said he
would not put this facility in a community that did not want to. How many more
times does this community need to tell you? We do not want it. We did not
apply for it. Less than a mile away from my seven-year-old, where he is trying
to learn. Is not an appropriate, like the previous speaker said. There are
other options. Your OEBA analysis, pathetic. Your choices were building
facility, don't build a facility. That is what you invested. I read it. No,
those aren't your only choices; you can move it somewhere else. I'm very
curious why the state is so hell bent on building it next to children in a
residential community in the growth path of Laurel. Now I say I only have 45
seconds left. You hear that I am very frustrated about the state's disregard to
the safety and well-being of my children. Let's talk about the property tax
that Laurel was out on because the state's not going to pay property tax on
that. How are we going to update this building that needs a new water tower?
Not water tower I mean boiler. We need a new water tower. How is what we have
supposed to meet the needs of the facility? It can't. Who's going to help us
update the roads when increased traffic ruins them? Who's going to pay for the
law enforcement, the fire, the ambulance? That we already are under serviced.
No, do not rezone this. Put it somewhere that wants it, not here.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Shelbi.
Barb
Emineth - From what I understand, our state officials have the right and power
to change the zoning of the overpriced 114-acre parcel that the BOI has
purchased, and the county commissioners have no say in the matter, which is why
this meeting is simply happening in order for another public input box to be
checked while forging ahead with their plans. One of the letters from the state
official I saw online stated there should be robust engagement with the local
stakeholders. Problem is, they don't consider Laurel residents to be
stakeholders, even though we're the ones with all the skin in this convoluted
game, you've all been playing it these many months. So now the whole mess will
be turned into a legal battle, simply because the state hasn't played by the
rules, and instead of coming up with a win-win situation by building it in a
different location. More has been sacrificed. We need to let people to lead
us who have open minds and can see the big picture. They need to be willing to
listen to others and possibly do things different than in the past. The fact
that at some point the state legislature passed a law saying private
correctional facilities must be a certain distance from schools, and yet that
same law does not apply to state-owned facilities is absurd. This needs to be changed,
it needs to include the definition of a correctional facility as being a place
where people are not free to come and go, so the language is clear. It's high
time we begin new ways of doing things, because as some of you know, doing the
same things and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity. The
state apparently is willing and legally able to waste as much taxpayer money as
necessary to accomplish what they themselves want to happen. Now, whether that
is an indication of lack of ethics, or a lot of inflated egos is a toss-up,
probably a combination of the two. If the state does not feel the need to work
with local officials in a transparent and honest way, then how is the average
citizens supposed to trust the state's words or actions. This is a prime
example of why voting is so important. I know we can do better. And just a
reminder to our representatives, you work for us.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Barb.
Doug Poehls - Former city council team for 16 years in Laurel. I'm going to read you some stuff right out of your paperwork. Here's his first statement and this is quoted from Ryan Osman from DPHHS. BOI and the contractors will obtain all required permits, annexations, zoning, and other local approvals in full compliance for business and resolution. OK, now I'm going read something else. The board of investments provided notice that intends to use property and moral contrary to zoning. The county is required to facilitate a public hearing announced regarding the notice. Due to public interest, the county is holding the public meeting at the Laurel High School. At the end of that letter, it says, at the hearing, the board will endure from the state as to intended use of land contrary to zoning and receive public comments on the intent to use land contrary to zoning. After the hearing, the board will pass a resolution that acknowledges it held the hearing. The hearing is informational only. The state has the authority to use the land contrary to zoning. The board does not have the authority to prevent the state from using the land contrary to the zoning. In other words, this is just a smoke screen. It's required to check the box. It shows it right there, on top of that letter that was from David. Now, I didn't get the last public hearing but has Dan Villa ever sat in this chair? Probably not, he said. His attorneys, the guy that makes the decision, never shows up. We doubt if he even here's a recording. And that's a bunch of bull. OK, he needs to be here. He is the guy that makes the decision. He needs to be here to hear the public comments. Read this pamphlet, pick up and read it. You'll find out what the definition of mental illness is, whether they will be incarcerated or whether they won’t. If the state is so interested in our city, why don’t they ask what they can do to help us. Hardin and Miles City are interested in this forensic hospital. Help with the water tower so that we can expand the city of Laurel. We can’t expand now, and the state just made it worse.
Amber Zahn - I live directly next to the proposed hospital. I think that this is crazy that we were looking at rezoning an area that is residential. We bought our house with the intention of living in a home that was beautiful and was meant to serve us. We did not know that there are risks coming in this, our taxes changing and our property values changing. But there, these are all the risks that we weren’t asking for. We understood that something was going to happen, but we never would have imagined that it would be a secure facility. I think that is unfair because we didn’t ask for something like this. But also, I do want to talk about the water as well. Ever since Love’s has opened our water pressure can't sustain our house. We barely get a warm shower. Laurel isn’t ready for growth like this, and this is really an irresponsible thing to put in. As you can see, I have children here. They are also terrified, but not because we try to put it in their head. You know, they understand what a correctional facility is. We fear that because of the law states, this facility requires certain security, but the state has said the security will be architectural. So that adds another fear, you know? Are my kids going to be outside looking at 16- foot wire razor wire fences? Are we going to look at security flood lights that are coming in all the time? Are we going to hear sirens that are randomly going off in the middle of the night? Because we know that events happen all the time. We shouldn't have to live with that here. We bought our home in a residential area, not in an industrial area for a reason, right? When we moved from Billings because we were being victims of people peering through our windows, coming into our yard at night. We bought a house that is supposed to be safe to raise children, and now we're putting those criminals right next to my house. I have a right to say no to this, and I would say no. And I think that I should be taken seriously for that.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you for being here. Thank you, Amber. Thank you.
Chris Vogele - I'm 4th generation Montana, born and raised in Yellowstone and Carter counties, and I proudly serve as the mayor of the city of Laurel. Tonight, I'm here for two reasons: first, to represent the citizens of Laurel, and 2nd, as a resident and taxpayer of the state of Montana. This discussion involves far more than zoning requests. It concerns how state government works with or fails to work with communities directly affected by its decisions. Over the past six months, this issue has evolved from a state land purchase into a series of local questions regarding zoning, utilities, infrastructure, emergency response, safety, and long-term community impacts. During that time, Laurel residents, city staff, and county officials have continued to ask the same fundamental questions. Why was this site chosen? Why were the local governments not involved before the purchase? What are the actual impacts? What are the actual impacts of our community? And what protections will be in place for the people who live here? Those are reasonable questions. They're the kind of questions that should have been answered before the state committed public funds and acquired the property. The City of Laurel did not request to host this facility. Yellowstone County did not request this facility. Unlike other communities in Montana, neither the City of Laurel nor Yellowstone County applied or invited the state to locate its project here. Communities such as Miles City and Hardin openly expressed interest in hosting this facility. Laurel did not. Despite that, the state selected property immediately adjacent to our community without meaningful collaboration with the city of Laurel or Yellowstone County before acquiring more than 114 acres for approximately $4.5 million. That decision was made by the state. It was not made by our local elected officials, and it was certainly not made by the citizens who will live with its impact. What's particularly troubling is that not only the outcome, but the process that brought us here. Local government should never learn about a project of this magnitude after the land has already been acquired. The city should have been invited to participate in important commitments were made. The county should have been consulted before zoning became a for gone conclusion. Our residents deserve clear and honest communication from the beginning, not after the state had already decided where this facility would be located. Instead, what we have seen is a process that has left Laurel and Yellowstone County reacting to decisions that were already made elsewhere. That is not collaboration. That is not partnership. And for the people who live here, it feels as much as though the state made its decision first and expected the community to accept it afterward. The problems with that process are not abstract, they are practical, and they are immediate. When a state agency purchases land first and asks the local government questions later, it shifts the burden onto the community to catch up. It forces local officials to evaluate impacts without having been a part of the site selection process. It creates uncertainty for planning and infrastructure and budgeting. It's important to note that Governor Gianforte has publicly stated this facility would not be placed in a community where it's not wanted. Those words matter. And we want to hold them to his word. Thank you.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Mayor Vogele.
Jennifer Lorenz - I'm here tonight as a resident of Laurel, Yellowstone County, and Vice President of Laurel C.A.R.E.D. Thank you for holding the public hearing this evening. All state law may require this hearing tonight this should be far more than proceed through the requirement. So, it's an opportunity for this board to fulfill the responsibility and entrusted into you. Tonight is not about whether Montana needs mental health services. It does. Tonight is about whether this facility belongs on this particular piece of property. Whether approving this use is consistent with plans, policies, and values, Yellowstone County has adopted. Your own resolution acknowledges that the property is zoned residential tracks, and the proposed forensic mental health facility is not permitted use under the zoning. That fact deserves consideration. Yellowstone County spent years developing its current policy and rezoning regulations, and these documents were created to protect property owners, preserve neighborhoods, guide responsible development, and that guide provides certainty for the communities you represent. If those policies can be simply set aside, whenever they become inconvenient, then they cease to have a meaning. The resolution also states that this hearing is informational only and that the state has the authority to use the land contrary to zoning. I understand that that is the county attorney's appeal interpretation of the statute. But even if the state ultimately has the legal authority to proceed, nothing in their interpretation protects us for exercising its own authority, fulfilling its duty to the citizens of Yellowstone County. Nothing prevents you from making findings a fact. Nothing prevents you from determining whether this proposal is consistent with developing interests. Nothing prevents you from creating a clear public record. Nothing prevents you from stating that this proposal has two points of the Laurel Rd. policy. Nothing prevents you from concluding that this use is incompatible with the surrounding residential area. Nothing prevents you from formally objecting to this location or urging the state to reconsider. Nothing prevents you from standing with the people you were elected to represent. The state represents Montana. You represent Yellowstone County. And Yellowstone County is more than Billings. Laurel is Yellowstone County. Our residents deserve the same respect as every other community in this county. We deserve to know that our growth policy matters. We deserve to know that our zoning regulations matter. We deserve to know that the local planning complex and the state decision our elected county officials are willing to speak on our behalf. We're not asking you to disregard the law. If you believe this proposal conflicts with growth policies, say so. Also, since my time is short, I submitted a formal complaint yesterday about this hearing tonight because the agenda wasn’t advertised in a timely manner and it was not up for public review, just out of formal procedure. I expect it from the state. I expect it from you. I expect it for myself, so I have a copy that I will leave with you guys. Anyways, I respect you guys, and I appreciate your guys' time in this manner. Thank you.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Jennifer.
Laura Kirschenmann – Thank you for the opportunity for public comments. I recognized that the authority in this matter is limited, and that many decisions for the public facility rests with the state of Montana. Nevertheless, the decision before you is an important land use determination, and we respectfully ask that you adhere to the adopted policies to establish different type of long-term interests of our community. The proposed rezoning is inconsistent with the City of Laurel’s adopted growth policy. The subject property has been identified for residential development, reflecting a deliberate vision for orderly growth, compatible land uses, and the protection of existing and future neighborhoods. Rezoning this property to a accommodate a large state institution would be inconsistent with that vision and undermine the purpose of the growth policy as a guide for land use decisions. We also remain concerned that the impacts of this proposal have not been fully evaluated through a complete and transparent public process. Questions regarding infrastructure, transportation, public services, compatibility with surrounding land uses, and other planning considerations remain unresolved. These are fundamental land use issues that should be addressed before any rezoning decision is made. In addition, there are substantial public concerns regarding the state's handling of the project under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and the procedural steps taken to advance it. Many residents believe the state does not adequately comply with MEPA's requirements for environmental review and informed public participation, and that important procedural safeguards have not been fully answered. Whether those concerns are ultimately resolved through the administrative or judicial process, they underscore the importance of ensuring that land use approvals are not granted before all the legal and procedural requirements have been satisfied. While we understand the board is not responsible for every aspect of the state's project, it is responsible for making a land use decision that is consistent with adopted planning policies and supported by an accurate record. In our view, proposed governmental use of this problem does not align with the city's revenue policy, and it should not move forward on land designated for residential use. For these reasons, I respectively request that the board deny the requested rezoning or defer action until the state has demonstrated compliance with all applicable legal environmental and procedural requirements, and the board can make findings of the proposal as consistent with the growth policy and appropriate under applicable land use criteria. Thank you for your consideration of these comments and for your service to Yellowstone County.
Lisa
Reimer – I have resided here for 38 years, and I am a substitute teacher. I
just came here to speak about common sense. Why would we put this facility
next to a school? I decided to do some research to see if I can find some
large field studies about the effect of prisons or facilities like this that
are locked down and how that would affect elementary schools. There are no
studies. The reason why is they don't put prisons or lockdown facilities next
to schools. So, I don't understand why we would even think about doing this.
I really hope that you can understand the risk of this and stop this from
happening. The impacts are great. One of the things about the security of the
facility was it wasn't going to have a fence like that with raised wiring. Well,
how are you going to protect people, because people do escape? We even had one
escape from the Women’s prison, and I know because I do ministry there. So, if
you're not going to put the big fence around the facility, are you going to put
a big razor wire fence around the school to protect the kids, to keep the bad
guys out? I mean, think about it. Somebody's got to protect these kids one
way or another. And this is going to affect enrollment. There are going to be
people that are going to say, I'm not taking my kids to school there. I'll
take them to Park City or Elder Grove or someplace else. I don't want my child
in harm's way. I have a seven-year-old grandson who's been diagnosed with
anxiety. That would not be a good place for him to be, because he would not be
able to focus on his learning because he would be thinking about this. So, it
disrupts the learning environment, and there's already enough disruptions in
the learning environment. You know, what can happen when the kids go outside
and they know, they can see over there, hey, guess what's over there? You
know, that's where the crazy people are, they hurt people, they're hanging out
over there. It's going to stigmatize the school. And it's going to reduce our
property values, which is going to affect our school funding. This school
cannot pass the mill levy. We're going to take away more chances for the
schools to get money by losing property that could have residential housing
with students, the A&B money all of that. So, it's really going to affect
the school and the learning of our students, and we don't want them. Thank you.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Lisa.
Jeremy
Lavold - I'm tired of hearings. I want somebody I can talk to. Why can't I
get somebody to talk to? I know you're going to say, the interest is a
hearing, informational only. That's dumb. I want to talk to somebody. I want
them to be down here. Dan Villa was down here last time. But did he answer any
questions? No, he didn't. Why? Because this is informational only. My exact
statement on this is don't change the land use. Leave it as residential, if
the state changes it, it's another way for us to apparently sue and add to the
lawsuit to knock it back. Just one more thing, it's dumb. I can't get
somebody to talk to you if we get to the BOI and get to one of the meetings. Again,
I can say what I want to say, but I can't get answers. That's the biggest
thing. Nobody would contact you and want to say, we have community engagement.
No, you don't. You have community members who are ticked off telling you we
don't want it. Since we found out in November all the way up until now, we
don't want it. The answer is no, we don't want it. But we haven't talked to
anybody. We want to talk to somebody. We want somebody to answer questions. Apparently,
the BOI and DPHHS can't do that. Why not? Why can't you bring people down here
to talk to us? We're the ones to be affected. You guys are being affected. Why?
Why was it accepted off a letter? It's a page and a quarter long and not the 22-page
report in the 28-page request to have the facility at the other site. Why was
a page saying, hey, there's some land around here and we'll help you navigate
how to do some of this. Accept it as a letter, as a request to do it. It's
not. You would never accept something like that. If you said, hey, I want to
build a house and somebody says, hey, you can build a house over here. That's
the contractor I want. No, you want a contractor that can take it step by step
by step by step. That's the contractor you're going to go with to build your
house, because why they did a proposal. Not just, yeah, I can build it. Does
it make sense to arrive late? How can you accept something that arrives past
the due date? How does that happen? It seems like, and you guys are writing
down, which I appreciate, but we never see anything. We never see, I think I have
seen you before possibly, but, um, this is, this is ridiculous. I want to talk
to somebody. You guys don't say anything. There's pending litigation. If you
would have talked to us sooner, that might not be pending litigation. Vote no,
make it stand its residential, agricultural use, and just leave it at that and
let them take care of themselves as best as possible.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, sir.
Janine
Coole - It's a big piece of property, and they're only using a little portion
for this, and we don't get any answers from you guys. What are they going to
do with the rest of it?
What kind of facility or what are they going to do with the rest of it? They must
have a plan, but they won't tell us what the plan is. And just having a
one-way conversation to express our issues and not getting any answers, like
you said. It doesn't help us. We're in the dark, it's not great, and the
zoning needs to stay residential agriculture.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Janine.
Bret Edgmond - I spent more than half of my life in this building. I educated many people in this building. I appreciate the aspect of John. We didn’t ask for this. Miles City and Hardin asked for this. We have no interest in this.
Commissioner Morse - Thanks, Brent.
Shelley
White - I don’t have a prepared statement. Frankly this is getting cold. I
would like to speak to about representative government. Representative
government is the type of government that we have. Representative government
represents the people, except when it comes to this. In this case,
representative government does not represent the people.
What it does is it represents the BOI. It represents a few individuals in the
government of the state of Montana, which is supposed to represent we, the
people. I think that's inane. I'd also like to speak a little bit about the
truth. The truth is lack of deceit or subterfuge, all of which we have
experienced through this entire process. There is going to be vigorous
community engagement. Community engagement is a two-way thing. Instead, what
we get is we voice our opinion, and then we get a written response on a website
that we must go look for. That's not engagement. It's just another way to
deceit. We are not against this facility for mental health reasons. I'm a
registered nurse, master's prepared. I am the first advocate for mental
health. What I'm against is something shoved down our throat, close to our
students, taking away from the mental health professionals that serve our
community of Yellowstone County, which already has a 40% deficit of care
providers. Both nursing, psychiatric, psychology. What this does is it takes
from them. And you know as well as I do, you already can't get people to work
in your facilities. They're flown in. That's exactly the reason that they
want it here, because it's close to a frickin airport where they can fly people
in for a couple of weeks, pay them exorbitant prices, which they wouldn't pay
our people, and then flying back out again. They pay for their food, they pay
for their housing, they pay for their airplane tickets, they pay for their
insurance, they pay to help include their continuing education and their
professional license. You wanted it next to an airport. That's why you didn't
include Miles City, that's why you didn't include Hardin, because they would
have to drive. Oh my! And yes, we are angry here, which is probably the reason
that you brought your posse with you. WE are angry but we are not violent
people, because we, unlike the state of Montana, believe in the law. We are a
nation of law.
Thank you.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Shelly.
Bern Manley - I went to grades one through six in West Elementary School in the 60s, My mother worked in the Laurel schools for 22 years. My kids have gone to the West Elementary School and all the grades. All I wanted to do is say I am against placing of this facility within a mile of the school. I want to add that I am against any attorney and any bureaucrat and anybody that thinks that they can get a legal loophole around a safety statute. In my world, the world of construction. Individuals and attorneys' positions, management's positions anybody who persists that saying a safety statue depends on who the owner is should lose their jobs. I’ll just leave it at that.
Commissioner Morse – Thank you, Bern.
Miles
Walton – I live right across the street from the school, I have lived there for
almost 50 years. My two children through that school. This is the third
meeting I have come to for the public. We have had zero feedback. I come up
and talk into a microphone and that is the end of it. It goes in one ear and
out the other. It’s ridiculous. To build this thing and do away with that tax
base that the school, the city, and the county all need is ridiculous.
How can you even contemplate that? Leave that zoning healthy so that we can
build houses. Put it up by the airport, where the old land is free. You are
not paying four and a half million dollars for it. That's sort of a good sign
for now. I don't understand why we're spending that kind of state money for
land, but we are. And there again, we get no answers for that either. It's
ridiculous. Leave it. Make the state push their way even further. I thought
we had a chance. I read the second paragraph. It's where the area's informational
state and authority goes. We have no hope. It’s a law that you must put on a
public meeting. Only after that, it goes nowhere. So, anybody that's got any
say leaves Laurel right in the ditch.
Commissioner Morse – Thank you, Miles.
Star
Kauffman - I've been in this town for 20 years. My husband was buried a year
and a half ago here in the cemetery. I am sick to my stomach. I'm here to
represent the elder people. We are not the future. I'm 74 years old. What
future do I have? It's the children that are our future. It is the expansion
of our little town here that is our future, not a forensic mental hospital. There
is no place for any of us to have a future in that. I beg you, please
Commissioner, do not let them in to out town. They can go somewhere else.
We have elders that are scared to death because it's less than a mile to their
little apartments. They barely can afford to live in. Some of them don't have
food. I went around with a petition and that is how I found out that they
don’t have food. Oh, there's so much going on with our elders. It's just that
you all want us to go away. Well, I'm not going to go away. I still have a
voice. I am a registered voter, and I do care about this community. This is
all the family I have left is this town. None of its blood, it's all by
choice. If we put that forensic hospital there you are going to kill half of
the old people because they are already terrified. They're not stupid. They
didn't get to be 80 and 90 years old by being stupid. We need talk to somebody
and get some answers. Well, guess what, if they take away the bus that carries
these elders to the grocery store, carries these elders to their doctor's
appointments to billings. They take that away, that is in the works right
now. Who’s, bright idea was that? Let's just get the older people to give her
because they don't deserve to live in love. They've already done. Yes, we're
not the future. But those children are. And every one of those elders are
praying for those children not to have to put up with all chaos that will come
with that facility, so please put it some place else.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Star.
Julie
Jones - Now that the state has wasted $4 million of my tax year money, and
these people’s taxpayer money. I have a solution, why doesn’t the state get a
housing coalition and build some houses out there. Work with the city of
Laurel and build a water tower, you know, make the city better instead of doing
something like a forensic facility. You know, the state already has facilities
that they can't take care of. You know, they got Galen, they got Warm Springs,
you know, put their money into those facilities, you know.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Julie.
J.D.
Weinberg - I live over here at 1041 Montana Avenue and I'm opposed to any type
of mental health facility going up here in Laurel. Just to try to give you a
comparison,
last year, I attended the Billings Chamber of Commerce meeting, where they had
intended to build an Ice detention facility in Billings. Thank goodness up at
the Metra the manager said, oh, we're not going to have any kind of Ice
detention facility there where you graduate young people from there. My big
thing here is, is to make this comparison here between that and Billings. We
do not need any kind of mental health facility here in this town where it would
involve, I noted from others that have talked here, various types of
infrastructure you need and it goes against, from what I gathered, other zoning
facility areas in here that are yet against that. In regard to anything like
that and I would definitely hope that you would not vote in favor of this which
especially where the young people and I work with young people up here at
Montana State University, Billings, and they are our future here. I'm not a
youngster, as you know by any means, but it's these young people, as others
have pointed out here tonight that are the ones of our future here in Montana. And
I would hope that you would vote against having any kind of structure that has
to do with a mental health facility here in Laurel whatsoever there. Who knows
this mental health facility could eventually morph into an Ice detention
facility, just like what happened that they were trying to do in Billings
there. Anyway, I oppose any kind of structure whatsoever here. Thank you.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, JD.
Dave
Hester - Born and raised in Laurel, 820 1st Avenue. Questions, maybe answers? I
don't know. I don't want it. Thing I look at, the state is like a grasshopper
you abandon the
prison in Warm Springs and Galen. So how long is Laurel going to be living
with this mess? And then all of a sudden you guys decide to walk away. And
Laurel's going to be stuck with this. Yeah, but I'm a proud person of Laurel and
what are we going to be famous for? A damn prison. Not our locomotives. That's
wrong. For kids in this town, we love our town, we love what's here. We don't
need this, never wanted it, but you guys are forcing it on us. Wrong. You're
like grasshopper, eat until there's nothing left and then go to a new green pasture.
That's what we have. We’re not being told what is going on, but you are forcing
it upon us. Thank you.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Dave.
Gary Wadell - Hello, thank you both for being here. 1231 Oakland Drive. About 2 miles east of the Laurel. I grew up in this town. I walked across this stage and watched my kids walk across this stage. My grandkids have walked across this stage. I could add a lot of stuff that's already been said. I am going to say one thing. Four days ago, we celebrated 250 years of freedom. The Constitution, look at the top of the Constitution it says, We the People, not you folks ramming something down our throats.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Gary.
Alessa Christianson - Others have already covered the fact there were other communities that wanted this facility while we did not. And others have made excellent and well thought out points about the lack of infrastructure and the draining that this facility is going to be on our community. What I would like to touch on is, as a teacher, the safety base. There are at least six, possibly seven, safe exits in this building. Most of the doors can be barricaded by a chair. Seven exits if you can get out on the stage. Now, how do I know that? Because as a teacher, I already must walk into my classroom every day and think, what am I going to do if something comes to harm them. I really don't want to be teaching in a classroom where I don't just have to worry about the average everyday gunman. I have to worry about more people that are mentally disabled being a mile of my students. And it's not your job, it's mine to take a bullet if somebody comes in shooting. It's not on you guys; that's on me and that is on my coworkers. I would just like to see that you give some thought into that and some care and that maybe you might consider changing your mind. As a fourth-generation teacher, I'm a public servant just like you guys are. But the role of the public servant to me is to represent the interests of those who serve. I mean, that's my experience for you, doing the best for this community. And as you've heard today, and over the past couple of months, to be honest, most of the residents of this community do not feel that you are even listening to their worries their fears, and their concerns. Much less making the decisions you should make based on their best interests. And everybody can make a mistake. You'll know what it's like to make a mistake, but it's what you do afterward that defines your character. As an educator, I find the value in not only admitting that I'm wrong, but apologizing, but making changes going forward. And I never, ever would earn the respect of my students’ parents and my coworkers, if I was doubled down on my mistakes and refused to acknowledge that that mistake could have negatively affected them. And it does take a certain kind of gall for elected or appointed officials to ignore the concerns, questions, and interests of the very people who make sure they're practicing respect. Everyone here is just desperately hoping that you will listen to our concerns and then maybe do everything in your power to fix them and fix this mistake. From one civil servant to another, I would just beg you to take this opportunity to prove to your position that you are going to strive to do what's best for us and the children of our community. Maybe take the chance to be the kind of elected official or appointed official that you would like to be. Be the kind of officials to give some desperately needed help, not just to the rest of the citizens of Montana by showing them that there's at least one place in this great state where the representatives care more about people than the party, but by simply doing what's best to do.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Miss Christians.
Marti
Edmond - 926 7th Avenue. I have lived in Laurel since 1987. Previously to
that, I grew up in the state of Minnesota in a community called Moose Lake. That
has a state facility in it. Now, one thing that Minnesota did correct, they
built the state hospital on the opposite side of the lake away from the
community. When I was a student at Moose Lake Elementary, I could still see
that facility and that is distracting. Our students and other people will feel
that stigma. I felt the stigma. If you said where you were from, they always
said, oh you have the crazy hospital. I implore you not to rezone this. Keep
it residential so that the community of Laurel can grow, and the surrounding
residents won’t feel out of place. One thing the state of Minnesota did
correctly was put the state hospital away from the community.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Marty. Do we have anybody else that wants to
make public comment?
Matt Torix, Superintendent of Laurel Public Schools, 6635 off the Avenue
Building.
I think my biggest point in this process, obviously, is the safety concern of
our children.
But as I hear all that, I hear the people talking, one of the things I
expressed over these hearings is the process. When processes feel corrupted,
when they feel like they let the communities down, you start to lose faith in
those processes. You lose faith in people.
And by that, I mean the state has a process of replacing these facilities. And
they actively went out and sought applications from any community that was
interested in having the hospital. They have two full applications from Miles
City and from Hardin. They kind of got a halfway letter from Laurel saying,
you know, I really don't have anything to give you, but here's how you annex
land into the city if you didn't have land. My understanding is, is that the
application wasn't even put in on time; it's not even an application. This,
you could have considered Havre, but they didn’t put in an application, but
neither did Laurel, you could have considered Lewistown, they didn't put an
application, so they weren't considered.
So since Laurel didn't put an application yet it was considered, it feels
corrupt. It feels like the process wasn't following. People start to lose;
they start to lose faith in the system, and they start to lose faith with
people. If there was something that happened that was wrong, if there wasn't,
if there was something that happened, why did the state, why did the lawyers who
are advising BOI or DPHHS, why don't they say, hey, we need to take a step
back. We didn't do this properly. We didn't engage the community. Well, it
looks like Laurel didn’t vote at the City Council that they would be interested
in this. They don’t have those things. This feels corrupt. I don't know who
it is. It just feels that way. It feels that way with all these people out
here, and it feels that way to me. I feel like, at any point last fall, everyone
could have taken a step back and said, let's relook at this. Let's look at
this entire process. This might not have been done well. And we really owe it
to everybody in this process to make sure this is done well. Again, if I was a
resident of Miles City or Hardin, I would be very frustrated with that process because
it looks corrupted. I've talked to a few school officers in those areas, and
they're just like, what's going on? It just feels corrupt. And I'm not
accusing anyone of corruption. I'm just saying it feels like way to the
citizen.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Superintendent.
So, the words I can speak are not mine.
Commissioner Morse - Can you give us your name?
Calen Renner - There are only a few places in the state that might any sense to put this facility. There are only six cities in the state that can handle the necessary workforce, and Laurel, Columbus, Hardin are not on that list. It's not my words; they're the words of Senator Essman on October 21, 2025. Why did you change your mind. Now at the time they talked about putting this in Billings next to Skyview High School. Does it take a lot of buildings to get this kind of help? Immediately after, they decided to look at Laurel.
I know we have less voters. I know we have less resources.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Cal.
Cynthia Simons, 1129 12 Avenue here in Laurel, 38-year resident. We are Laurel. In case you know nothing about our town, one of our proudest positions from year to year is a celebration of the Fourth of July. The town and surrounding communities come out to celebrate our independence. Yet, here we are, 250 years later, facing another time, the state of Montana trying to plop a prison in the middle of a neighborhood, close to an elementary school, to private schools and a daycare. I didn't know that South Central Montana was eastern Montana. And that the millions and millions and millions of acres that the state of Montana owns. They want to plop this in the middle of an existing neighborhood. The State will pay no taxes and will charge the citizens of the Laurel through their infrastructure, emergency services, fire, police, and aiding this facility. Like the tyrant of England, the state is making their own rules as this process goes on and not following their own procedures. This facility belongs out away from any town. It doesn't belong inside of town, near citizens and near the most vulnerable, our children. Governor Gianforte, you said you would not put this where it is not wanted. It is not wanted. Be a man of your words. Thank you so much.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Cynthia.
Do we have any other comment?
Terry Krum - I've lived in Laurel all my life and grew up on the streets here as a child. I will say that everybody here will admit this is a black hole for taxes, infrastructure support, and for all the people in the community. And that is an area just like Billings, Billings grows west, so does Laurel. I had the opportunity in my life to visit people that work and live around Warm Springs and visit people that came from Galen. Those are not move to communities. Those are not places you want to go. So why did the state and all the room we have put that right here in our path of growth? It makes no sense at all. And just like she just said, we will not put this in any community that does not want it. That's not mine, words that’s his. Let's make them stick to them. Thank you.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Terry.
Gloria Allwin - My family that I married into are five generations. This is really bad for what is happening and thank you all for being here. I agree with what everybody's been saying here, but I have two more things that I want to mention. First up. All the state calls this is a mental hospital. It's been through the news. I think that's even what received the mayor in our CAO when we sent a letter to the state. It was called a mental hospital, not a mental prison. We wish she would start calling it exactly what it is and quit comparing it to children's Shodair Hospital. The other thing I want to mention is our land is right across the fence from this property. That's the only way that Laurel city can grow. We always figured that we grow out of our way, and they have houses, not a prison in the middle. Our grandson is trying to build a house. The state of Montana told me he has to leave a pipe in the ground for a year to test the water table. The state came in, put pipes in that piece of property for two weeks in the middle of the winter. Why don't you follow your own rules? I know that the Love Gas Station had their pipes in the ground for two years to check for the water table. And now the irrigation has come around the water table is higher. So, how many more millions of our taxpayer dollars are you going to spend to build on high water ground? What I understand, the statement to the DHHS to test and ask for more money because of the water table issue. Well, that's our tax dollars being wasted on a piece of ground, where you could build it somewhere else. Thank you.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Gloria.
Johnathon Grouchin, 1015 Rochelle Lane, Laurel, Montana. At this point, I believe the governor and the state agency leadership are invested so much of their pride and ego in this decision that they feel compelled and dependent, even in the base of legitimate concerns from this community. That makes it even more important for our local leaders to continue to stand up for the Laurel that they can show our voices are heard. Our own mayor said that Laurel does not want the facility, nor has it formally requested it. Our schools have said the same concerns. These are leaders who represent our people who live, work, and raise their families here, and their concerns should not be dismissed. I understand the state's argument that this facility needs to be near Billings for staffing and access to quality employees. I understand that, but if it needs to be near Billings, why does it need to be placed less than a mile from our schools, which has been said? There should be other options that meet the states need without putting a secure forensic facility so close to where our children learn. Finally, I urge Yellowstone County Commissioners to formally oppose this proposal and rezoning request tonight. Understand that the county's decision may not legally stop the state from moving forward, but a no vote would send a powerful message to the state that Yellowstone County and the city of Laurel are standing united in saying that this is the wrong location. If the state chooses to continue, our local leaders have responsibility to make or to represent the people they serve and make clear that this decision matters.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, sir. Public comment.
Warren Hoffman - I've lived in the state of Montana for 83 years now. For 60 of those years, I have been buildings trade. I have worked a lot with engineers and architects and lawyers, lots of people that are new professions. Some parts of this process are very sensitive, and I guess I have a big question here about the zoning. I've always been under the impression that if you change zoning, it will have to be a propelling reason to do so. That is one of my questions that I put before you. I would imagine that you have a particular reason to do so. And as you heard tonight, this facility does not fit right where they are wanting build it. The amount of acreage that have bought there, this is not going to be a minor facility. I am not opposed to a psychiatric evaluation hospital, but I am sure they are very capable to find someplace else to put it. I would ask you and I don’t know if this is the case or not but if you can require compelling reasons to change this, I would request that you do so. By the same token, I lived in Miles City. That is a wonderful town. You should be a compelling explanation for why they turned down that. I read all the comments from the officials of the city, and they were highly in favor of it. From what I read what the state required on the hospital; Miles City met the qualifications. It’s a large town. I think the only reason they don’t have more people there is because they don’t have the jobs to offer. I don't know where this will go. I do think that the process should show you right now that there should be a fulfilling reason to change that area from a residential and there's a great need for Billings. I also know that the construction requirements would be quite excessive for that type of land. There's not good soil to build on and high-water table would not be good for a large facility like this. I also know that there are foundation systems for residential that would be perfect. They would solve it. It would not be expensive for residents.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Warren.
Lee Deming - Is anybody from the state ever going come to this community and look us in the eye and answer questions. I've been begging these guys, begging the BOI for months to come here and answer questions. Literally, six months are half the year. Is that going happen? Somebody must answer that question soon.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Lee. Any other public comment? This is probably going
be your final chance to make public comment.
Craig Whitely - I live at 2247 Old Highway 10, just a little west of where this prison would go. I chose this community 40 plus years ago. It's been great. My kids went to that school. All these comments that were made tonight are all 100% correct. Everybody’s opposed nobody's in favor of this. What will it take for you people to hear this community. Can we put it up for a vote to the community? Want me to hold a garage sale so we can hold a vote? I mean, this community does not want this facility. Put it someplace else, you need something right, but not where you want it. Not right next to a school, not where people want to build. This is ridiculous, you guys need to wake up.
Commissioner Morse - Thank you, Craig. Okay, public comment. Anybody wishing to speak? Public comment. Public comment. Anybody wishing to speak? This is the third and final time. Public comment. Anybody that wishes to speak, come up. Hearing none, we're going to close the public hearing. Thank you all for attending. The meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
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