Gallatin Media Center

For immediate release: April 14, 2023

Media contact:
Hali Kapperud, Gallatin County DUI Task Force Coordinator
406-585-1492
hali.kapperud@gallatin.mt.gov 

Gallatin County DUI Task Force Hosting Annual Law Enforcement Award Ceremony

The Gallatin County DUI Task Force is hosting the annual Law Enforcement Award Ceremony on Thursday, April 20 at 6 PM in the Gallatin County Courthouse Community Room at 311 W. Main St. in Bozeman.

The top law enforcement officers from each agency with jurisdiction in Gallatin County will be recognized for their efforts and contributions to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those people who made the decision to drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs in 2022. The award ceremony is open to the public.

The Gallatin County DUI Task Force is a group of volunteers who are passionate about helping to reduce the incidence of driving under the influence, DUI crashes and deaths related to those committing DUIs. The task force works to increase the awareness of the dangers, implications, and severity of DUIs through education and civic outreach.

 For questions regarding the award ceremony or the DUI Task Force, please contact the DUI Task Force Coordinator at hali.kapperud@gallatin.mt.gov or 406-585-1492.

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For immediate release:

As temperatures rise and with more snow in the forecast, Gallatin County is beginning to see increased calls for assistance with flooding.  If you are in IMMEDIATE need of assistance with obtaining sandbags, please contact the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 406-582-2100.  We will provide you information on where you can obtain sandbags.  You can also call 211 to be connected to additional resources. And don’t forget to sign up for emergency alerts through the Gallatin County Emergency Management Community Notification System. Sign up today at www.readygallatin.com!

For immediate release: April 11, 2023

Media contact:
Tim Martindale, Gallatin County 911 Director
406-582-2092
tim.martindale@gallatin.mt.gov

 

Gallatin County 911 Releases 2022 Annual Report, Celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

April 9-15 is 911 Dispatcher Appreciation Week in Gallatin County and the perfect time to highlight all the incredible work our dispatch center staff does for our community.

The Gallatin County 911 annual report for 2022 highlights the activities and accomplishments of Gallatin County 911, operations, systems and records division last year.

The 2022 annual report shows that Gallatin County dispatchers processed 152,829 incoming calls, a 4.77% decrease from the previous year. However, the 2022 total was 1.22% higher than the five-year average of calls.

“We’ve seen several factors contribute to the decrease in calls being processed by our staff,” said Gallatin County 911 Director Tim Martindale. “Throughout the year, we’ve made an effort to educate the community on when to call 911 and when not to. We’ve also invested in the PulsePoint app to encourage the community to be part of our solution in responding to calls. Along those same lines, several of our law enforcement partners are investing in online reporting tools, this would directly contribute to the number of calls coming into our center going down.”

In addition to statistics on calls and 911’s budget, the report also highlights accomplishments of the staff, including launching an online records request portal, taking part in the implementation of a mobile mental health crisis team, lifesaver awards, and numerous trainings completed by staff.

“I could not be prouder of the commitment and excellence that our staff exudes,” Martindale said. “Like any organization, there are times where we fall short, but with this staff, we pick ourselves up, take ownership and move forward.”

Click here to see the entire report.

Gallatin County 911 continues to look for quality dispatchers. Click here to see our current job openings and apply to join our team.

In conjunction with National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the Gallatin County Commission proclaimed April 9-15 as 911 Dispatcher Appreciation Week in our area.

“The Gallatin County Commission honors the staff of the Gallatin County 911 Dispatch Center for their service and sacrifice, which make all of the communities in our county better and safer places to live, work and play.”

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For immediate release: April 12, 2023

Media contact:
Eric Semerad, Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder, Election Administrator
406-582-3054
eric.semerad@gallatin.mt.gov

 

Ballots for School and Special Districts Election to be Mailed April 14

On Friday, April 14, ballots for the 2023 school and special districts election on May 2 in Gallatin County will be mailed to active registered voters in districts that are holding elections. This election is a mail ballot election, meaning there will be no polling places open on Election Day. 

Those districts include the following:

• Schools:
  • Anderson
  • Belgrade
  • Big Sky
  • Bozeman
  • Cottonwood
  • LaMotte
  • Malmborg
  • Manhattan
  • Monforton
  • Springhill
  • Three Forks
  • West Yellowstone
  • Willow Creek

• Special districts:
  • Gallatin Valley Urban Transportation District
  • Belgrade Regional Park, Trails & Recreation District Creation/Bond
  • Hebgen Basin Hospital District
  • Logan Water & Sewer District

In total, more than 63,600 ballots will be mailed. Voters can expect to start seeing their ballots in the mail by this weekend or early next week. Sample ballots can be found here.

For questions on specific school district ballot measures or candidates, please contact your school district directly.

As with all mail ballot elections, there is always an option to vote in-person at the Gallatin County Elections office, located in the Courthouse at 311 W. Main St., room 210 in Bozeman. In-person voting for this election begins today, April 12. If your ballot is destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not received, you may request a replacement ballot no later than 8 PM on Election Day.

Ballots must be received at the Gallatin County Elections office or a designated place of deposit by 8 PM on Election Day. Ballots may be returned by mail or in-person. If you’re mailing your ballot, mail it no later than Wednesday, April 25 to ensure it arrives at our office in time. Ballots postmarked on or before Election Day but received after Election Day cannot be accepted. You can check your ballot status at www.MyVoterPageMT.com. 

Places of deposit for this election are:

• Gallatin County Elections Office (311 W. Main St., room 210 in Bozeman)
• Monforton School District Office (6001 Monforton School Road, Bozeman)
• Belgrade City Hall – Finance Department (91 E. Central Ave., Belgrade)

Voters in any district can drop their ballots off at those locations. All three locations are open during regular business hours Monday through Friday until May 1, and then from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day on May 2.

Voter registration

Gallatin County is currently in the late registration period for the May 2 election. In order to register to vote or update your registration if you’ve moved or changed your name, you must appear in-person at the Gallatin County Elections office. 

You can do so now through Election Day. Please note there is one short registration closure from noon on May 1 until 7 AM on Election Day. It is then available until 8 PM on Election Day.

You can check your registration status at MyVoterPageMT.com.

If you have other questions, please contact our office at gallatin.elections@gallatin.mt.gov or 406-582-3060. For more information, you can also visit www.GallatinVotes.com.

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Highline Canal Failure

The Highline Canal above Axtell Anceny Road near Gallatin Gateway has failed is several locations causing water to flow onto the roadway.  People are asked to stay clear of the area.

For immediate release: April 5, 2023

Media contact:
Patrick Lonergan, Gallatin County Chief of Emergency Management
406-548-0111
patrick@readygallatin.com

Gallatin County Residents Encouraged to Prepare for Spring Flood Season

As temperatures begin to rise and we move into spring, Gallatin County residents are encouraged to prepare for flooding season. 

According to the National Weather Service, Gallatin County will see temperatures increasing into the weekend and early into the week of April 10, both during the day and overnight. That could mean some minor flooding impacts around the county during that time. 

“We know we will see the valley snowpack melt in the coming days as we warm up. The unknown question is how much water will leave the snowpack and where it will go. Now is the time to make sure your property is prepared, you have a plan and are registered to receive emergency notifications.”

There are two things property owners can do NOW to minimize potential impacts of flooding in the coming weeks and months. 

Flood Insurance

Floods can happen anywhere – just one inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damage. But unfortunately, most homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. 

Flood insurance is a separate policy that can cover buildings, the contents in a building, or both. It is a crucial tool to protect your most important financial assets – your home, your business, your possessions. 

If you feel your property is at risk of flooding, you may want to consider flood insurance. You do not have to live in a floodplain to get flooding insurance – any homeowner in the county can purchase a policy.

Flood insurance has a 30-day waiting period for the policy to take effect, so you can’t wait until flooding is imminent to get a policy. It will be too late.

Contact your insurance agency for policy information. There are insurance products available through the National Flood Insurance Program, as well as private insurers. 

Find more information at www.floodsmart.gov or csimt.gov/your-insurance/flood/. 

Keep it Flowing

Now is the time to prepare your property in order to minimize the potential effects of flooding.

The most prevalent cause of localized flooding are obstructed waterways that block the flow of water and cause it to go where you don’t want it. Now is the time to make sure ditches, culverts and other waterways on your property are clear of debris so we can keep as much water in them as possible. This can help you AND your neighbors limit the impacts of flooding in your area.

Now is also the time to develop your plan on how you will protect your property if you are affected by flooding later this spring. Once flooding occurs, the damage is done. So developing your plan now, and implementing it early, is critical to minimizing damage.

More information on flooding is available here.

Stay Informed

Make sure you’re receiving timely and critical flooding information about your area by signing up for the Community Notification System. 

With this system, our citizens can receive targeted notifications with urgent information in the event of things like flooding, law enforcement incidents, severe weather, road closures, wildfires, and much more.

You can personalize how you get those notifications (text, call, email, etc.) and identify addresses you want to be notified about.

To register for free, or to get a little more information on how the Community Notification System works, visit our website.

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From the Park County Coroners Office:

Michael L. Rogel died in an incident when involved with Bozeman Police Department Officers on April 3, 2023. The incident occurred at 259 Greenmore Court in Bozeman.  Michael L. Rogel was 39 years of age and was a resident of Bozeman. The incident is under investigation by the Montana Department of Justice Criminal Investigation Division, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and the Park County Coroner’s Office.

Park County Coroners Office

Albert C. Jenkins, Coroner

414 E. Callender St.

Livingston, MT 59047

406-222-2050

PRESS RELEASE

Pioneer Mountain Rescue

On April 2, 2023 at 7:40pm Gallatin County Dispatch received a call from a snowmobiler who was stuck in the backcountry.  After hours of trying to get out the snowmobiler called 911.  The phone call placed them in the area of Pioneer Mountain near Big Sky.  The snowmobiler advised their feet were cold but were otherwise dressed for the weather.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Section gathered and responded from two different directions.  Both teams were on snowmobiles and one team was equipped with skis.  Volunteers were able to locate the snowmobiler close to the ping location.  The snowmobiler was found to be injury free, but very cold.  After starting a fire to warm them up, a plan was made to get the snowmobiler and the snowmobile out. All volunteers and the rescued snowmobiler were able to safely return to the trailhead.

Sheriff Springer would like to commend the snowmobiler for having a way to communicate when a problem arose but would also like to stress the importance of going with another person and staying with them when recreating in the backcountry.  Problems that suddenly occur may become greater if you are recreating in the backcountry alone. Having a friend to help if you are stuck, injured or lost is invaluable.

Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE

Bear Basin Rescue

On April 1, 2023, at 6:02 pm, Gallatin County Dispatch received a SOS notification from the International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) for a skier that was stranded and lost in the Bear Basin area. Their goal was to skin and backcountry ski into the Beehive Basin area, but the skier ran into equipment trouble and ended up needing assistance in Bear Basin.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Big Sky Section volunteers responded to assist. GCSSAR volunteers traveled via snowmobiles then transitioned to skis to meet the skier. The skier was ultimately escorted to the trailhead and transported back to their vehicle by a GCSO Deputy.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind winter recreationalist to be prepared for any situation and that equipment can fail. The skier had GPS device and a phone with downloaded maps. The phone and the charger for the phone died, and as a result, the skier initiated the SOS function on the GPS device.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

For immediate release: March 31, 2023

Media contact:
Eric Semerad, Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder and Election Administrator
406-582-3054
eric.semerad@gallatin.mt.gov

 

County Commissioners to Consider New Precinct Boundaries for Gallatin County

On Tuesday, April 4, the Gallatin County Commissioners will consider adopting new legislative precinct boundaries for Gallatin County. 

In February, the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission adopted the final Legislative Districting Plan that drew new political boundaries in Montana. New congressional and legislative districts can be drawn every 10 years, using population data from the most recent U.S. Census.  

The Gallatin County Clerk and Recorder drafted a map with the new precinct boundaries that conform to that plan. The proposal increases the number of precincts in Gallatin County from 32 to 46. See the proposed precinct map here. 

The deadline for the county to finalize the new precinct map is April 10. 

Once adoption is finalized, the new precinct boundaries will become effective for all elections conducted after July 2023. 

Gallatin County commissioners will consider the resolution to adopt the map at their public meeting on Tuesday, April 4 at 9 AM in the community room at the Gallatin County Courthouse (311 W. Main St. in downtown Bozeman)

The public can provide comments by attending the April 4 public meeting, either in person or on Zoom. Find the full agenda and virtual attendance link here. 

Comments can also be emailed to commission@gallatin.mt.gov or dropped off at the Gallatin County Commission Office, located in room 306 of the Gallatin County Courthouse.

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