The Bulletin - April 22-26
Thank you for subscribing to Gallatin County's weekly newsletter! We hope this publication will keep you up to date on the latest Gallatin County happenings - from projects and public meetings, to events and employee accomplishments, and much more!
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If you have questions about any of the information in this newsletter, email whitney.bermes@gallatin.mt.gov.
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Ballots for May School and Special District Election
On Friday, April 19, ballots for the 2024 school and special districts election on May 7 were 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:
- Amsterdam
- Bozeman – High School
- Bozeman – Elementary School
- Belgrade
- Big Sky
- Cottonwood
- Lamotte
- Monforton
- Three Forks
- West Yellowstone
Special Districts:
- Big Sky Resort Tax District
- Big Sky Water & Sewer District
- Firelight Meadows Water & Sewer District
- Hebgen Basin Hospital District
In total, more than 65,000 ballots will be mailed. Voters can expect their ballots to arrive next week. Sample ballots can be found here. 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 opt to mail your ballot back, mail it no later than Tuesday, April 30 to ensure it arrives on 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, Bozeman - Belgrade School District administration office
312 N. Weaver St. - Big Sky Water & Sewer District office
561 Little Coyote Rd. - Monforton School – front office
6001 Monforton School Rd. - Three Forks High School office
210 E. Neal St.
Voters in any district can drop their ballots off at any of these locations. All locations are open during their regular business hours Monday through Friday until Monday, May 6, and then from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day on Tuesday, May 7.
As with all mail-ballot elections, those who would like to vote in-person may do so at the Gallatin County Elections Office, located at the Courthouse at 311 W. Main St., room 210, in Bozeman.
For questions on specific school district ballot measures or candidates, please contact your school district directly.
Voter Registration
Gallatin County is currently in the late registration period for the May 7 election. This means that if you need 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 to get that done.
You can do so now through Election Day. Please note there is one short registration closure from noon on May 6 until 7 AM on Election Day. It is then available until 8 PM on Election Day.
Double check your registration status at www.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.
Printing Error on Bozeman Elementary School District Ballot
School and special district ballots will be mailed to Gallatin County voters on Friday, April 19. Included in those ballots will be Bozeman Elementary and High School District trustee races.
The uncontested Bozeman High School District trustee race was accidentally included on Bozeman Elementary School District ballots. Elementary District voters do not vote on the school district’s position designated as the high school trustee since that position is elected to represent the rural schools of the high school district.
All voters in the Bozeman School District will see this high school race on the ballot with filed candidate Sandra Wilson and a write-in line on all ballots, even those in the Bozeman Elementary District, who would not normally vote on this position. Sandra Wilson is the only filed candidate, is running unopposed and will be elected regardless. There are no filed write-in candidates for this election, which means that write-in names will not be tallied this election.
Elections results can be certified accurately by separating erroneous votes for this race to provide proper totals.
Over 35,000 ballots had already been printed and prepped for mailing by the time the error was discovered. Therefore, both Gallatin County Elections and the Bozeman School District decided to move forward with the error on the ballot because it was too late to reprint them and ensure that voters receive their ballots in a timely manner.
This error will not affect the outcome of the election in any way.
We apologize for any confusion for the voters in the Bozeman School District.
The May 7 school and special district election is mail-ballot election. Active registered voters who live in districts that are holding elections will receive their ballots this weekend or early next week. Ballots must be returned by 8 PM on Election Day on Tuesday, May 7.
For more information on this election, visit www.GallatinVotes.com.
Last Week to Take the Gallatin County Fairgrounds Public Survey
Our "Fairgrounds Future" master planning process is in full swing, and we want YOUR input!
If you haven't already, you have ONE WEEK LEFT to make your voice heard in our online public sentiment survey. We're dedicated to creating a space that better serves our amazing community year-round, but we need your feedback to make it happen.
Click here to take the survey!
The survey closes April 29. Don't miss out on this opportunity to shape the future of our beloved fairgrounds. Remember, one response per person, but feel free to share the link far and wide.
Together, we'll create a brighter future for the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. Let's make memories and build a space we're all proud of!
"Salons and Saloons" Invites Hospitality, Hair Professionals to Conversation About Mental Health
In an effort to address the critical issue of mental health, the Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition and the Gallatin County Mental Health Local Advisory Council are proud to announce "Salons and Saloons," a community event aimed at initiating dialogue and providing support for local servers, bartenders, barbers, stylists, and other hospitality and hair professionals.
Scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, from 9 to 10:30 AM at the Emerson Center Ballroom (111 S. Grand Ave. in Bozeman), "Salons and Saloons" will serve as a platform for service workers to engage in crucial conversations surrounding mental health within our community.
Ellie Martin of Routefinder Consulting underscored the significance of the event, stating, "Service workers play a vital role in our community, often acting as confidants and supporters for their patrons. 'Salons and Saloons' aims to recognize their invaluable contributions while providing them with the resources and support needed to navigate mental health challenges effectively."
The event will offer attendees the opportunity to:
- Acknowledge the vital role of service workers as supporters, listeners, and caring connectors to their customers.
- Share essential information and resources for assisting individuals in distress.
- Facilitate open dialogue to better understand the needs and concerns of service workers when assisting patrons with mental health issues.
Complimentary coffee and baked goods will be provided.
People interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP at this link. For further inquiries, please contact ellie@routefinderconsulting.com.
"Salons and Saloons" aims to help foster a supportive and empathetic community, where every individual, regardless of their profession, feels valued and supported in their mental health journey.
Diaper Drive on April 27
On April 27, Gallatin County Diaper Bank is hosting its first-ever diaper drive!
They’re teaming up with local law enforcement to see just how many cruisers they can fill with diapers to give to local families and programs in the county!
Join on April 27 from 12-4 PM as they gather new, sealed packages of diapers and pull-ups and aim to fill as many cruisers as they can.
Thank you to Town & Country on S. 11th Ave, the Bozeman Walmart, and Albertsons on Jackrabbit Ln in Belgrade for generously hosting us at their stores on April 27.
Additional thanks to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, the Bozeman Police Department, the Belgrade Police Department and the Montana State University Police Department for teaming up with us to help make this event a reality!
Questions? Feel free to comment below or reach out to our founder Brittany at brittany@bozemandiaperbank.com.
DEA National Drug Take Bake Event on April 27
Join the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office on Saturday, April 27, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Law and Justice Center, 615 S. 16th, Bozeman. Bring all your expired or unwanted medications to dispose of them safely.
Please do not bring:
- Liquid medications
- Needles and sharps
- Thermometers (mercury)
- Oxygen containers
- Pressurized canisters
- Chemotherapy/radioactive substances
Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Event at SITKA on April 25
Join SITKA Ger for an evening with Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue as they go over preparation for backcountry excursions, key pieces of gear to have with you, and what you can do after you hit SOS. They will talk about game retrieval if you have to be removed from teh backcountry by search and rescue.
Come learn from local search and rescue team, enjoy complimentary beverages, and stick around for some awesome raffles.
The event is Thursday, April 25 from 5-7 PM at SITKA, located at 1251 N. Rouse Ave. in Bozeman.
Building Livable Communities Workshops
The MSU Western Transportation Institute presents Building Livable Communities workshops! In these events, learn about how we can promote and develop a healthy community through collaboration!
Workshop dates:
- Wednesday, April 24
1-3 PM at the Bozeman Public Library - lunch provided! - Monday, April 29
4-6 PM at the Belgrade Community Library - dinner provided! - Tuesday, April 30
9-11 AM at HRDC - light snacks provided!
RSVP to these events here! Contact danika.comey@montana.edu for questions.
Exit 309 Ramp Closures Expected Week of April 22
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Knife River are expected to begin resurfacing the on and off-ramps at the Interstate 90 (I-90) Main Street Interchange (Exit 309) the week of April 22, weather and other unforeseen factors permitting.
Each of the ramps is anticipated to be closed for approximately two days at a time to remove and replace the old pavement. The ramps will not be closed simultaneously and will reopen as soon as the new pavement is safe to drive on.
Work is anticipated to take place Monday through Friday and is expected to begin with the westbound on-ramp. Once the westbound on-ramp is reopened, work is anticipated to begin on the westbound off-ramp, followed by the eastbound off-ramp, and finally with the eastbound on-ramp.
Resurfacing work on all of the ramps is anticipated to take two weeks to complete.
What motorists should expect during construction:
- Crossover traffic patterns on I-90.
- Both east and westbound traffic traveling on the same side of I-90.
- Interchange ramp closures.
- Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.
- Flaggers or temporary signals directing traffic at times.
- Reduced speed limits.
- Wide load restrictions.
Visit 511mt.net for the most up-to-date information about width restrictions and other traffic conditions.
Gallatin Canyon Pavement Preservation and Safety Improvements Update
The following is from the Montana Department of Transportation:
Work is underway on the Gallatin Canyon Pavement Preservation and Safety Improvements project. Here’s what to expect for the week of April 22.
CK May Excavating crews will begin excavation on US Highway 191 (US 191) north of Gallatin Gateway on Monday, April 22.
Drivers can expect reduced speeds, single-lane closures, and flagger-controlled traffic flow between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please plan for extended delays. Although lanes will reopen during night hours, reduced speeds will be maintained 24 hours a day throughout construction.
If you have questions, please email Kristine at Kristine@bigskypublicrelations.com. Our project hotline is also open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 406-207-4484. Visit our project webpage at https://mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/gallatincanyon/. To subscribe to wekkly text updates, text GALLATINCANYON to 41411.
Featured County Job Posting: Temporary Fairgrounds Front Office Worker
Each week, we will feature one of our current job openings at Gallatin County! You can find this position and many more here.
The Gallatin County Fairgrounds is looking for a temporary front office worker for the 2024 Big Sky Country State Fair! Dates of work will be May 1-July 28.
The position performs basic clerical and administrative support duties including answering phones and taking RV reservations. It also assists in preparing badges, information packets and other fair event essentials.
You can see the full job posting here.
Gallatin County In The News
‘Balancing act’: Finances, staffing troubles continue to plague county rest home
Bozeman Elementary School District ballot printed with error
County DUI task force celebrate local law enforcement
Stranded snowmobiler rescued near Big Bear Lake in Gallatin Canyon
Upcoming Commission Meetings
The following meetings of the Gallatin County Commission are quorum meetings. Click on the meeting name for agendas, meeting locations, and virtual attendance options. You can see the full calendar here. Please note the calendar is subject to change. For questions on any upcoming meetings, email commission@gallatin.mt.gov or call 406-582-3000.
Monday, April 22
- County Attorney Meeting - 2 PM
Tuesday, April 23
- Public Meeting - 9 AM
Wednesday, April 24
- Treasurer Meeting - 9:30 AM
- Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District Meeting - 10 AM
- Budget Workshop - 10:30 AM
Monday, April 29
*Meetings canceled due to lack of quorum.*
Planning and Community Development
What's New & Happening Now - Check out this page for the latest information on subdivisions under review, planning meeting agendas, buildings for lease or rent applications, and other large projects across the county.
Upcoming Planning and Community Development Meetings
You can see the full calendar here. Please note the calendar is subject to change.
No meetings for the week of April 22.
