Welcome to the Park County Commissioners’ monthly newsletter. Use this newsletter to stay up to date on important updates, upcoming events and the latest developments from your local government.
This newsletter is released on the first Friday of each month. If you wish to receive this newsletter directly to your email in the future, please scan the QR code to subscribe. To view this newsletter online, follow the link on the parkcounty.org homepage. A pdf version is available here.
Offices Closed
The Park County Complex will be closed the following days in January:
January 20th, 2025 – Martin Luther King Day
Health Department Revisit
We often get a lot of questions about the Health Department and its role in the community. While this topic has been communicated in a past newsletter, the beginning of a new and healthy year is a good time to refresh everyone on why counties have health departments.
Public health is important because it focuses on preventing diseases and promoting healthy lifestyles within entire populations, rather than just treating individuals after they become sick, thus improving the overall quality of life by addressing broader factors like environment, education and social conditions that influence health, ultimately leading to a healthier community with reduced suffering and healthcare costs.
Public health has made several important impacts to the health of the country over the past two hundred years. These included vaccinations which have prevented or eliminated smallpox, measles, diphtheria, pertussis, rabies, typhoid and polio. Public health has controlled and eliminated infectious disease spread through contaminated drinking supply and it has improved sanitation standards in our communities. Public health has also improved food safety, motor vehicle and workplace safety. In recent years, public health has shifted its focus toward chronic disease prevention and education, equal access to health care and safe communities and population or community level prevention priorities.
Montana passed laws as early as 1864, which focused on public health and gave the responsibility for public health to local jurisdictions. In 1895, Montana’s laws outlined the establishment and duties of County Boards of Health to guard against contagious or infectious diseases. In 1901, the legislature established Montana’s first statewide Board of Health which among other things, made small pox vaccine a requirement for public school attendance. Other health concerns of the time included Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, tuberculosis, food and drug safety, storm sewers, infant, maternal and child health and sanitation in schools, at tourist facilities and on passenger trains.
Today, the Park City-County Health Department, similar to all health departments in the state, operates under Montana’s public health laws which is found in the Montana Code Annotated. State law requires counties and cities of a certain size to have health departments. Some of the purposes of public health found in State law are to monitor the health status and identify solutions; investigate and diagnose health problems; educate on health issues; and, develop policies and programs to protect health and ensure safety. A health department is also required by state law to ensure disease prevention and control, regulate smoking in public places and inspect and permit retail food establishments, hotels, motels, wholesale food establishments and other licensed establishments.
The Park City-County Health Department consists of a Director and administrator, one public health nurse who works in our rural schools, a Disease Intervention Specialist who investigates cases of communicable disease in Park County, a Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program coordinator, a Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, a Communities that Care Coordinator and a Prevention Specialist. The Health Department has two Sanitarian positions who work on environmental health issues such as septic permits and licensed establishments. Vaccine clinics take place throughout the County including the schools, nursing home, group homes and assisted living facilities with the help of a volunteer staff.
The local Board of Health meets quarterly to review policy, Department updates and any public health concerns affecting Park County. The meetings are open to the public and take place on the second Tuesday of January, April, July and October.
Funding for the Park County Health Department comes primarily from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, supplemented by outside grant funding and some general fund contributions.
Currently, grant funding pays for a majority of the Health Department expenses related to programs including:
New Bridge Project
Park County received grant funding ($599,244) from the Montana Department of Transportation and Montana Department of Commerce toward the removal and replacement of the Hammond Creek Road Bridge (over Rock Creek) in the Shields Valley. The funding covers all activities associated with bridge removal and replacement.
Since the project was let to bid and contract documents were executed with Battle Ridge Construction, the old bridge has been removed, riprap has been installed, piles have been driven for both abutments and concrete has been poured for bridge cap. The construction team is awaiting delivery of the bridge superstructure and the project is slated to be complete by July 25th, 2025 (or sooner).
Passport Assistance
The Park County Clerk of District Court Office processes passports! Passports are processed on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please call 406-222-4145 to make you appointment for a passport. Bring your passport photos with you!
NOTE: The Office does not take passport photos but you can get those taken at the Main Print Shop in Livingston.
Park County Commission Meetings
PARK COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS are held every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. and typically take place at the City-County Building, 414 E. Callender St., Livingston, MT, in the basement Community Room, unless otherwise indicated.
The public may opt to call in by dialing, 1-571-748-4021, ID 3047645#, PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE UNLESS YOU ARE SPEAKING. DIAL *6 TO UNMUTE
https://meeting.gomeet.com/parkcountycommission,
Questions? Please call the Commission Office at 406-222-4106 or email cahern@parkcounty.org.
MEET WITH YOUR COMMISSIONERS
Visit with Commissioner Jennifer Vermillion and Bryan Wells at the following location:
1st Friday of the Month at 9:00 a.m.
Two Doors Down Coffee Bakery in Clyde Park
Visit with Commissioner Bryan Wells at the following locations:
2nd Friday of Month at 9:00 a.m.
Riverside Hardware *upstairs conference room
107 S Main St, Livingston, MT 59047
4th Wednesday of Month at 9:00 a.m.
St. John’s Episcopal Church
8 Story Rd, Emigrant, MT 59027
CONTACT INFORMATION
DISTRICT 1- MIKE STORY
Term: 2023-2026
Phone: 406-223-1548
DISTRICT 2- BRYAN WELLS
Term: 2025-2028
Phone: 406-223-9162
DISTRICT 3- JEN VERMILLION
Term: 2025-2028
Phone: 406-930-9239
County Board Meetings
When county residents serve on County boards and commissions, they volunteer their service for the betterment of local communities and Park County. Citizens are encouraged to attend board and commission meetings, which are always open to the public.
Board and Commission meeting agendas are posted in the City/County Complex 48 business hours in advance.
OPEN BOARD SEATS
To Apply:
Park County Montana | County Boards/Committees
Commissioners
414 E. Callender St
Livingston, MT 59047
Work with Us
Join us and experience the job satisfaction that comes with knowing your work directly contributes to the betterment of Park County and its residents. Job opportunities are posted on the bulletin board outside of the Human Resource Director’s office.
Visit our website at jobs.parkcounty.org for information on how to apply.
Upcoming Events
Park County Offices Closed - January 20th, 2025 – Martin Luther King Day
Engage with Us
City/County Complex
414 E. Callender St.
Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-4100
cahern@parkcounty.org