Flathead County commissioners voted on Tuesday to approve an interlocal agreement between the state and county to coordinate the operations of a 90-bed prerelease center in Evergreen, with a vote of 2-1.  

Commissioner Pamela Holmquist was the sole "no" vote.  

"As much as I think this is a great thing, and I'm sure it's probably going to pass today, I'm going to be a no vote," Holmquist said. "I hope [the Montana Department of Corrections] prove me wrong that this is the wrong location, because I still feel that this is the wrong location for the facility." 

The Flathead Valley Prerelease Center is planned to open this fall at 1150 E. Oregon St. 

Prerelease centers are facilities utilized by the state to assist offenders in transitioning from a secured facility back into the community. Offenders placed in these centers work in the community and are permitted to leave and return to the center on a pre-approved schedule, according to the signed interlocal agreement. 

Earlier this year in April, members of the Flathead County Board of Adjustment unanimously voted to approve a conditional use permit to transform the Greenwood Village Inn & Suites hotel in Evergreen into the prerelease center. 

The approval came after the settlement of a lawsuit filed by the state last year over the board's original denial of the permit. The board had rejected it based on claims that law enforcement services were inadequate to serve the center, that the center would have a negative impact on the neighborhood, and that the site could not accommodate the associated traffic.  

However, during the board's April meeting, Chair Cal Dyck said it became clear that reasoning for the denial was outside the scope of the board. 

Land use attorney Susan Swimley, who represented the board in the lawsuit, advised board members to take the settlement, since it gave them the opportunity to attach conditions to the permit. Otherwise, the board risked it being decided by a judge.  

The interlocal agreement exceeds the conditional use permit requirements recommended by the board, according to county officials. The Board of Adjustment originally called for a memorandum of understanding, but the county pushed for a “a more robust, legally binding Interlocal Agreement — providing stronger oversight and accountability.” 

A key provision of the agreement is a built-in reporting requirement, where the state must regularly provide updates to the county.  

In the agreement, the state and county are required to meet at least once every three months for regular coordination meetings. The state will share its recidivism rates for  offenders, placement outcome data, the number of offenders placed/removed/denied placement at the center, and impacts on the county's community during the meetings. 

"The Department of Corrections didn’t have to, but they came to the table and negotiated with us. We secured some critical concessions that matter deeply to our community,” said Commissioner Randy Brodehl. 

A liaison has been appointed for both the county and the state to coordinate and manage the projects on each party's behalf. Community Corrections Facilities and Programs Bureau Chief Megan Coy will represent the state, and Flathead County Attorney Travis Ahner will represent the county.  

In the arrangement, Flathead County agrees not to seek to operate, manage or assume responsibility for the day-to-day functions of the center. 

Jim Sanderson, a retired law enforcement captain from the Montana Highway Patrol, has been hired as the new prerelease operation manager. Sanderson was also a former investigator for the Department of Justice before accepting his new role, which began Monday.  

The department is currently focused on hiring employees, and jobs are currently posted on the state careers website.  

Brian Gootkin, director of the Department of Corrections, praised Sanderson and said the department looks forward to hiring additional staff for the prerelease center.  

“We can’t wait to open our first DOC-run prerelease center in the Flathead Valley this fall to serve northwest Montana,” Gootkin said in an emailed statement to the Daily Inter Lake. “With this prerelease center, DOC offenders from this area can return to their home community to reunite with their families and secure employment as they work to reintegrate following incarceration." 

The department plans to begin accepting residents in October, with a gradual increase in residents over the following months, according to the emailed update.  

The interlocal agreement requires the state to submit written consent to the county for at least 15 calendar days before placing an offender at the center, unless otherwise agreed upon. The county then has 10 calendar days to review the placement and submit written comments, concerns, objections, etc. for the state's consideration regarding that specific offender.  

Reporter Hannah Shields may be reached at 406-758-4439 or [email protected].