Jail

Combined class action suit filed by Lake County Jail inmates

Lawsuit filed against Lake County Jail, governor, alleges unlivable conditions

By M.S. Sacry for the Valley Journal

LAKE COUNTY — More than 40 cases filed by inmates of the Lake County Jail have been combined into a single, class-action lawsuit in federal district court, alleging unlivable conditions in the Lake County Dentention Center.

County officials have denied culpability for most conditions in the jail in a response.

The combined case, Lake County Inmates vs. Lake County Jail, was filed on July 19, after individual inmates began filing single cases alleging poor conditions in the jail in late 2021.

Attorney Tim Bechtold was ordered by a federal judge to consolidate the cases, and the number of plantiffs has grown from around two dozen in March, to more than 40.

Bechtold told the Valley Journal in March that “their primary concern is conditions of confinement.”

The lawsuit lays out allegations of insect infestations, clogged heating and cooling vents that prevent proper air temperature regulation, overcrowding that leads to physical violence, lack of access to hot water for days at a time, and mold growing on ceilings, walls, floors and mattresses.

“Most inmates are required to spend 24 hours of every day in enforced idleness in small cellblocks or in segregation,” the complaint alleges. “This results in unreasonable and unnecessary psychological stress and physical deterioration for the prisoners.”

The lawsuit also alleges: “Inmates are deprived of the essentials of soap, toothpaste, and shampoo for unreasonable periods of time. Inmates are required to share razors, thereby creating a health hazard. Inmates are crowded into cells and many are required to sleep on broken bunks or on the floor in inadequate bedding.”

The inmates claim they lack access to Native American religious ceremonies, despite the fact that most inmates are Native American. Additional allegations about lack of access to exercise equipment, fresh air, medical care and dental care are also mentioned in the lawsuit.

In a response to the original lawsuit, Lake County denied most of the allegations.

“Lake County Defendants deny that there is mold growing on mattresses and aver that all mattresses are routinely cleaned between inmates,” the county’s attorney wrote in response. “Lake County Defendants aver that mildew was in the shower area, the inmates were given supplies to clean and mitigate the mildew but have refused. Lake County Defendants deny nonfunctional sanitation systems and further aver that all sanitation system blockages are caused by inmates shoving clothing, trash, towels, and other items into the toilets, which are fixed as needed.”

The county also claims inmates repeatedly clog the detention center’s air vents with toothpaste and paper products, causing staff to clean them out. The response also notes that “the detention center cannot accommodate some religious materials and ceremonies on the basis of overall detention center staff and inmate safety and security concerns.”

The Lake County Jail was previously sued in 1995 by prisoners alleging inadequate conditions. That lawsuit ended in a consent decree with the county agreeing to make changes correcting problems in the jail. Bechtold said in March that the changes agreed to in the consent decree were not implemented. County officials have long wrestled with how to adequately fund the jail in Lake County. In 2020 county voters overwhelmingly voted against a levy proposal that would have raised $2.5 million annually over the next 20 years to expand the jail and the Lake County Courthouse.

On July 14, the Lake County Commissioners filed a lawsuit against the State of Montana, alleging the county is owed millions of dollars for providing law enforcement services on the Flathead Reservation.

According to a legislative fiscal note, in 2019, 70 percent of felony prosecutions in Lake County were of tribal members, accounting for more than $4 million in costs annually to the county.

The county commissioners have said that amount is untenable, with Commissioner Gale Decker noting that law enforcement costs have eaten up 40-60% of the county’s budget in recent years.

The county has purported that the responsibility to provide jail services for the reservation amounts to an unfunded mandate. The system was set up by federal Public Law 280 in 1953. This law allows Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal members to be prosecuted through the local county courts. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are the only Montana tribe that opted into this system when it first came available in the 1960s. Other tribes in Montana prosecute felonies through federal courts.

While the county can withdraw from the agreement, the county alleges in its suit that the State of Montana’s lack of resources to take over law enforcement on the reservation would cause chaos.

As the state readies to respond to the county’s suit, on Friday, the federal class action also is now taking aim at the state government. On Friday, July 29, a summons was issued to Governor Greg Gianforte and State Attorney General Austin Knudsen. Governor Gianforte is now listed as a defendant in the amended federal complaint filed on behalf of the prisoners.

FILE PHOTO The class action lawsuit alleges “unlivable conditions” at the Lake County Jail for inmates.

Ronan explores remote worker possibilities

By Taylor Davison /Valley Journal

RONAN — Mission West Community Development Partners, along with remote work program Trepademics, has conducted a feasibility study for creating a coworking space and more remote worker opportunities in the tri-county area.

Zen Parry of Trepademics has worked remotely all over the world for around 20 years and engaged in economic and workforce development during much of that time. Once Covid hit, she restarted her business, Trepademics, and came in contact with Mission West.

Parry worked with Mission West to apply for a grant from the USDA to fund a study to answer several questions: Could they support a co-working space? Does it fit into an ecosystem that supports economic development? Are there remote worker skills in the area? Can we connect them to Montana employers that need remote workers?

The first step upon receiving the grant was to create a community engagement platform: engagemissionwest.com. This platform allowed them to set up surveys to gauge how people in the area interact with remote work and how well a coworking space could be supported locally.

The data showed that, while some did have an interest in using a coworking space, most participants were only interested in drop-in rates, with no guarantee when they’d drop in. With the financial analysis they did in the plausibility study, the group knew they couldn’t base a business location off inconsistent rent. “We would have to operate at cost for about a year and a half to break even,” Parry explained.

On the remote work skills side of the data pool, however, according to Parry the numbers showed there are far more people working remotely in the area than anyone realized.

With the knowledge of the quantity of remote workers in the area, Parry explained that even though they had found a traditional co-working space wouldn’t be financially viable, that didn’t mean there weren’t options.

“The co-working space could look a little bit different. It could be an access point online. It could have revolving locations, but it also could have access to specific training that could help people with what they’re seeking.”

Remote work training is already being explored throughout Montana. For example, Montana Business Assistance Connection (MBAC), a non-profit in Helena, runs a remote worker training workshop with a provider that teaches individuals registered with job services the skills they need to work remotely and interview with companies to get those jobs. A second workshop is planned for September, and MBAC is looking into facilitating a workshop in Lake County as well.

Another such example is the month-long remote work training program offered by MSU Extension. Program Leader and Associate Specialist Tara Mastel says the class modules teach “all the basic skills for working remotely.” Her program is interested in getting more remote workers from rural areas.

“Remote work is a great option for people to stay in their rural communities but find a job that fits their skills,” Mastel commented. “We’ve had higher level executives take the class, as well as more entry level people who are just kind of starting their careers, so it’s cool in that’s applicable to really anybody who wants to learn about more remote skills.”

“The training provider introduces the participant for the skills to remote work,” Parry said. “A lot of folks have misperceptions of what remote work is, thinking it’s part time, sit and watch whatever and just do data entry on a laptop … Remote work is still a job, and you’ve got a schedule. It’s taking a certain skillset for a job and working from your home, logging into that central space.”

For now, Mission West and Trepademics are examining a pilot model for a co-working space that operates two or three days per week with mobile locations. They’re also using the pilot courses run in Helena as a data set to see what curriculum is needed, what support modules can be developed online to ready people for more remote work, and how to connect them to Montanan employers that need remote workers.

“Remote work is a great option for people to stay in their rural communities but find a job that fits their skills.”

- Tara Mastel, MSU Extension Program Leader and Associate Specialist

TAYLOR DAVISON / VALLEY JOURNAL Mission West Community Development Partners in Ronan won a grant from USDA to study creating coworking space and remote workforce opportunities.

COURTESY PHOTO Montana Wildlife Federation Executive Director Frank Szollosi, of Missoula, speaks with Senator Jon Tester on Capitol Hill about climate-fueled devastation in and adjacent to Yellowstone National Park and the lopsided fiscal benefits of strong climate policy.

Inflation Reduction deal offers climate change help

Statement from Frank Szollosi of Montana Wildlife Federation

MONTANA — Today we are thrilled with news of a legislative breakthrough that will boost Montana wildlife, fisheries, forests and communities and reduce our carbon emissions 40% by 2030. And by lowering energy costs, we reduce inflation. MWF calls for swift action and the support of Senator Jon Tester and Senator Steve Daines.

Hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, bird watchers, and conservationists of all stripes have long advocated for Congress to act on climate. We understand the long established science, and bear witness to the impacts as our Montana fisheries warm and our public lands and communities endure ever-more devastating floods and wildfires. And three-quarters of respondents in a recent Montana State University survey of farmers and ranchers reported anxiety from the uncertainty driven by climate change.

As recently as two weeks ago, MWF was back in DC speaking up for action on climate. See image below.

The historic Inflation Reduction deal announced this week includes: — natural climate solutions that will build the resilience of Montana’s wildlife, fish, forests, streams, rivers, prairies and farms, and ranches — first meaningful oil and gas leasing reform in 100 years, protecting critical Montana habitat, wildlife, and taxpayers — $5 billion in grants to support healthy, fire-resilient forests, forest conservation, and urban tree planting — investments in U.S. clean energy manufacturing — investments in Montana communities, including tribes, long impacted by environmental injustices — more than $20 billion to support climate-smart agriculture practices — tax credits for electric vehicles

NOTICE OF HIRING MEETING

Charlo School District 7J Board of Trustee intends to hire Cody Cross, daughter-in-law of Trustee Graydon Cross, as a part-time teacher. This hiring will take place at a regular Board meeting on August 16, 2022 at 8:00 pm in the Charlo School Library.

NOTICE OF FINAL BUDGET MEETING

The Charlo School District 7J Board of Trustee will hold their annual budget meeting August 16, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. in the Library to consider and adopt the final budget. District patrons may be heard for or against any part of the budget. The meeting of the Trustee may be day to day until the final 2022/23 budget is adopted.

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