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Home My WebLink About08-11-16 Friends of Law and Justice - Public Comment Law and Justice Bond Support Letter (Updated 08-11-2016) Dear Gallatin County Board of County Commissioners Commissioner Joe B. Skinner, chairman Commissioner Don Seifert Commissioner Steve White Dear Bozeman City Commissioners Mayor Carson Taylor Deputy Mayor Cynthia Andrus Commissioner Chris Mehl Commissioner I-Ho Pomeroy Commissioner Jeff Krauss We depend on our police, sheriff,and courts to protect our growing community,but their outdated, overcrowded facilities are unsafe and inadequate. Gallatin County needs a new, modern law and justice center with the space and technology necessary to keep us safe today and in the future. We,the undersigned 132 Gallatin County residents from all walks of life,respectfully request that you place a measure on the November 2016 ballot asking voter approval for $68.3 million of general obligation bonds to build a new Gallatin County Law and Justice Center. We've outgrown the current center,which is located in a 55-year-old former high school never intended to house our law enforcement agencies or courts. Since 1979,when the sheriff and courts took up joint residence in the building, our county's population has more than doubled, and it will more than triple in the next ten years. i i Our police department and sheriff's office have grown,too. Consider that in 1995,when the city of Bozeman moved in they had 30 police officers and now have 65.And the number of sheriffs deputies has increased from 31 to 56.These departments will continue to grow in order to keep our county safe,but we need space for additional officers. G The 55-year-old current center fails to meet building standards for public safety services and it's structurally unsafe.We know this space problem expands to other aspects of the facility including lockers,storage, equipment and many more. Space is also needed to provide secure evidence storage,processing areas and room for the modern technology needed to efficiently solve crimes. Current overcrowding and the lack of security features also place the public at risk. Secure holding areas for accused criminals are lacking in the current center, causing violence and escapes.A new,modern facility built as a law and justice center,not a school, will ensure that prisoners are kept securely away from the public during the trial. We need an updated facility that provides safe areas for victims of violence and abuse to meet privately with advocates. Currently,victims encounter their perpetrators in the same areas because there is so little space. Our courts need adequate meeting spaces to ensure conversations between clients and counsel remain private and that jurors do not overhear statements that could prejudice their decisions,resulting in a mistrial and delay of justice. Currently sensitive conversations take place in cramped hallways because a private place to meet is not available. Our sheriff,police, courts and local and county leaders have worked closely to plan a new Gallatin County Law and justice Center that meets the current and future public safety needs of our growing community. If we wait any longer,public safety will suffer. Please put public safety first and place this bond issue on the November 2016 election ballot.This vital investment in our community's future cannot wait. Sincerely, Alesha Zoeteman Bob Nichol Daniel Bidegaray Retired Attorney Alex Miller Bidegaray Law Firm, LLC Brad Stratton Amy McNulty President David Steinmuller American Land Title Retired university scientist Andrew Ruhland Company Resident/Owner David Weaver Ruhltech Engineering Brian Foreman Attorney Nash,Zimmer&Weaver Anna Williams Brian Caldwell PLLC Attorney Architect Tarlow&Stonecipher PLLC Thinktank Design Group INC. David McGoldrick Registered Paralegal Anthony Jackson Carla LMcLaughlin Attorney David Crawford Beck,Amsden &Stalpes Catherine Beck Professional Engineer Counselor Beth Kaeding Charlene Krygier Bill Fiedler Distinctive Lighting Dawn Hayes Erica Coyle Jared Bennett Lender/Vice President Executive Director First Interstate Bank HAVEN Jenna Wilson Legal Assistant Dean Krob Ethel Gray Tarlow&Stonecipher, PLLC Retired Eva Patten Jill Davenport Dennis Allen Evelyn Paz Solis Jim Drummond Devlan Geddes World Language Coach- Regional President Attorney Spanish Teacher Stockman Bank of Montana Goetz, Baldwin &Geddes, P.C. Evelyn Acton Jim Cashell Retired Retired Sheriff Dick Prugh Gallatin County Architect Frank Stewart Owner Jim Goetz Domenic Cossi Stewart Engineering Attorney Attorney Goetz, Baldwin&Geddes, Western Justice Associates, Geraldine Govaerts Smith P.C. PLLC Gina Weaver Jinny Stratton Don Mathre Retired MSU Greg Miller John Tarlow President Attorney Doris Benesh Refling Universal Athletic Tarlow&Stonecipher, PLLC Partner Refling Hodges Law Group Greg Metzger John Amend Sales Professional President Doug Chandler Microl-ab, Inc. President/Engineer Grendel Burrell Allied Engineering Services, Consultant Johnathan Cok Inc. Grendel Burrell Consulting Attorney Cok Kinzler PLLP Ed Hirsch Hanah McCarthy Bozeman City Prosecutor Financial Assistant Jory Ruggiero Bozeman City Attorney's Community Food Coop Attorney Office western justice associates Holly Tarlow Elizabeth Wolfe Josh Miller Librarian Irene Martin Parents, Let's Unite for Kids Performance Improvement Josh Dickinson (PLUK) Parent Center Coordinator PhD Bozeman Health Eric Gee Judi Maloney Janice Benham I Retired Teacher Judith Weaver Lindsay Beck Neelie Burman Retired Administrator Attorney CEO MSU Beck,Amsden &Stalpes Law Neil Westesen Judy Mathre Lisa McMullen Attorney Citizen volunteer Retired Crowley Fleck PLLP MSU (retired) Lorelyn Mayr Nicole Kay Julie Bennett Owner VP Operations Media Works, LLC Nolan Campbell First West Inc. Realtor Martha Hendricks Bozehome, Christie's Justin Stalpes International Beck,Amsden &Stalpes, Mary Vant Hull PLLC League of Women Voters Noreen Breeding Kathy Cok Matthew Lavin Pam Hiebert Professor MD Kelly Kruse Montana State University Bozeman Health Contractor Kruse Enterprises Inc. Matthews Sack Patrick McMullen Attorney Retired Business Owner Ken P.Williams Sack Law PLLC President Patti Steinmuller Williams Plumbing Michael Joyal Nutrition Educator Kenneth L.Weaver Michael Cox Paul Rishwl PhD Attorney Retired MSU Professor Cok Kinzler PLLP Paul Burdett Attorney Kristy Buckley Michael Redburn Goetz, Baldwin&Geddes, Attorney, Partner Facilitator/Educator P.C. Crowley Fleck PLLP Redburn Consensus Partners & MSU Paula Beswick Kyle Nelson Foundation Director Attorney Molly Litzen Bozeman Public Library Goetz, Baldwin &Geddes, Attorney Foundation P.C. Crowley Fleck PLLP Philip Saccoccia Jr Kyle Blessinger Monte Beck Medical CPA Attorney Doctor/Pathologist/Medical Wipfli LLP Beck,Amsden and Stalpes Laboratory Director Bozeman Health;Saccoccia Leonard Weber Nancy MacBride LLC Nancy Kinzler Phyllis Bock Pharmacist Retired Reid Beck Sarah Dickinson Tom Starner Richard Young Shann Scott Tom Mazurek MD Retired Shannon Miller Tom Stonecipher Sales Tarlow&Stonecipher Richard Deming PromoWest President Travis Kinzler First West, Inc. Shasta Grenier Winston Attorney Cok Kinzler PLLP Rienne McElyea Shelby Bush Attorney Sky Jones Trent Gardner Berg Law Firm Attorney Attorney Jones Law, P.C. Goetz, Baldwin &Geddes, Robert Lee P.C. Owner Sophia Cok RPM, Inc. Designer, Owner, Founder Tyler Stitt Sanctuary Interior Design Office Assistant Robert Baldwin Tarlow&Stonecipher Attorney Stacy Foreman Goetz, Baldwin&Geddes, Tyler Delaney P.C. Stephen Evans Commercial Insurance Agent First West insurance Roger Jenkins Susan Russell Ph.D. Paralegal Vikie Stoltz Consultant Tarlow&Stonecipher, PLLC Whitney Wesler Ronald Price Susie Mathre Technology Support Retired Artist Manager Sally Maison Tara Ray William Feniger Registered Dietitian Managing Partner Sally Feniger State of Montana Fen Investments LLC Manager Fen Investments LLC Teri Ball Retired