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County commissioners approve termination of MOU with Bridgemont; Bridgemont offered emergency jail support
Summary
The Yellowstone County Board of Commissioners voted to terminate a memorandum of understanding with Bridgemont (the county mental health center named in the MOU). The board was told Bridgemont's CEO offered emergency assistance at the county jail; no replacement service or contract was approved at the meeting.
The Yellowstone County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a notice of termination of the county's memorandum of understanding with the mental health center identified in the agreement as Bridgemont. The termination was approved by voice vote after a motion from a commissioner and a second.
The termination takes effect as a board action; the county did not adopt any replacement agreement or service arrangement during the meeting. Commissioners were told that Rod Ostermiller, identified to the board as Bridgemont's CEO, had indicated Bridgemont "would certainly be available to help with any mental health issues at the jail on an emergency basis," according to remarks relayed to the commission by the chair.
Why it matters: The MOU governed an existing arrangement between the county and the mental health center; ending it could affect how jail mental-health incidents are handled unless new arrangements are made. The board's action at this meeting was limited to approving the termination; there was no formal discussion recorded about a successor provider, funding for services, or a timeline for transition.
Details of the action: A commissioner moved to approve the notice of termination during the regular agenda (motion and second recorded on the transcript). The board voted by voice; the clerk recorded the motion as carried. The record includes no public comments on the termination and no supplementary documentation presented for a follow-up plan during the meeting.
Discussion versus decision: Remarks about Bridgemont's willingness to provide emergency support were presented to the board but did not constitute a new contract or formal direction to staff to negotiate replacement services. The board's formal decision at the meeting was limited to terminating the existing MOU.
Next steps: The transcript does not record any staff assignment, timeline, or written follow-up order tied to the termination. Commissioners and county staff did not provide details about alternative service arrangements or funding at the meeting.
