Commissioners approve $30,893 state task order for public-health emergency preparedness

Broadwater County commissioners voted June 25 to approve task order 26076110050 with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) for $30,893 to support local public-health emergency preparedness (FEP) activities.

Ruby Taylor, Broadwater County public-health director, told the commission the task order is the final year of the current master contract and that next year the county will participate in updating the five-year master contract. Taylor said the FEP grant funds work to review and shorten emergency plans, coordinate with local partners such as the hospital and Saint Peter’s, and run tabletop exercises. She said the program is “a good chunk of change” and that state FEP staff offered technical help to update plans.

A motion to approve the task order was made and seconded on the record; the commission conducted a voice vote with no dissent and the motion passed. A member of the public, Craig Vietz, spoke in support of funding and praised Taylor’s work.

Why it matters: The task order funds county public-health preparedness activities, annual exercises and plan updates that officials said make local emergency response more usable and connected with local health partners.

Speakers quoted in the article are identified from the meeting transcript and include the county public-health director and a public commenter.