Missoula County adopts building emergency response policy with panic buttons, card readers and lockdown functions

The Missoula County Commissioners adopted a new countywide building emergency response policy on Thursday, Nov. 20.

County staff presented the policy as a broad framework that will consolidate several existing building security and emergency procedures into annexes that can be updated over time. Speaker 6, who identified himself during the presentation as the county chief administrative officer, said the policy covers four primary areas: existing panic buttons, electronic door card readers, the county key-issuance system, and newly installed lockdown buttons that allow departments to secure exterior doors. "As part of that, one of the things we need to do is update our emergency response policy for our buildings to address some of those new features," Speaker 6 said.

Speaker 6 explained that the annex structure will allow department‑specific rules (for example, where panic buttons are installed and how they connect into county technology systems) to be updated without rewriting the overall policy. He said the first location with the lockdown feature is the election center.

The motion to approve and adopt the Missoula County building emergency response policy was made in the meeting (motion wording articulated by Speaker 4), seconded by Speaker 2, and approved by voice vote.

The policy delegates authority to modify and maintain annexes to Bridal (described in the meeting as the county's "chief people and risk officer") and to the chief administrative officer so that annexes can be updated as buildings are remodeled.

Next steps: staff may bring updated annexes to the board as specific building remodels or technology changes occur.