Public encouraged to attend
By Jen Clancey DIGITAL PRODUCER
This article was updated on Jan. 16 to include virtual meeting number and password.
On Jan. 18, representatives and residents of Big Sky will attend a hearing in Virginia City to address the petition to withdraw from the Madison Valley Hospital District. This withdrawal is part of an effort that a coalition of Big Sky partners began last year as they work to form Big Sky’s own Wellness District.
The hearing is on Thursday at 10 a.m. at 103 E. Wallace Street and all persons attending the hearing can access a permit to use Jack Creek Road on Jan. 18.
“If approved, this is the initial step in the formation of a hospital district (DBA Wellness District) to support the physical and mental/behavioral health needs of the Big Sky community,” a Jan. 11 press release from Wellness in Action, one of the partners behind the district’s formation, stated.
“It’s our hope that the public attends to show support for increasing the capacity for services in Big Sky,” Allison Bradac, executive director of WIA said in a phone call with Explore Big Sky. Bradac explained that the formation of the new hospital district is “a fair and reasonable effort” to provide services to the community.
A total of $1.7 million in property taxes from the Madison County portion of Big Sky goes toward funding of the Madison Valley Medical Center. According to the release, the hospital and service area is not used by Madison County residents in Big Sky “as those services are not reasonably accessible.”
“The effort to create a new hospital district seeks to redirect existing tax dollars to the service area of Big Sky by creating dedicated funding to meet the health and wellness demands of our community,” the release stated.
A new hospital district in Big Sky would increase services for behavioral health, substance abuse care, counseling, food security, social service resources, ambulance, primary care and hospital services. The Big Sky partners supporting efforts of withdrawal from the MVHD are Wellness in Action, Big Sky Owners Association, Big Sky Fire Department, Big Sky Resort Area District, Big Sky Community Food Bank and Resource Center, and local health care service providers.
How to attend
A public comment period during the hearing will allow community members to express their thoughts. Anyone planning to attend in-person can access a permit for Jack Creek Road on Jan. 18 and should apply for a pass. Those interested in carpooling can meet at The Wilson Hotel at 8 a.m..
Those who cannot attend in-person can submit their comments to Allison Bradac at allison@wiabigsky.org, and can attend virtually via WebEx.
(Meeting Number: 2557 872 5524. Password: VCMadison)
Bradac outlined what’s expected to happen at the hearing and going forward.
“The commissioners will likely vote on the petition to withdraw at the hearing next week. If it passes, then the Madison County properties located in the Big Sky Resort Area District will be removed from the Madison Valley Hospital District effective January 1, 2025, and the coalition will begin the process of submitting the petitions and participating in the process of forming a new district,” Bradac wrote in an email.
