Jan. 23 Work Session Public Comment from Kim MorisakiAimee Brunckhorst
From: Kim Morisaki <kim@ugbuilding.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 11:21 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Jan. 23 Work Session
City Council Members -
I listened online to last night's community comments and have to commend you on the way all of it was managed. I'm
sure that you are very proud that the entire community holds Doug Overman in such high regard. I was glad Sid Daoud
asked Mr. Overman questions, but wished he had gone farther and asked him what additional tools he needs. My
takeaway is that while the ordinance might address the immediate problem in Depot Park, there are other tools that the
KPD needs to ensure the safety of regular citizens and protect public spaces (and private businesses) from damage. It is
also very clear that this community (including KPD) needs some tools to care for the most severely mentally ill people,
most of whom have been in the Valley for a long time.
While I applaud your efforts to serve the public, I don't think this is a problem that the City can manage by itself. Tonya
Horn spoke of the unproductive cycle of police, ambulance, hospital, warming center, police. This is a waste of
taxpayers' dollars and first responders' time. We need the ability to involuntarily commit people who truly need help,
but are unable to recognize that they need it. Many people spoke of accountability and that is fine, but when a person
doesn't recognize that their behavior is the problem, or more likely cannot control that behavior then "holding someone
accountable" is meaningless. I'm sure that KPD has the ability to recognize those who are mentally ill to the level that
they are not in "their right minds", but Montana has taken away the tools we need to help this handful of people who
are too disruptive or dangerous to stay at Samaritan House or the Warming Center. As a result we are leaving the most
disturbed and most disturbing to wander the streets. And clearly NOBODY wants that. The real solution is to open up
the facilities that closed in the last 3-5 years and support them financially so they can do the work we need them to
do. In Kalispell, this was Western Montana Mental Health.
Like Tonya Horn, Lorraine Clarno suggested that the community needs to work together to solve this problem. The
Collaborative Housing Solutions group is beginning to make progress here and I hope you support the KPD, council
members and city staff being involved in this effort to find community solutions. Pam Carbonari did a great job of
outlining the Legislature's cuts to the State budget for the Department of Public Health and Human Services starting in
2017 to the tune of $100MM every two years. We are witnessing the results of those decisions. This is really the root of
your problem. Western Montana Mental Health has 0 to few caseworkers in the Flathead. And it is my understanding
that at least 2 of their homes in Kalispell for crisis management are shuttered. htt s:/Cwww.wmmhc.orlccticns This
is the tool that the community needs that no longer exists. This is where the people unable to stay at the Warming
Center or Samaritan House should be able to go. The people shouting at invisible beings on the Trail shouldn't be
sleeping at Depot Park, they should be in a medical facility that can help them stabilize. I hope that you will use your
influence as elected officials to impress upon our state representatives that Montana needs to have a strong mental
health system that includes financial support for involuntary commitment, transportation to the facilities, supportive
housing for people who are not capable of living without supervision and assistance, more assisted living beds for those
who are elderly or disabled. Medicaid payments have to cover actual costs. I was encouraged by the Mayor's
statements at the end of the night that the Legislature needs to be pressured to provide more tools and stop trying to
limit local control. But for local control to work, you have get the County involved. Randy Brodehl was supposed to
serve on the Board for Western Montana Mental Health, but resigned. The Commissioners rejected ARPA funds that
they could have used. Allowing them to blame the Warming Center for this problem solves nothing.
This is from a recent IF.I_ thea_d 2 co_n a1li.c.l.e. about the challenges of hiring mental health professionals and running
facilities.
A Istudy commissioned by the 2021 le found that Montana's Medicaid provider rates were too
low to cover the cost of many of those who work with seniors, people with disabilities, and children
and adults with mental illness. The study found that the state's Medicaid program is now paying, o®
avera e 85% of the actual cost of care for adult behavioral health services, for example. Gianforte's
proposed budget would boost that funding next year to 94% of costs, on average, before lowering it
again to 91%. The budget proposal is before lawmakers, and, to fully fund the services, providers are
asking them to raise the rates higher than the governor proposes.
Windecker said 11evejy agencyl that her organization represents is experiencing staffing shortages of
25% to 30%. Up to 90% of the alliance members' income comes from Medicaid reimbursements, she
said, and it's not enough. "We've got to get people in here to work," Windecker said. "We have a huge
labor shortage and with the Medicaid reimbursement so low, we're having a really hard time hiring
people."
A community effort to have Western Montana Mental Health back up and running at full capacity is likely to be the most
efficient and effective move to address the many challenges we are facing.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Kim MORISAKI, SAMARITAN HOUSE BOARD MEMBER
1 329 BALD EAGLE LOOP
KALISPELL
406-261-8831