I wrote Governor Greg Gianforte three weeks ago as a father whose 5-year-old daughter was lost by West Elementary School during school hours. Police found her two blocks away before the school even noticed she was missing.
I asked the governor a simple question: How can the state justify placing a forensic mental health facility 459 yards from a school that has already demonstrated it cannot keep our children safe?
His response arrived today - three weeks later - and didn't address a single concern I raised. Not my daughter's safety. Not the school's documented failures. Not the opaque property acquisition process. Nothing.
Instead, I received a boilerplate form letter bragging about "double-layer security fencing and a central command station" to "protect the surrounding community."
Governor, if this facility needs double-layer security fencing and a command station, it has no business 459 yards from our elementary school.
Your own words prove this is a high-security forensic facility housing individuals in the justice system. You just told me - in writing - that it requires prison-level security to protect the community. That community includes my 5-year-old daughter and 332 other elementary students.
I am ashamed of you, Governor Gianforte.
You promised transparency when you paused this project in August 2024 after Billings pushed back. That promise was a lie.
According to the Billings Gazette's investigative reporting, here's what actually happened:
City Administrator Kurt Markegard actively recruited the state to Laurel after state officials told him they needed "free land." He sent unsolicited emails in August 2024 pointing them to specific properties.
When Markegard realized Laurel legally couldn't submit a formal proposal without public input and annexation, he sent the state a letter explaining how to work around Montana law. The state announced Laurel's selection on Black Friday - before even telling city officials.
Meanwhile, Dan Villa and the Montana Board of Investments selected a 114-acre property owned by Miller Trois LLC - a parcel held for 17 years that suddenly became valuable the moment the state wanted it. The state is buying all 114 acres for a 0.74-acre building because the owner won't subdivide.
This demands investigation.
I am formally calling for investigations by the appropriate authorities:
For State Officials (Dan Villa and the Montana Board of Investments):
I am filing an ethics complaint with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices requesting investigation of Dan Villa and the Board of Investments for the property acquisition process and any undisclosed conflicts of interest under MCA 2-2-131, which requires public officers to disclose in writing any private interest that creates a conflict "prior to acting in a manner that may impinge on public duty."
For Local Officials (Mayor Waggoner, Kurt Markegard):
I am filing an ethics complaint with the Yellowstone County Attorney under MCA 2-2-144, requesting investigation of:
For State Representative Lee Deming:
I am filing an ethics complaint with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices requesting investigation of Rep. Deming for advocating for this facility at a sparsely-attended council meeting without fully disclosing the proximity to West Elementary or financial impacts to constituents.
The questions that must be answered:
Did Villa, Markegard, Waggoner, or Deming have any financial interest in:
Montana law (MCA 2-2-131) required them to disclose such interests in writing to the Commissioner of Political Practices before acting. Did they?
According to the Gazette article, Markegard reported directly to Mayor Waggoner throughout this process. When Markegard came back from the July site tour saying "supposedly, it's a mental health hospital. Jobs are going to come with it," Mayor Waggoner's response was: "Jobs?" - and Markegard proceeded with his recruitment efforts.
Mayor Waggoner knew. Mayor Waggoner approved. Mayor Waggoner should resign immediately.
The City Administrator acts "at the direction of Mayor Dave Waggoner" according to Laurel's government structure. Every email Markegard sent, every call he made to Dan Villa, every step he took to recruit this facility - all happened under Mayor Waggoner's direction.
Mayor Waggoner presided over the October 21 council meeting where only ONE member of the public attended. He said nothing about the facility's proximity to West Elementary. He said nothing about the lack of tax revenue. He framed this as "job creation" while hiding the safety risks.
Mayor Waggoner violated his oath of office and owes this community his immediate resignation.
And State Representative Lee Deming - Laurel's own representative - stood in that council chamber and sold us out.
At the October 21 meeting, Rep. Deming told the council: "I don't think anybody really says there's not a need for this kind of facility here in Eastern Montana, and they're bound to determine building someplace. So, in my personal opinion, it needs to be built in Yellowstone County. Because I'm from Laurel, I want it to be in Laurel."
Let me be clear, Representative Deming: You wanted this for Laurel?
You stood in front of a nearly empty council meeting - only ONE member of the public attended - and advocated for placing a forensic mental health facility 459 yards from West Elementary School. You said it made "zero sense" to put it in Custer County because they didn't have the workforce.
So you sacrificed our children's safety for workforce logistics?
You knew the facility would be outside city limits, paying $0 in taxes. You knew our schools just cut $600,000 and 14 teaching positions. You knew CHS's tax protests have crippled our district's ability to build reserves.
And you still pushed for this.
Representative Deming later told Montana Free Press that the 10-acre parcel "might not be big enough" - suggesting the facility could expand beyond even the current 114-acre purchase. You're planning to make this bigger while it sits next to our elementary school?
Rep. Lee Deming, you have betrayed the families you were elected to represent.
The facts are clear:
Meanwhile, Laurel Public Schools:
And now the state - which pays zero in property taxes - wants to place a high-security forensic facility 459 yards from children the school has already lost.
The contrast is devastating:
NorthWestern Energy's controversial gas plant - which neighbors fought against - at least pays $3.41 million annually in property taxes, with approximately $1.9 million supporting schools including Laurel Public Schools.
CHS refinery - Yellowstone County's largest taxpayer - contributes millions annually despite years of tax protests that crippled our school district's ability to build reserves.
Even controversial private development contributes to the community it impacts. The state exempts itself entirely while placing a forensic facility requiring "double-layer security" next to an elementary school.
Governor Gianforte, your "open door" is a lie. Your promise of transparency is a lie. Your form letter proves you never read my concerns about my daughter's safety.
You should be ashamed.
I am requesting that Yellowstone County Attorney investigate Mayor Waggoner, Markegard, Villa, and Rep. Deming for ethics violations under Montana's Code of Ethics (MCA 2-2-144). I am urging Laurel Public Schools' board to file an immediate injunction to halt the buy/sell agreement. And I am organizing with my community to recall Mayor Dave Waggoner and any council member who enabled this process.
Mayor Waggoner: Resign now. Rep. Deming: You will answer to Laurel voters. You have both betrayed the trust of Laurel families.
Our children deserve a government that protects them, not one that places high-security forensic facilities next to their elementary school while ignoring documented safety failures.
Governor Gianforte, you have failed us.
You had three weeks to address a father's legitimate concerns about his daughter's safety. Instead, you sent a form letter written by a staffer who never read my email.
That tells me everything I need to know about your priorities.
Matt Gilg
Parent, West Elementary School
Laurel, Montana
mattgilg.dev
Received February 12, 2026 - three weeks after my January 21 email.
Subject: Montana Governor's Office Case CS0806083
Dear Matt,
Thank you for reaching out to me about the Laurel behavioral health facility. I appreciate hearing from you, and I value your input.
In 2025, the Montana State Legislature passed and I signed into law House Bill 5, which included $26.5 million for a forensic mental health facility. This year, the Board of Investments (BOI) entered into an agreement to acquire a 114-acre plot west of Laurel to serve as the location for this new facility. The Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and BOI selected Laurel as it provides access to a critical health care workforce and transportation logistics that will benefit patients, their family, facility staff members, and law enforcement in eastern Montana.
The new forensic mental health facility will house 32 beds and will significantly expand access for this unique population. To protect both patients and the surrounding community, the facility security will be tighter than other traditional facilities and include double-layer security fencing and a central command station to monitor and manage the movement of patients and staff. Upon completing treatment at the Laurel site, patients will return to their home jurisdiction or be transferred to another location. In most cases, patients will return to the county detention facility while awaiting sentencing.
Thank you again for reaching out to me. Hearing from you and other Montanans helps me better serve you and better understand your perspective. I will continue to rely on your views as I lead Montana, which is the honor of my life. My door is always open. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for anything.
Sincerely,
Greg Gianforte
Governor
Sent January 21, 2026.
Dear Governor Gianforte,
We are writing as parents of students at West Elementary School in Laurel to express grave concerns about the state's decision to locate a 32-bed forensic mental health facility approximately 600 yards from our children's school.
Our family has three concerns.
First, school safety is already compromised.
Earlier this year, West Elementary misplaced our 5 year old daughter during school hours. She was locked out of the building and then located by police 2 blocks away before the school noticed. This incident demonstrated serious gaps in our school's ability to account for and protect students, and adequate safety, security, and classroom funding. Teachers are already overextended.
Now, the state proposes to add a forensic mental health facility - housing individuals in the justice system awaiting competency evaluations - within 600 yards of a school that has already failed to maintain basic student safety protocols.
Second, the property acquisition process lacks transparency and raises serious questions.
According to public records, Miller Trois LLC - connected to Billings attorney Malcolm Goodrich - has owned this 114-acre parcel since 2008, a 17-year hold. Despite Laurel officials stating they submitted no proposal because no suitable city land existed, the state selected this specific property just outside city limits. Local officials learned of draft plans from media reports rather than direct state communication, despite promises of transparency. This raises legitimate questions about how this particular property was identified and selected.
Third, Laurel bears all risk with zero benefit.
Because the facility sits just outside city limits, Laurel will receive no tax revenue while our community absorbs:
The state is creating foreseeable risk. By placing a forensic facility near an elementary school with documented safety failures, the state establishes conditions for potential tragedy. Should any incident occur - escape, confrontation, or harm to students - the state's awareness of these compounding risks will be documented.
I respectfully request:
Our children deserve better than being placed at foreseeable risk through an opaque process that provides our community no benefit while exposing us to all liability.
I await your response and urge you to prioritize the safety of Laurel's children over expediency.
Respectfully,
Matt Gilg
Related: Formal Complaint to Montana Commissioner of Political Practices
Related: Public Letter to Laurel Community
Related: Inside the push for Laurel to be picked as the state's forensic mental health facility (Billings Gazette, Jan 30, 2026)