$4.25 Million Spent, Now Montana Mental Health Project Is Halted

Montana Judge Halts Construction of Proposed Laurel Mental Health Facility

Construction on a new mental health facility here in Montana has already cost $4.25 million, but now construction is stopping because of water.

According to KTVQ, a Yellowstone County judge has halted all on-site construction of the state's proposed forensic mental health facility in Laurel.

Water Questions Put Montana's New Mental Health Facility on Hold

Back in June, the state bought the 114-acre property, but Judge Ed Zink ruled that the state wasn't able to prove through its water analysis that the town of Laurel would be able to handle the new facility.

That means the state will have to do another environmental assessment and allow for public comment before construction can start up again.

However, don't think this roadblock means the project or the facility is dead. The state can still work on off-site design and planning while all of this gets sorted out.

Still, not everyone is excited about the project, especially residents of Laurel.

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Laurel Residents Have Been Fighting the Mental Health Facility

Laurel C.A.R.E.D., a community group that's been fighting the location of the facility, says the ruling is exactly what residents have been asking for.

The group's attorney, Liz Forster, also pointed to the $4.25 million already spent on the property, arguing that the state should have answered some basic questions about the site's impact before buying it.

Officials say the facility is needed to treat people involved in the legal system who need psychiatric treatment or evaluation before they can stand trial.

The planned facility would have 32 beds, with the possibility of expanding to 64.