Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh on ‘City Talk’
Once a month, City of Missoula Communications Director Ginny Merriam brings a guest to the ‘City Talk’ edition of Talk Back, and on Friday the guest was Missoula Police Department Public Information Officer Travis Welsh.
Welsh, who has been the official spokesman for the police department for the last eight years, said he has developed an excellent relationship with local media in Missoula.
“I have been fortunate to have and continue to have some great relationships with people in the local news industry,” said Welsh. “Our local news sources have been great to work with, of late. That s not always been the case. We have had a bit of a tumultuous past, but I like to think that through the efforts that we ve made in this last decade that we have closed a lot of gaps and we have created a lot of new relationships and have improved our communication with our city, and our residents.”
Man sues police over Facebook comments
Missoula, MT (The Missoulian) AGallatin County man is suing the Missoula Police Department for hiding his comments on the department’s Facebook page.
In a complaint filed on Jan. 29, Seth Kucharski alleged the Missoula Police Department violated his rights to free speech and equal protection when it hid and removed comments criticizing the department and its officers.
Missoula Police Chief Jaeson White received the complaint on Jan. 4, but the City of Missoula has not yet responded to it. City of Missoula Communications Director Ginny Merriam said the city could not discuss ongoing litigation.
The lawsuit was originally filed in Missoula District Court, but was moved to U.S. District Court because it deals with alleged violations of Kucharski’s First and Fourteenth amendment rights, according to court documents.
Council Hears Affordable Housing Development on Scott Street
The Missoula City Council’s Committee of the Whole heard discussion on Wednesday about a major affordable housing project for the Scott Street lots over 19 acres that would include 70 new homes, as well as other developments.
Office of Housing and Community Development Director Eran Pehan provided details of the ambitious project that has been over 20 years in the making.
“These estimated 70 homes in addition to seven homes that are being constructed as part of the Reed condos, which council placed affordability requirements on earlier this year, meet 77% of our five year goal towards the creation of permanently affordable home ownership options,” said Pehan. “Upon completion, this project will also be the largest permanently affordable Land Trust development in the state of Montana,” she said. “It should also be noted that in addition to providing the permanently affordable home ownership options, the develo
Vaccination Team to Open Website and Information Phone Number
The Missoula County COVID-19 Vaccine Coordination Team is coordinating vaccine administration throughout the county.
City of Missoula Communications Director Ginny Merriam was on Talk Back on Friday to explain the operation that will go into effect in earnest on Monday.
“I m talking to Missoula county residents,” said Merriam. “People probably know that the vaccine is being distributed from the state to the county. We ve got 56 counties, each getting their allotment, and then each has to manage that allotment. Last week at the request of Mayor Engen and the County Commissioners we formed a vaccine distribution Task Force. I am part of that as a public information person.”