Privacy Act
This policy is intended to implement and comply with the Governmental Internet Information Privacy Act, Sections 2-17-550 through 2-17-553, M.C.A.
Identification of Operator
The operator of this website is Richland County, Montana, a political subdivision and body politic and corporate of the State of Montana, 201 West Main Street, Sidney, Montana 59270, under the authority and control of the Board of County Commissioners and overseen administratively and technologically by the Information Technology Department of the County
Contact Information for Operator
The address and telephone number at which the operator may be contacted, as well as an electronic means for contacting the operator are
Board of County Commissioners
Board of County Commissioners
Richland County, Montana
201 West Main
Sidney, MT 59270
406-433-1706
Richland County, Montana
201 West Main
Sidney, MT 59270
406-433-1706
Information Technology Department
Information Technology Department
Richland County, Montana
201 West Main
Sidney, MT 59270
406-433-6887
Richland County, Montana
201 West Main
Sidney, MT 59270
406-433-6887
Electronic Contact
webmaster@richland.org
Definition of Personally Identifiable Information
As defined in Section 2-17-551(6), M.C.A., "personally identifiable information" means individually identifiable information about an individual collected online, including:
(a) a first and last name;
(b) a residence or other physical address, including a street name and name of a city or town;
(c) an e-mail address;
(d) a telephone number;
(e) a social security number; or
(f) unique identifying information that an internet service provider or a government website operator collects and combines with any information described in subsections (6)(a) through (6)(e).
(a) a first and last name;
(b) a residence or other physical address, including a street name and name of a city or town;
(c) an e-mail address;
(d) a telephone number;
(e) a social security number; or
(f) unique identifying information that an internet service provider or a government website operator collects and combines with any information described in subsections (6)(a) through (6)(e).
Type of Information We Collect
The information we gather is either information (for example, your name and address) that you voluntarily supply when you register or initiate transactions, or information gathered on usage patterns and preferences as visitors navigate the web site, use our services such as e-mail, or read our e-mail newsletters.
Cookies
To help make our web site more responsive to the needs of our visitors, we use a standard feature of browser software, called a "cookie", to assign each visitor an [sic] unique, random number that resides on your computer. The cookie does not identify the visitor, just the computer that a visitor uses to access our site. Unless you voluntarily identify yourself, we won't know who you are, even if we assign a cookie to your computer as the only personal information a cookie can contain is information you supply. A cookie cannot read unrelated data off your computer. We use cookies to help us deliver a better, more personalized service. For example, we use cookies to track the pages and services on our web site visited by our users. We can build a better web site if we know which pages and features our users are visiting and how often.
Browser Level Information and IP Addresses
Our web server automatically collects limited information about your computer configuration when you visit our web site, including the type of browser you use, the operating system you are running, the resolution of your computer monitor, the web site that referred you, and your IP address. Your IP address is a number that is used by computers connected to the Internet to identify your computer so that data such as the web pages you want to view can be transmitted to you. We use IP address information for systems administration and trouble-shooting purposes.
Other Disclosures
We may occasionally release information about our visitors when release is appropriate to comply with law, to protect the rights, property, or safety of visitors to our sites, the public, our customers, or our government and its employees, agents, partners, and affiliates.
Please keep in mind that our communities are public spaces, so don't post anything that you don't want the world to see. Credit card numbers, product keys, and other confidential information, including anything covered under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), should not be posted to any blogs, discussions, or other public areas.
Please keep in mind that our communities are public spaces, so don't post anything that you don't want the world to see. Credit card numbers, product keys, and other confidential information, including anything covered under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), should not be posted to any blogs, discussions, or other public areas.
No General Request for Personally Identifiable Information
Citizens and businesses are not routinely asked to provide personal information to visit this website or to download information.
When Personally Identifiable Information Requested
Government agencies may request personally identifiable information from you to provide requested specialized services, but such information is handled as it would during an in-person visit to a government office.
Disclosure to Third Parties
Any personal information that is collected will not be disclosed to any third party except as required by applicable law, unless the website user has expressly permitted the disclosure or "opted in" to allow the disclosure. Montana law controls the level of access to personally identifiable information maintained in public records at state and local levels of government. Information that is generally available under Montana law may be posted for electronic access.
Use of Email Addresses
Email addresses obtained because of a request to this website will not be sold or given to other private companies for marketing purposes unless it is specifically stated when the email address is requested and the user "opts in" to having their email used in the stated fashion. The information collected is subject to the access and confidentiality provisions of Montana Code and Federal law. Email or other information requests sent to this website may be maintained to respond to the request, forward that request to the appropriate agency, communicate updates to the county web page that may be of interest to citizens, or to provide the website designers with valuable customer feedback to assist in improving the site. Individuals will be provided with the ability to "opt in" at any time to receive communication regarding new service updates.
Transaction Information
The county uses secured servers for conducting online transactions. All credit card and other payment information that is transmitted is protected by encryption technology, provided the website user's browser is properly configured and the user's computer is operating properly.
Data Security and Quality
Richland County is committed to data security and the data quality of personally identifiable information that is either available from or collected by governmental web sites and has taken reasonable precautions to protect personally identifiable information from loss, misuse, or alteration. Any third parties responsible for this information are committed to the same principles and are required by contract to follow the same policies and guidelines as Richland County in protecting this information. Unless otherwise prohibited by state or federal law, rule, or regulation, the individual is granted the ability to access and correct personally identifiable information regardless of whether the information inaccuracy was accidental or created by unauthorized access.
Non-County Websites
Various non-county websites may be linked through this website Since the county has no control over those non- county websites, visitors to those sites are advised to check their privacy statements and be cautious about providing personally identifiable information without a clear understanding of how the information will be used. The county accepts no liability for other entities that are linked to this website.
Website Security
For information security purposes, the computer systems that host this website employ software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to compromise its devices. These attempts to cause damage could be subject to legal action.