Letters
Extension brings hope groups can work together
Editor,
In response to Councilman Tom Corse's "Another View" in the Dec. 16 Leader:
Mr. Corse, referring to the Dec. 6 city council meeting, called a petition, a state code of ethics, a sample code of ethics and a list outlining citizens' concerns "reckless and dishonorable."
I was connected to the petition, which if summed up briefly, stated that the "undersigned" were not satisfied with the level of information available regarding the proposed Cougar Ridge subdivision. The "undersigned" also felt the Master Growth plan, however it is finalized, should be adopted prior to such major growth.
Some individuals felt that the presentation of the documents was too contentious. The petition was not intended to convey any opinion about the ethics issue. I called Mayor Ingram to clarify the position of those who had signed the petition.
When emotions run high and the feeling is that there is little or no time to discuss or influence a major decision, people make mistakes. The council was not forewarned about the ethics issue and the related presentation and council members were angry. Quoting Mr. Corse: "well meaning and concerned citizens were incited by a few dishonorable people." He further warned the citizens to be careful whom they believe and to understand the content of any petition they might sign. This is good advice.
Council members were taken by surprise and unprepared to put forth a well thought-out, dignified response. The same can be said for the citizens as we came to look for more information and challenge the approval of the subdivision.
We were taken by surprise, too. Suddenly, in mid-November, there was realization by a few people that a major subdivision could potentially be approved in a few weeks. We felt we needed to respond quickly.
Upon learning my street, Hillcrest, would become the artery to connect the subdivision to Highway 93, I found few, if any, neighbors were aware of the proposal. Of 35 households I visited, only thee neighbors understood that negotiations were underway to purchase an easement to access Hillcrest.
Polson's city code requires an opportunity for citizens to learn of major changes to their neighborhoods. I was alarmed that the developer seemed to be ignoring the code requirements. I was forced to rush — to urge neighbors to attend meetings, to explain the situation and proposal to them, to find individuals qualified to interpret the documents, and to find a spokesperson.
Lack of time to respond to the proposal caused me to be less cautious than I normally am. I was "reckless" and scared. However, I think I was honorable. I thought everyone else was, too.
I hope Mr. Corse can understand what I went through. I understand his perspective. Now that the Planning Board has extended the time for the approval process into January, I hope we can work together carefully, not recklessly, for the good of the community.
Margie Hendricks
Polson
Planning Board should seek outside assistance
Editor,
This is a copy of letter to the Planning Board:
I am writing this as a follow up to my oral comments at the recent Planning Board meeting in which you reviewed the application for the proposed Cougar Ridge Subdivision development. The primary point that I attempted to convey was that the application was incomplete in that it did not adequately address the code requirement for a community impact review. The application did not contain quantitative information, which would establish whether or not existing city infrastructure is adequate to support the proposed development.
Subsequent to my comments, others in attendance did present pertinent information and comments regarding water supply and distribution and sewer handling and treatment, none of which was contained in the formal application. Some of the information presented supported the application while some raised serious questions as to the ability of the city's infrastructure to support the proposed development.
You, the board, now have the dilemma of how best to compile and sort conflicting information and arrive at the correct decision regarding processing of this application.
The code provides the board the option of seeking outside engineering assistance, at the developers' expense, to assist in preparing a community impact statement. The role of the engineer would be to search out all available information and compile a summary of the pertinent information into a single document. The engineer would analyze the information to identify impacts and, finally and most importantly, present a comprehensive set of conclusions and recommendations to assist the board in making their final decision.
The scope of such an infrastructure study should include, at a minimum, the areas of water supply, water distribution and storage and sewage handling and treatment. The scope could be expanded to cover additional infrastructure issues such as impact on schools, law enforcement, fire protection or others at the discretion of the board. The proposed development is of such a size and scope that this seems the only practical means of achieving the objective of a thorough review in a timely fashion.
I strongly urge the board to give serious consideration to seeking such outside assistance. This would be consistent with the city's decision to seek outside engineering assistance in obtaining a Traffic Impact Study Report for this same project.
You, the board, wisely found the Cougar Ridge Subdivision application to be incomplete. This has to be a major disappointment to the developer. However, the decision is in the best interests of the future of the community and I applaud you for making it.
J.M. "Mike" Corcoran
Polson
Festival of Trees gala was best ever
Editor,
On behalf of the Lake County Youth Home Board of Directors and the Festival of Trees Committee, it is with my sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude that I thank each of you for your support of the 2004 Festival of Trees. The contribution and dedication of all those that participated made this year's Festival of Trees Gala the most successful ever.
We appreciate each individual and each business for their donation to the Gala. Your contribution will make a difference in the life of the youths that are placed in the Youth Home.Be sure to plan ahead for the Seventh Annual Festival which will take place on Dec. 3, 2005. Have a happy holiday and thank you again!
Barbara A. Monaco
Polson
Election department, recount boards did their jobs well
Editor,
All the facts were not considered when David Daniels suggested in a letter last week that I should concede the race in HD 12 to Jeanne Windham because voters who intended to vote for Jeanne were denied that opportunity since they were registered in the wrong House District.
The rest of the story is that it also happened to HD 12 residents that intended to vote for me. I received two calls the day after the election from voters indicating that circumstance. On the Sunday following the election, an elderly gentleman at church informed me that he was not able to vote for me even though he had intended to because he was wrongly registered in HD 15 rather than HD 12. Two additional voters were subsequently discovered to have been registered in HD 15 instead of HD 12, where they actually live. The point being that it happened on both sides. Some simply were not as vocal about it.
There is probably no county in Montana where this did not occur, at least to some extent. With precinct and House District boundaries changing in 2004 because of redistricting, this is entirely understandable.
With all that is at stake in the outcome of the HD 12 election insofar as control of the House of Representatives, I sense that letters have been written and statements made that are based more on emotion than specific facts. It is important to be sure our emotions do not cloud our judgment regarding facts and law.
Also, I think it is important that voters understand that the Recount Board is bipartisan and every decision on the ballots that are currently being contested was, without hesitation, unanimous.
Jeanne gained two votes during the recount that were not counted on election night because the election judges' handbook from the Secretary of State's office had a misprint regarding dealing with "overvotes" (where more than one oval is filled in).
In the case of these two ballots, the voters filled in the oval for Jeanne and the oval for the write-in space and on one ballot wrote in her name on the write-in line. The Recount Board discovered the mistake in the handbook and properly applied the specific rule. I agreed fully that the two ballots were intended as votes for Jeanne.
The only split vote among the Recount Board was on a ballot that I challenged. The oval for Jack Cross was partially filled in (about the top third) and the oval for myself was entirely filled in. The Board ruled 2 to 1 that the vote should not count for me because the mark for Jack was more than a hesitation mark and therefore agreed with the Resolution Board that voter intent could not be clearly determined and it should be counted as an "overvote" (neither of us received the vote).
I disagree with any implication, insinuation, or assumption that the Lake County elections office and the Recount Board did not handle the election and recount in HD 12 with the utmost integrity and adherence to election laws and rules established by the Secretary of State.
In my estimation, Kathy Newgard and her office did everything humanly possible to maintain integrity in the election process and adherence to the law, both before and after the HD 12 recount.
In the end, after the two votes were added to Jeanne's total, the hand recount confirmed precisely the original vote count on election night and after the provisionals were added in. I think that speaks well of the elections office and the accuracy of their vote counting.
Rick Jore
Ronan
Value issues are addressed by density plan
Editor,
I would like to commend our county commissioners, first for seeking to understand what it is that we who reside here most value about living in Lake County.
The survey sent to all residents indicated that, for the majority of us, what we valued most was the agricultural land base and the wildlife that we share our space with.
The commissioners responded to that value with an attempt to preserve those qualities with the reality of population growth, as well as allowing for retiring ranchers who may be counting on their properties' value for their retirement.
The land density plan with saleable subdivision rights addresses all of those issues, however imperfectly.
Other agricultural areas have addressed the onslaught of population growth in different ways. Sevier County in Utah put a moratorium on new water wells, In Kelowna, B.C., [where] subdividing any agricultural lands in the valley is prohibited, all new development has to take place on the timbered mountain sides.
Population growth is inevitable and with a more dense population, we will have more regulations, more restrictions — it's how people get along as they become more numerous, living in closer proximity.
The saleable subdivision rights are intriguing. Hold on to those rights, they may become more valuable than the land, at which point our kids that want to continue with an agricultural lifestyle may be able to afford to by their own ranches.
Whatever else, let's not be a passive, silent majority allowing what we love most be sold into five-acre noxious weed plots. Let the county commissioners know what is important. If you have better ideas on how to accomplish preservation of an agricultural land base, preserve wildlife habitat, and secure retirement for aging ranchers, let them know that, too.
Judy Bystrom
Polson
Feels Jore has been too silent
Editor,
I have always known Rick Jore to be an honest man. Even though I usually disagree with many of his views, I have respected his integrity and character — at least until now.
The controversy surrounding the tied election in the House District 12 legislative race has unnecessarily centered on Jeanne Windham, the Democratic candidate. While partisan Republicans have maligned Windham for challenging the results, and thereby prolonging the outcome of the election, Constitution Party candidate Rick Jore has remained steadfastly quiet about the race that will ultimately determine which political party will control the Montana Legislature.
Rick Jore has said only that "he's willing to let the process play itself out" and that "the assumption I'm making is that I expect Judy Martz to do the right thing."
What Mr. Jore has not said to my knowledge, is what he thinks about the seven disputed ballots; indeed, his silence on this point speaks volumes about what is going on behind the scenes.
For after all, Rick Jore has certainly seen the ballots in question, and if he sincerely believes that the votes were cast for him, he should say so for the record. On the other hand, if the voters' intent is in anyway in doubt, Jore should ask the election board to eliminate the contested votes.
Down-deep Mr.Jore probably knows that these double-marked ballots should be thrown out and that's why he is not talking. Worse yet, however, is that while Jore remains mute, he leaves Jeanne Windham no other choice but to take the undesirable step of going to court to guarantee a fair election.
Plainly put, Mr. Jore should "do the right thing" and concede the disputed ballots.
Jim Rogers
Polson