Has issue already been decided?

Editor,

Over the past months I have attended meetings and written and read letters concerning the building of a Wal-Mart supercenter in the Polson area. I have become concerned that the process for approval is a sham.

At the City/County Planning Board meeting in the Polson High School gym May 9, the board members asked the representative from Wal-Mart totally irrelevant questions such as what kind of vegetation is planned.

Although 70 percent of those who spoke from the audience were against the superstore, many bringing to the discussion factually and compelling information, it was obvious that this was not a meeting regarding the proposal of a superstore. This was a meeting to make the public think the process was only in the proposal stage when, in reality, it seemed that a decision had already been made.

The board approved a "change in use" provision, the only item they actually have authority over. They have no authority over the rezoning request and could only make a recommendation on that issue to the city board.

When I spoke with a person from the City Planning Office, I was told that the current Wal-Mart was already committed to another retailer. Before a legal conclusion to public input, a decision has apparently already been made and communicated to Wal-Mart giving them the go-ahead on the new store.

I personally am not in favor of the superstore because I think the existing Wal-Mart and locally owned stores are sufficient for our needs. I don't want strip malls and big box stores in my town. And I would like to see retained money stay in the area and not go to "headquarters" in another state.

But what really concerns me is that decisions are being made regarding the growth of Polson and Lake County independent of our input. Apparently public meetings, letters to the editors, petitions, and our opinions are meaningless to those who are making these decisions. And I understand Wal-Mart did the economic impact study regarding the new store. Not exactly a "neutral" party. And, worse, the legal process is apparently not being followed. Otherwise, why would Wal-Mart feel they could release their current store before "a final decision" is made after all public hearings are held?

I urge those who have an interest in the Wal-Mart decision to attend the June 29 meeting and ensure that we are not excluded from the decision-making process.

Jackie Ladner

Finley Point

Editor's note: Wal-Mart officials have a buy-sell agreement on the current store, meaning if the supercenter isn't approved, they don't have to sell it. The fairest way to put it is that they are making tentative plans. They have not yet formally "released" the store.