Pro supercenter numbers do exist

Editor,

Let me first say in response to Mr. Griffing's letter in last week's Leader that my statements regarding a pronounced majority of Lake County citizens wanting the supercenter come from numbers generated by Wal-Mart and Lake County First themselves. Perhaps Mr. Griffing is unaware of these numbers. I invite him to do some research because they do exist. Mr. Hertz gave out the Lake County First numbers in a newspaper article, and Wal-Mart released them.

I'm sure Wal-Mart would be perfectly willing to vet their signatures in support of the supercenter. Would Lake County First be willing to do the same regarding their signatures against?

Any rational extrapolation of the signature numbers would clearly justify the claim that by at least a three to one margin, Polson and Lake County citizens want the supercenter.

Back where I come from, those kinds of numbers don't constitute hyperbole. They constitute a majority. Some would claim an overwhelming majority.

It's a common tactic to attack the credibility of the messenger when you don't like the message, but the available evidence clearly indicates that indeed the overwhelming majority of Polson and Lake County citizens want the supercenter.

Perhaps many of the people who did not speak in favor of the new supercenter at the planning board meeting Mr. Griffing alluded to, and who otherwise might have, were afraid to do so because of expletives shouted against Wal-Mart at a previous public meeting.

I understand and can empathize with nearby residents concerned about a supercenter being constructed in close proximity, but I hope they were aware when they built or bought their homes that the Polson city council had and has the right to make the proposed zoning change, and indeed the justification when such a greater good for the greater many would be accomplished.

I would also point out to the potential nearby residents of the proposed supercenter that it would not be a race track or a pig farm being built close to them, but a beautiful shopping center that will have buffers put in to greatly ameliorate any negative impacts.

Six of eight citizens volunteer planning board members, who are in an advisory capacity only, and a self-interested minority do not constitute a viable reason for the elected Polson city council to vote against the rezoning and building of the supercenter at the proposed site — especially when said site is obviously best suited for commercial development.

I urge the Polson city council to do the right thing for Polson's and Lake County's future. Vote for the proposed rezone and give the clear majority of Polson and Lake County citizens that want the new Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Virgil Hess

Polson