Just say no to annexation

Editor:

As most people know, the City County Planning Board (CCPB) will conduct a public hearing on the Wal-Mart proposal (156,000 square foot supercenter) for zoning and other issues. Based on strong public input and opposition, both Hamilton and Ravalli [County] have undertaken measures to try to reasonably limit the size of the massive Wal-Mart proposals in their areas.

It is no secret nationwide that these Wal-Mart supercenters devastate the grocery, hardware, and other smaller businesses in the towns with the consequent loss of their employment, economic, and tax contributions, i.e., shut down smaller stores with ruthless competition. And many community people do enjoy the more intimate interactions associated with these smaller stores.

The City County Planning Board has conducted intensive surveys and public hearings on what the public really wants in Polson and Lake County and these studies have overwhelmingly revealed top priorities for quality of life and low population density — which is why we are here anyway. And these priorities would be seriously degraded with a massive Wal-Mart supercenter dominating Polson and the surrounding areas/communities.

Some say that it is a "done deal" and the supercenter will be shoved down our throats whether we like it or not (so much for democracy in Polson). Yet, Hamilton and Ravalli [County] have set good examples of county and city officials being responsive to what the public really wants. I wonder if our CCPB and city/county officials will have the courage to call for a show of hands on this issue and take positive action as was done at the Hamilton public hearing.

Or we "Supercenter foes" could simply have some green color on us. Legally and ethically, all that is needed is a "no to annexation" to stop the Wal-Mart supercenter takeover before it is too late.

Daniel H. Henning

Polson