Letters to the editor, Sept. 30
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County Roads
I am writing this in concern for the county roads. First off, I am sorry the levy didn’t pass for the roads. I guess the American people are very tired of being taxed to death. I would like to comment on the roads in Valley View. These comments are based on spending money. Last fall the sander came out for no reason I could see. There was no snow or ice on the roads. So money was spent for wages for that driver and fuel to bring out the truck. In the spring the grader came out, came down our road and did not even put the blade down.
Again money spent for the driver and fuel. The grader came out again, this time they graded but did not take off the wash boards or the pot holes. So the people get discouraged driving on roads that are not maintained well. Then, this month comes all this wonderful gravel on part of Apple Road, not all of Apple Road. Which did no good, because the ruts and wash boards were not taken off, so when driven on, the gravel was pushed out of the wash boards and ruts.
People are taking this road because of the never ending project on Back Road. Now Apple Road is rougher than before the gravel was spread on it. This spring when they patched Eli Gap and the other roads, did they flip a coin on which spots they were going to fix? Eli Gap has been patched so many times it is rougher than a gravel road. There is a spot on the west end of Forman Road that was not patched that needs a flag, someone is going to damage their car driving over it.
Then you go over to the north end of Peace Road and you have three pools of water all the way across the road. One winter I called in because Seifert Lane wasn’t plowed and the remark I received was “Those people knew that road wasn’t maintained when they built there.” Do we not pay taxes to have that county road maintained, is it a county road all the way to Back Road? Yes, I know you need money and I ask this question again, does everyone in Lake County pay road taxes?
If not, why do the rest of us have to make up for them? I can understand if it is special circumstances, but if not, they should be paying like the rest of us so we have more money. Everyone should pay county and state road taxes. Maybe our county should see how Flathead County fixes their roads, they seem to last. I know they probably have more money than us. Maybe the reason the levy didn’t pass is because people see how the roads are maintained now and in past years. Their vehicles and tires get damaged driving on such rough roads. Yes, we chose to live in the country, but we pay taxes to have the roads maintained. And taking out equipment and not doing anything is a waste of tax payers’ money. There needs to be a solution to help with the money situation.
Kelly Bailey
Valley View
Polson city council
If citizens think Doug Chase is doing a good job as Chief of Police for the city, I urge them to attend the Oct. 4 Polson City Council meeting and speak out. Our city is in danger of losing Chief Chase and others due to budget falsifications and ambush political maneuvers.
Councilman Lies stated parks and library were over budget by $22,389 during the Sept. 8 council meeting. At the same meeting, Councilman Lies motioned to approve the budget with amendments. Councilman Lies’s budget statement is not accurate, as corrected by Mayor Pat DeVries at the Sept. 20 council meeting. In fact, parks and library were under budget by $22,389.
One of the many negative impacts of Councilman Lies’s amendments is to eliminate overtime pay for city employees. Chief Chase has stated that he will not run the police department and not have the ability to call extra officers to duty. He has stressed that this is in the best interest and safety of the officers and citizens.
I hope to see you at 7 p.m. on Oct. 4 at city hall.
Ric Smith
Polson resident
HD-12 candidates
Two good men are state legislature candidates in House District 12: Republican Dan Salomon and Democrat John Fleming. So, how does one choose?
We know what to expect from Fleming. In the last legislature he voted for the largest budget in state history and also for the terrible Medical Marijuana Bill that legalized pot for 23,000 users. He has a Montana Shooting Sports Association rating of a D.
Salomon is a fiscal conservative and has an MSSA rating of B. He has also taken the Political Courage Test sponsored by the independent, non-partisan voter education group Project Vote Smart that shows his position on all major issues.
Fleming has refused to take the Political Courage Test that would reveal his position on major issues. Why, is he afraid that voters will know his position on the issues?
We deserve a legislator like Dan Salomon who openly reveals to the voters where he stands and will spend our tax dollars responsibly.
Phil Barney
Polson resident
Montana Supreme Court
Any decision of the Montana Supreme Court amounts to creating law which is just as binding on all citizens of the state the same as any law passed by the Montana legislature.
Therefore, the importance of electing an Associate Justice on Nov. 2 cannot be overstated, and voters should learn as much as they can about the two candidates for this position.
One place to do some research is the website of the Commissioner of Political Practices, www.politicalpractices.mt.gov. Are the contributions to a candidate’s campaign fund from a broad cross-section of occupations or does one particular profession, occupation or politically motivated interest group dominate? Would this influence the decisions a candidate might make if elected to the bench?
As a voter, I am supporting Nels Swandal. Not only does he have contributors from many walks of life, he also has a broad legal background. He has been in private practice in Livingston, is a former Park County Attorney, served the U.S. Army JAG Corps retiring with the rank of colonel and has served as District Court Judge for 15 years. He also has been deeply involved with community affairs, especially the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) program in the Wilsall/Livingston area where his family has ranched for 100 years.
Also, if elected, Nels Swandal would be the only Associate Justice who has served as a judge previously. To learn more, go to his website: www.SwandalforJustice.com
The other candidate has no District Judge experience, and I believe that Judge Swandal’s background makes him the best qualified to appreciate the practical application which Supreme Court opinions have on all of us as citizens of Montana.
Penny Jarecki
Polson resident
Class mottos
My brother Bill and I were members of the Polson High School graduating class of 1951; my sister Rae Belle graduated in ‘49, my brother Joe graduated in ’50. At our classes’ reunion this past Labor Day weekend, both Joe and Bill, who have lived in Oregon most of their adult lives, were here in Polson.
I have already written concerning the class mottos of ‘49 and ‘50. The class of 1951 chose for their motto: “We kneel in prayer, we rise in power.”
I’m sure that at that time we knew very little of the meaning of those words. However, during the intervening years, we’ve had lots of opportunity to learn that prayer is the wonderful privilege of talking to God, about everything! (1 Thessalonians 5:17, New Living Translation).
We’ve learned to pray and we continue to learn. The Psalmist wrote it right, “I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.” (Psalm 120:1, NLT). Throughout human history, the record is clear, people have continually turned to God in prayer and God has heard and answered.
Prayer is not only the greatest demonstration of our faith in God, prayer actually renews, refreshes and strengthens the human spirit and body. Isaiah, an Israeli prophet wrote; “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, NLT).
Prayer is more than petition; prayer means commitment to God’s plans and purposes. Jesus said it best; “My Father! I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Mathew 26:39, NLT) Our greatest joy and happiness comes from knowing that God’s plans and purposes are being accomplished in our lives. Through Jesus, anyone can know and enjoy such a relationship with God.
I think that if anyone asked a member of the 1951 graduating class of PHS, “Have you learned more about the value of prayer in the last sixty years?” Their answer would be “Definitely, yes!”
Harvey A. Town
Polson resident