Letters to the editor - June 27

Polson alcohol ordinance

I do not see why we citizens should be forced to give up adult beverages or pay a price to obtain a permit to consume alcohol in the city parks. Alcohol is not an illegal substance. This is not supposed to be a policed society. People pushing this measure are cops, former cops, and a cop’s wife. We have been losing our civil liberties in leaps and bounds for years now. It needs to stop.

I take my grandson to these parks often to swim and play. I do not see “drunks” or fights and do not hear profanity. I do see the police drive through and constables on patrol talking to citizens.

There are enough laws on the books to prosecute drunks and disorderly conduct or public nuisance offenders.

Do not take our rights of consuming adult beverages in our public parks away as they are used by responsible people that have celebrations of all kinds. Is taking these rights away without public input illegal?

Tim Wall

Polson

Water Compact Commission should fulfill its responsibilities

On February 26, the Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission approved a water rights Compact that had been negotiated by representatives of the state of Montana, the US government and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT).  That Compact was brought to the Legislature but was tabled at a committee level.  Governor Bullock recently made a wise decision when he directed the Commission to prepare a report addressing the questions raised about the Compact.

This provides a cooling off opportunity during which all involved can step back, study the bill and hopefully reconsider positions that hardened.  It also provides an opportunity to complete the approval process for a Water Use Agreement (WUA) that had been under negotiation between the Tribes and Flathead Joint Board of Control (FJBC) but never formally approved and included in the Compact.

Unfortunately conflicts over the WUA are heating up and fracturing the FJBC. As a result of the recent election in the three districts that make up the FJBC, the balance of power within the FJBC shifted from those elected commissioners who favor the WUA to those who oppose the WUA by a slim six to five majority. The new majority made decisions that hardened differences within the FJBC and two districts have taken steps to withdraw from the FJBC.

I have long held the view that farmers and ranchers should have their water right issues settled by the open Compact negotiating process that was established by the Montana legislature and not by FJBC politics.  Thus the Compact Commission should ask the three official parties to take responsibility for the WUA and clarify and complete sections that remain open.  For example, and given the concerns that many farmers and ranchers have because they would not have a direct water right,  it is especially important to clarify that the delivery of water to the project and to individual farmers and ranchers would be legally protected for the long term under a well-defined water delivery system.

During this process the three official parties should draw on the irrigation experiences of individual farmers and ranchers in this large and diverse irrigation project.

Dick Erb

Moiese

Time is now for immigration reform

It’s high time that the US Senate passes immigration reform. The bill before Congress is the result of months of pain-staking negotiation and compromise. It has backers from both political parties, and includes the collaboration of both labor unions and business interests.

That compromise provides a much needed update of our 30 year old immigration policy. It strengthens border security and provides a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented workers currently in this country. It unites families living on opposite sides of the border. And it’s estimated by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office to cut the national debt by at least $200 billion dollars.

It’s the right thing to do but it’s also the smart thing to do. For years this issue has divided the American people, pitting workers against workers. Irresponsible employers pay undocumented immigrants sub-! standard wages, provide no healthcare or protections on the job. When they get hurt on the job it’s the tax payers that pick up the tab.

I support Sen. Baucus and encourage him to vote for the common sense immigration reform bill now in the U.S. Senate. The bill would help 11 million aspiring citizens come out of the shadows and fully support our economy and democracy.

Rita Moldenhaur

Polson

Left in the dark

Mission Valley irrigators attended a specially-called meeting Friday, June 14 in St. Ignatius. It was standing room with some seating due to the large number of people inside the building.

The meeting was adjourned and people made their way out of the building. After standing outside and talking with other irrigators a few minutes, people started returning inside the building where a new motion was being discussed. This second meeting was then adjourned.

Apparently, Jerry Johnson did not feel that the irrigators were exiting the meeting room fast enough. With the remaining irrigators (about 20 people) attempting to leave the meeting room, Johnson shut off all the lights which made the room very dark.

This was an insurance company’s nightmare as there were people using canes, crutches, and some individuals with walking difficulties. The likelihood of someone falling and being injured greatly increased due to Jerry Johnson’s negligence.

After repeated calls to “turn on the lights,” Johnson did so - allowing us to leave the meeting room and building in a safe manner.

I would like to think this was an isolated instance of anger, and do not wish to experience this situation again in the future.

Just as a matter of common courtesy, please allow all people to depart the entire building before turning off the lights.

Sheila Vallejo

St. Ignatius