Letters to the editor
Compact presents peaceful solution
One of the most positive aspects of the proposed water compact with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe is the Unitary Management Board. It creates a local entity for the processing of new uses of water on the reservation. This is a huge improvement over a process dealing with two governments competing for water that would occur with no compact. It also provides equality as all residents of the reservation would follow the same rules for developing new water uses. It has no off reservation authority.
The board consists of both state representatives appointed in consultation with irrigators and tribal appointees and is governed by rules that mirror the state water use act that governs the DNRC.
If the opponents of the compact win there will be no peaceful solution. This place we live in will be in an adversarial state for decades. The tribe has senior water rights on the reservation and will file for time immemorial in stream flows in the western half of the state. In the compact the rights of the junior water rights holders are protected. Going through the state adjudication process with no compact there are no certain outcomes.
If you don’t get involved we are in for decades of litigation both off and on the reservation. Our land values will suffer with the cloud of uncertainty over our heads and agriculture which is the largest industry in Lake County will most certainly have less water.
It is time for all of us to become engaged. To this point the only people involved are right wing anti government, anti compact groups and irrigators. This issue belongs to everyone in the western half of the state. Please get informed and then get involved. We all have a stake in the outcome.
Susan Lake
Ronan
Murat speaks from the heart
If a demonstrated interest in protecting the pocketbooks of Polson taxpayers was a requirement for holding office, the list of candidates would be much shorter. It is also highly likely that our tax bills would be lower. In the not too distant past there was a proposal that the city purchase a building that was overpriced and would result in a loss of income that the city received as the lessor of the lot the building rested on. Only those who regularly attend council meetings are aware of how close it came to being a done deal. There is little doubt that outcry from citizens attending the meeting where that proposal was on the agenda influenced the decision not to go ahead with that squandering of taxpayer dollars.
Among the Polsonites at that meeting was Murat Kalinyaprak playing his usual role as a guardian of taxpayer dollars. His verbal objections to waste aren’t always as eloquent as those of an english major from the U or M but they come straight from the heart. All he ever asks for is that government actions be for the benefit of all citizens and not a select few. That there not be meetings behind closed doors that are not subject to public review.
Now you know why we support Murat and those candidates who have cared enough to attend council meetings year after year.
Pete & Carol Daniels
Polson
Get behind Bob
We strongly endorse Bob Fulton for Mayor of Polson. We have known him for over 30 years and we know, for sure, that Bob Fulton is a man of integrity. Bob always listens and fully analyzes the facts before making a decision. You always know where he stands and why. As Mayor of Polson, Bob Fulton will take the Oath of Office and will honor it. He will have government by, for, and of the people. Fulton will strive for open, honest, and transparent government. He will let everyone speak, and will listen as long as it takes. He has deep roots in Polson and a depth of experience in City and County Government, serving in many capacities and volunteering on behalf of the community for many years. Bob has the courage and intellectual ability to do a great job as Mayor. We are indeed privileged that Bob is standing for election. Polson residents, please register and vote for Bob Fulton for Polson Mayor.
Frank & Mary Mutch
Polson
Knutson the right choice
The current election for Mayor of Polson offers a real contrast.
Heather Knutson is the clear choice for our next Mayor. Most of us know her incredible resume: born and raised in Polson, a Polson High Graduate. Heather then left Polson for her college education, but returned “home” and is now the General Manager of Country Foods, a thriving local business.
Heather believes it is her time to give back to the community she loves so much.
Our city has had enough of the good old boys. The same old stuff. Elect a mayor with energy, experience, and true roots in this community. Vote for Heather Knutson, who values citizen input. Elect Heather Knutson for Mayor.
Ric Smith
Polson
Democrats to blame for shutdown?
Now in the second week of the ‘shutdown’, I believe that the true agenda of the Obama administration and his extremist cronies in the Congressional Democrat leadership (esp., Reid, Pelosi, Schumer) has never been more clear. They insist on maintaining their ‘no negotiation’ stance despite efforts by conservatives to fund for mandatory items. We’ve seen the House of Representatives conservatives do what they were elected to do, (e.g. protect the people from tyrannical leaders) and watched while the Senate leadership refused to bring most of those items to the floor. That is, until the Democrats’ recalcitrance became so blatant and unmistakable that they came to believe that their president, and themselves, might actually be blamed.
Veterans benefits, such as death benefits for survivors, are only one prime example of this idiocy – of course, Obama will now likely act before he has to confront the legislation passed by the House in hopes that he will look ‘good’ and compassionate. To anyone who has been paying attention, though, that particular train has left the station!
But the president is happy to accommodate his friends in big business, his big financial donors and the unions (witness ‘exemptions’ to Obamacare and the fiasco of closing the National Mall to the public but making sure that it was opened so that SEIU, the illegal immigrant community, and assorted Democrat leaders, could use it as a platform for their “demanding” that we give them all the benefits of legal U.S. citizenship).
It’s way past time for this president to begin acting like a world leader instead of a neighborhood ‘organizer’ and a political ward heeling hack.
Bob Hanson
Dayton
Heather is better
My husband and I purchased Country Foods in 2008 from its founder, Linda Knutson. It was during this transition that we met Linda’s daughter, and Country Foods General Manager, Heather. My first introduction to Heather was relatively short – just coffee. Before the meeting was over, I knew, without a doubt, that this was someone I wanted to work with for the foreseeable future.
In Heather’s role as General Manager at Country Foods, she oversees all aspects of our two brands: Country Pasta and Tipu’s Chai. This includes Sales, Marketing, Strategic Planning, HR, Client Services, Budgeting, and of course anything else that happens to fall on her plate. She can quickly understand complex issues and welcomes each opportunity with a smile, open mind, ideas and a “let’s get this done!” attitude. In working with many different people and their variety of skills and personalities she understands what each person brings to the table and how to get the best out of them. This is an effective team-building and problem-solving attribute. Approaching each issue with a positive outlook, Heather not only contributes her own ideas, but she listens intently to others and makes sure everyone is heard. This builds consensus for a path forward allowing Heather to monitor implementation and make adjustments as needed. In my experience, this is a highly valuable leadership quality.
As many of you know, Heather is heavily involved in many community organizaitons. She served as President (2012) and is a current Board Member of the Polson Chamber of Commerce, Co-Founder/Race Director of the annual Live Locally/5K Run and Mission Valley Animal Shelter Board Member, just to name a few. And like at Country Foods, she will take on most anything else she is asked to participate in, with an immense passion and commitment for the community of Polson, while balancing her work at Country Foods.
We at Country Foods are so incredibly fortunate to have Heather Knutson as our General Manager – words in a letter cannot even begin to express this. Polson, we are fortunate to have such a talented, giving person in our community. We would be very lucky indeed to have her as our Mayor.
Amy Kellogg
Owner, Country Foods, Polson
Wolfe for pool board
I believe the swimming pool is a wonderful addition to the community. I am a city resident who regularly uses the pool and am extremely grateful to the non profit group that dedicated the time and effort to make the swimming facility project a reality. I have, however, at times been critical of some parts of the process.
This year, for the first time, a board will be elected to represent the public’s interest in the facility. As there is a significant public investment in running and maintaining the swimming pool I believe Cheryl Wolfe would be the best candidate to sit on the board to oversee activities concerning the city’s investment. Cheryl is a Certified Public Account and has significant experience regarding public projects. Her resume shows financial and management experience with governmental projects, non profits, community development projects, and multiple and varied types of federal and state grants and contract management of infrastructure projects. We would be fortunate to have someone with her understanding of financial matters on the swimming pool board.
Margie Hendricks
Polson