Fire board putting district at risk
I am concerned that the heavy hand of Frenchtown Fire Board members has endangered the protection of our homes by the actions of certain board members over the very competent chief, Scott Waldron, who is being harassed unreasonably and maybe illegally. We as citizens are concerned that the board members involved will create a lawsuit that will force us to pay out to many funds without even having a say in the situation that the board has created.
First, how do the people of Frenchtown Fire District have a member removed legally? In other words, what are the steps to remove said member? Who is contacted first to start such a removal?
Waldron saved this community last year with his quick thinking and his well-prepared organization during a disastrous fire. Almost all of his employees are happy with the policies he has set over the years and have benefited from the education and training skills his leadership has given them.
This board today is more concerned with being self-important than to the benefit of the district. Waldron has shown that the use of his employees outside the district is beneficial saving our community during times such as last year when other districts came to help us. Sharing resources is a benefit of rural districts that must be protected from interference like our board is trying to do.
The subdivision review by our fire district employees does not take away from a smaller district budget, as those costs are being paid through charges to the developer.
Greg Greenwell, Frenchtown Fire District
Older set active in softball, Olympics
It is great you found the time to cover the kickball league (Missoulian, Sept. 7) and that they are enjoying themselves.
However, there is a softball league called the over-45 league, with many players being 50 to 60 and, yes, even in their 70s, that plays every summer. These teams have been in existence for more than 20 years and, for many years, have seen no media or coverage of any kind. This year, the league had eight teams consisting of approximately 15 players each and played 20 games, holding two a week. Then it had tournaments and a huge family picnic for all the players and their families.
Then there is the Senior Olympics, ages 50-plus and, again, players up through their 70s. They have had this two years in Missoula. Next year, it’s scheduled for June 12, 13 and 14. Put it on your calendar. This is a three-day event with teams coming from Canada, Utah, Idaho, Washington and other parts of Montana, as well as teams from Missoula competing. Mike Perry works very hard to organize this event. The guys enjoy themselves, meet new people and have fun.
This three-day event also brings revenue to the city of Missoula. The players bring their families and many stay at local motels. Who is aware of this event?
Barbara Vaughan, Missoula
Zoning misinformation cleared up
There are numerous mistruths being circulated by the anti-zoning crowd. Here are some of them:
They say:
• The value of your property will go down if zoning is instituted. False. The truth is nobody can predict that. In some cases, property values do go down temporarily. In others, they go up immediately. The studies are very mixed. What is also true is that overall property values will rise because uses and development potential is predictable.
• Your taxes will go up once zoning laws are passed. False. It is interesting how these folks can tell you your property value will go down but your taxes will go up. Property taxes are a function of property value. Zoning is not meant to be a revenue generator for the county.
• If you are farming and your property is zoned residential, you will have to stop farming. False. The truth is all uses in effect on the date zoning is adopted can continue and expand.
• If your fence burns down, you will have to procure a permit to rebuild it. False. No permits will be required to continue or repair an existing use.
• Zoning will take away existing water rights. False. All water rights continue in place under Montana law. What is true is that the water tables in some parts of the valley have dropped because of helter-skelter residential development.
• Once adopted, zoning laws can be amended at will by the county commissioners. For once, the anti-zoning folks are partially right. After adoption, the zoning laws can be amended, just like any other county law. That includes making them more lenient or correcting mistakes. It does not automatically mean more stringent.
John Carbin, Stevensville
Palin abandons family for power
Is Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin ready to be the president?
I ask this question as a woman, a single mother of four, a small-business owner and a person who spent several months with the Obama campaign, working 12 to 14 hours, seven days a week. The reason I share that is because I think it is relevant to ward off “sexist” questions. I don’t feel victimized for being a woman; however, I do feel that as a woman we have certain responsibilities once we have made the choice to be a mother that are different than those of a man.
Not all women choose to be mothers, not all women choose the same level of motherhood once becoming mothers. Let’s be honest here; in reality, there are different levels. There are the moms who make it their priority in their lives; they give motherhood their all. Then there are moms who, whether by choice or need, must work - some several jobs. Those moms may still have the same level of priority in their motherhood as the stay-at-home moms.
I am personally appalled by Palin’s choice to be the Republican vice presidential nominee. I feel in many ways she is abandoning the needs of her family in order to gain power. She has a 4-month-old son who has special needs - needs that I believe most mothers instinctively have a desire to care for. As a pro-life advocate, how can she neglect the needs of her son by denying him of herself? She has a daughter who is going through a teenage pregnancy that Palin has made more difficult by being consumed with campaigning and forcing this personal issue to the front pages of the grocery store rag magazines. What does that say about her?
Starla Gade, Missoula
Obama on side of middle class
The words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are apropos today. We are experiencing “the fierce urgency of now.” Can you feel it? Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama feels it and so does the majority of our country. We must make fundamental changes in the way we live and do business. To continue on the same course is disastrous for our children, for our personal rights, for our country and for our Earth. This election is far too important to allow lies and personal attacks to muddy the facts and draw our attention away from the issues.
Here are some cold, hard facts that clearly show the immense difference in Obama’s and McCain’s tax plans. Obama will be a president who will stand on the side of middle-class families. His priority is tax cuts for middle-class families, soldiers and struggling homeowners. As reported in the Washington Post, the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center found that the Obama plan would give those families in the bottom fifth of the income distribution an average tax cut of 5.5 percent of income ($567) in 2009. Those in the middle fifth would get an average cut of 2.6 percent ($1,118).
By contrast, McCain’s tax plan would give those in the bottom fifth an average tax cut of only $21 in 2009. The middle fifth would get a measly $325. And of course, the wealthy will come out even wealthier. Is it any wonder that the top 100 Fortune 500 corporations contributed 10 times more to McCain than Obama?
So I guess the question is, would you rather have a president who looks out for the average person, or the top few in the income bracket? Would you rather have $21 or $567? $325 or $1,118? Your in-pocket return is three times greater under Obama’s tax plan.
I choose honesty. I choose integrity. I choose the leadership of Barack Obama.
Kathy Dungan, Missoula
Missoula police overuse sirens
I live behind the old Wal-Mart on Upper Miller Creek and I hear police sirens all night.
I feel like I’m living in New York City. Is there that much crime taking place in the city of Missoula that warrants the use of constant police sirens? I think not. Why are the police abusing this use of sirens? It’s absurd.
Brian Gouveia, Missoula
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)