Lakeside park lease struck down

After an occasionally heated discussion Monday, the Flathead County Park Board voted to rescind a lease arrangement that gave the county 65 feet of lakefront property on Lakeshore Boulevard in Lakeside.

Terry Eacker, the son-in-law of property owner Frank Pusich, said the idea for the park came from the Park Board and pressure from the board caused Pusich to sign the lease.

"This is not with the backing of the landowner," Eacker said. "I feel the county took advantage of an old man who came to them with a problem."

The problem began for Pusich when the owner of the Little Red Schoolhouse used boulders to landscape his property. The boulders cut off a county right-of-way that the public had been using as parking for decades.

Pusich took his case to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office and the Flathead Roads Department. When he didn't receive help, he went to the Park Board for help.

"They said they'd get the parking back and do the park, so I signed the lease," Pusich said. "I don't think they took advantage of me."

When the parking condition didn't get fixed, Pusich began to waver on his decision concerning the park.

Attorney Tom Esch, who represented Jim and Kathy Cummings against the park, said he met with Pusich and Flathead County Parks and Recreation Director Jed Fisher.

"Frank equivocated," Esch said. "He had wanted it, and then he didn't. The biggest thing was that he wanted the rocks moved. He goes to the sheriff, the roads department and the parks department and ends up with this lease. It's like a guy who goes to a contractor for a broken window and ends up with siding on his house."

Eacker's accusation raised hackles in the room, and Fisher argued his case.

"Boy, I certainly wasn't calling the shots on how this proceeded," Fisher said, noting that Pusich "even named the price. Frank is a good man, and if there has been a change of heart, I can tell you, sir, I take this very seriously. I resent that you would say I took advantage of a man. I have never taken advantage of a man."

Eacker requested that the board rescind the lease because the stress was causing his father-in-law health problems.

"That's terrible," Fisher said. "That was never the intent."

Park Board member Clyde Fisher quickly voiced his support for rescinding the lease when he heard Eaker speak.

"Tear the thing up as far as I'm concerned," he said.

Other neighbors also spoke in opposition to the lease, and the Park Board voted unanimously to rescind the lease.

County Commissioner Dale Lauman said that although there was excitement about having another public access to the lake, he understood the neighbors' concerns over traffic and parking.

"I'm OK with the decision," Lauman said. "That's what the community wanted."

Commissioner Gary Hall, however, was disappointed that the Park Board would so easily rescind the agreement.

"People sometimes feel like they can pressure elected officials to get their way," Hall said. "They keep beating up on you until they get their way, but how often do you get this kind of opportunity?"

Not all was lost through the process, however. Lakeside residents are banding together to seek out other properties as possible park sites.

Alan Himsl spoke to the board about selling his 62 acres, including 700 feet of lake frontage, to the county for use as a park. But the county doesn't have the money to purchase the land.

"If we can't afford to buy swing sets, we certainly can't buy lakefront property," board member Jim Watson said.

Lakeside residents, the Lakeside Community Council and the Lakeside Park Advisory Committee will continue to search for quality park land.

Reporter Michael Richeson may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at mricheson@dailyinterlake.com