Future of Somers plan effort is cloudy

School won't allow neighborhood meetings

In the wake of a recent Somers neighborhood plan meeting that was shut down and sheriff's deputies were called when the crowd turned unruly, the time and place of future meetings are up in the air.

And the planning committee is no longer welcome to meet at the Somers Middle School.

"Unfortunately, the events of last week's meeting resulted in the Somers Middle School requesting the community no longer use the school for any future meetings, for fear of property damage or other retribution," planner Allison Mouch of the Flathead County Planning Office said. "So as of right now there is no set date, time or location for the rescheduled informational meeting.

"We are waiting to hear from the community to ensure there is support and a desire for us to come back and assist with the neighborhood planning process," Mouch said.

Kathy Robertson, one of the Somers plan supporters, said she didn't know when the group would meet. Calls to other key leaders were not returned.

County planners were invited to the June 15 Somers meeting and had barely started their explanatory presentation about neighborhood plans when audience members barraged them with questions and disrupted the meeting.

County Planning Director Jeff Harris had asked the audience to refrain from asking questions until the end of the meeting, but his request was disregarded and a shouting match ensued.

It's unclear how a lawsuit asking the District Court for an injunction stopping the Somers neighborhood effort will affect future planning meetings.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com