LETTER: Our 'Keystone Commissioners'

The Flathead County commissioners, like the hapless Keystone Cops, don’t seem to do anything right.

One of their first initiatives in 2015 was to remove the requirement to vaccinate pets for rabies. Without much consultation with knowledgeable people (say, veterinarians and doctors) they declared this intention. After people who know something of the issue rose in protest, they abandoned that blunder.

Next they amended the county’s zoning code to allow roadside commercial establishments (strip malls, etc.) anywhere under their jurisdiction, potentially degrading our beautiful landscape. A lawsuit followed, of course.

Soon thereafter they approved building a bridge to a private island in Flathead Lake, getting sued again. A judge has ordered removal of a road to the building site that runs across protected wetlands.

Now our Keystone Commissioners have outdone themselves. Barely a year ago, county citizens voted down a ballot initiative that, if passed, would have authorized an increase in property taxes to finance the county’s consolidated 911 emergency dispatch center. The commissioners don’t seem to believe us. Now they have come back with another scheme to raise money from taxpayers for this purpose — a flat levy on homeowners and another on businesses. This one also has aroused opposition, perhaps partly because a flat tax imposes the same burden on owners of trailer homes as on owners of mansions and the same on small and larger businesses. I’m not always against taxes, but It could be that county residents want the call center financed out of current tax revenues, which should increase with the present resumption of building activity.

These commissioners don’t represent us well. An opportunity to begin electing a more enlightened board of county commissioners will come next November. Let’s not miss that chance. —Bill Cox, Kalispell