Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Opinion & Editorial

by Sen. Rick Laible, Darby

In reading some of the most recent letters to the editor regarding the creation of a Community College or a College of Technology (COT) in Ravalli County I felt it necessary to clear up some of the misconceptions about the two types of institutions. This letter is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the subject, or a endorsement of either type of campus, since I believe the Ravalli Republic is contemplating a public forum to visit this subject in more detail before the election in May.

The Community College system is a locally based, and controlled institution of higher learning that is funded by the local taxpayers (25% approx.), the state (50% approx.) and the remainder from tuition and grants (25% approx.). The voters in May will vote to approve the creation of a Community College in Ravalli County, and at the same time for an increase in property taxes to support approximately 25% of the costs. If this initiative passes, then the Board of Regents will request from the 2009 Legislature, through a decision package, the funding for the State¹s share of the costs. This funding must be passed by the Legislature in 2009 and signed by the Governor before the funding would be available in 2009. The cost of building the campus structure is funded primarily by the issuance of bonds and the creation of local public debt. There has been some discussion that a special session would be called by the Governor to provide the funding for this Community College in Ravalli County, and although possible, not very probable.

Colleges of Technology are funded by tuition fees, grants and by the State, and as such require no additional funding from local taxpayers other than the current 6 mills that are already being assessed for the University System to all property owners. The Board of Regents did request from the Governor, for the 2007 legislative session, funding of approximately $18 million for ongoing infrastructure needs of the College of Technology system, a portion of which was intended for the creation of a campus in Ravalli County. Unfortunately the Governor, in his executive budget, did not include all of the funding requested by the University System. I believe that the Board of Regents, in their budget request for the 2009 Legislative session, will again initiate a request for College of Technology funding, which will include a portion for the creation of a campus in Ravalli County.

Even though the University System does not currently have a campus in Ravalli County, the College of Technology system does currently continue to provide accredited classes in Ravalli County as an extension service of the University. The College of Technology has just recently advertised that classes for laboratory workers, and Laboratory Technicians will be held this fall in Hamilton in order to meet the skill based needs of our local economy.

Some believe that local legislators are not making the creation of an institution of higher learning in Ravalli County a priority, which is not accurate. I continue to work through the legislative process to provide the funding for our Ravalli County campus, and have sponsored $5 million amendments to HB-807, and HB-5 for the College of Technology system.

This discussion was not intended to promote either type of institution of higher learning, but to provide some clarity to the legislative requirements of each. There will be an election in May for the voters to make a decision on this subject, and as is typical of our voters, given all the information, they will make the correct decision.

Missoula Red Cross not closing

Dear Editor,

I would like to use this space in your local newspaper to update the communities of Missoula, Ravalli and Mineral counties about what they may have heard about the Missoula office of the American Red Cross. It isn't closing! The recent budgetary issues which were announced earlier this year have been resolved and the American Red Cross office in Missoula is currently budgeted to remain open.

All of the programs that your community relies on the American Red Cross for are still in place, programs such as adult, child & infant CPR, water safety & lifeguard courses, and babysitter training. These are the programs that we were on the brink of losing a few months ago. The American Red Cross also offers the following services, still run from our Missoula office: Armed forces emergency services which provides communication of critical information between service members and their families, and Disaster relief which gives aid to residents during everything from large scale disasters such as floods or wildfires, to home fires that leave a family with no where to go.

All of that being said, we still need your help! The American Red Cross operates under a congressional charter, but receives no money from the government. We rely on the communities we serve and the mutual aid of other non-profit organizations to be able to provide these services. If you would like to help with gift of either your time or money, please contact us at (406) 549-6441, or by mail at: American Red Cross, 1500 West Broadway, Suite E, Missoula MT 59808. The Missoula chapter's leadership council is committed to growing our programs and sustaining the services that our communities have come to rely on.

Frank R. Green, Leadership Council Member
American Red Cross

Watergate scandal, history, and Ravalli County Commissioners

Dear Editor,

Thirty-five years ago the nation was rocked by the implication of a Watergate scandal in the oval office. Two years later and after several top aids were found guilty of lying, cover up and lying to a grand jury, president Nixon resigned from his office. He did so shortly before he could be impeached for lying and hampering the FBI's investigation. He maintained for two years during the investigation that he did not have any knowledge of the cover-up or break in.

So, why do we still have two county commissioners in office that have lied to the public, misused the judicial system and abused their powers of office? Their lies became crystal clear on February 1st when the injunction filed by the Gang of Ten was heard in Missoula. There was overwhelming testimony at the court hearing that the commissioners knew on several occasions that they might have to run for election again.

Instead, like Watergate, the commissioners Thompson and Chilcott continue to perpetuate the lies that they have told. Nixon had his seven cohorts and the Commissioners use the Gang of Ten, Builders Association and Board of Realtors to do their bidding for them. Look at some of the membership of the Gang of Ten. Gary Zebrowski was on the planning board and decided to run for the commissioners' office. Howard Lyons' wife is on the Board of Realtors. Fred Thomas has been the primary insurance carrier for Ravalli County for years. Then you have Dave Hurtt who is running for a commissioner's seat this year and he subdivided his land a few years ago. Are a few favors being called in? The commissioners' lies have been hampering justice ever since. The commissioners' lies are costing the public and the County tax dollars. Their actions may cost the taxpayers $40,000 plus for a special election when it is found that commissioners Chilcott and Thompson will have to run again. Justice would be better served by following the recommendations of the voters and not the special interests.

The power of special interests for rampant development became very clear last week when the commissioners would not embrace County Attorney George Corn's legal opinion. After attending that commissioner meeting packed with developers and builders, I am convinced that the commissioners will do about anything to undo the 1 per 2 zoning regulations and permit rampant development. In October 1973, Nixon made a famous statement, "I am not a crook." I find it ironic that commissioner Thompson repeatedly states at meetings that he has not made a dime off the developers. Ironic, how history repeats itself.

On July 27th, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee voted 27 to 11 to recommend the first article of impeachment against the President: obstruction of justice. The second (abuse of power) and third (contempt of Congress) articles were passed on July 29th and July 30th. On August 8th 1974, Nixon resigned from office. Sound familiar? It is time the commissioners resign from office or a full investigation and removal from office may be deemed necessary. Just think, President Nixon was at the doors of impeachment, where do you think the county commissioners should be? Let your votes show them.

Shaen McElravy
Stevensville

Support for Rokosch

Dear Editor,

You can see the excitement in their eyes when you first meet them. The Bitterroot has that attraction. The mountains, rivers, forests work their wonders. I know that feeling. I felt it 28 years ago, when I first moved here, and I still feel it.

Then, the course of conversation turns to where they came from. Seattle, Portland, Bay Area, SoCal. And why did they leave? The expressions turn harder now. Too many people, too much traffic, bad schools, bad neighborhoods, excessive crime.

The older ones also answer alike. "I remember when it was great, I loved it there. But it changed. I don't even recognize it anymore. Not like here." I wonder, "for how long?"

It doesn't have to end up like "there." We can change our future. The Bitterroot doesn't have to be an endless litany of subdivisions and fry shacks, lined up in dreary succession.

I'm a conservative in the true sense of the word. I would like to preserve this valley for my grandkids and their grandkids. Once deer, elk and trout habitat is paved over, it's gone. Once the fabric of a community is rent by the infusion of excessive population, that small town feeling, neighbor helping neighbor, disappears.

Responsible growth is a concept that embodies this idea. Like one friend I spoke to recently said, "we can grow smart or we can continue the way we have for the last 20 years." We have that opportunity now. The countywide growth policy that we, as a community, will lay out in the next 18 months will draw a blueprint for our future. I'd like to see a Bitterroot 20 years from now that I can still recognize. That still has clean rivers and streams, still has farms that feed its population, that still has elk and cutthroats.

Our choice of leaders will also be a big impact on the way we proceed. That's why I'm supporting Jim Rokosch for county commissioner. Jim has lived in the Bitterroot for 24 years, has been a school board trustee and chairman, cares about our community and its future. As a water biologist, he has the scientific experience to understand the complex issues of water quality that is so important to the health and well being of our community. Jim believes in responsible growth and planning. I'm an independent and I'm voting for Rokosch.

Steve Schwartzman
Stevensville

Varichak presents platform

Dear Editor,

I am also a "fresh face" on the local political horizon. I am not only very new to the political mix, but I'm coming from a very different perspective and mindset than most people who run for office do. I am a professional addiction counselor. I work with people who are on the verge of "falling through the cracks" of our society. By helping them to focus on their strengths I help them find a way back to health, vitality and hope. I am running for county commissioner because I believe the same approach can do for Ravalli County what all of the litigation, name-calling and ill-will can never do; move this county into a more prosperous future without sacrificing our quality of life. This will be accomplished when we begin to nurture the strengths we already have in place. This will become "real" when we begin to celebrate the similarities between our goals, beliefs and values instead of focusing on the differences.

Within the recovery community, where I have been an active professional for the last fifteen years, there is a well known quote from a recovering medical doctor: "It was as if I had, rather than a Midas touch which turned everything to gold, a magnifying mind that magnified whatever it focused on... I began to see... defects. And the more I focused my mind on... defects, the more they grew and multiplied... But when I try to see what I can add... rather than what I can get out of it, and I focus on what's good... (it) keeps getting better. If I focus on a problem, the problem increases; if I focus on the answer, the answer increases." I believe that as long as we limit our vision to seeing conflict, imbalance, discord and destruction, we will give those things the power to flourish. But if instead we begin to acknowledge what is good, is hopeful, is positive progressive change, we will lend our collective energy to those things and they will grow and evolve. That doesn't mean we ignore potential pitfalls or distractions, it does mean that we "work" what is working and we stop spending our time, energy and money on what isn't.

I want to help Ravalli County find its way back to a future which represents the best of what western Montana is, has been and will become.

Don't forget to wave, I'll be waving back.

Vicky Varichak, Democratic Candidate
for County Commissioner, District 1

Support for Harbaugh

Dear Editor,

I'm writing to you about the District 4 county commissioner race. DeAnne Harbaugh is running for that district and I have known her for most of my life. We've spent time together over the years watching birds in fields, at the river and laughing in sheer delight as a snowy owl with wings wide-spread, one winter night in the middle of a snow blizzard flew right into us and up over our heads.

She is a caring and passionate person. She has always cared about our environment, the air, the water, our rivers, wildlife and their habitat and the type of life we are all able to experience here because of those qualities. And she has spent years working at protecting those values. Now that we are being approached by huge subdivisions and commercial development on all fronts, we need people who are going to fight for our way of life and work hard for planned and protective growth.

DeAnne is already working on these projects. She has recently coordinated a meeting between the County and the City with the DEQ to discuss air quality protection. She recently established a committee to start the process of involving citizens in planning for the future to see how they want the city to grow. She is pushing for the city to establish an annexation plan of their own, not one by developers. She is pushing for the city to review and update the growth policy "with citizens." She would like the city to start funding the purchase of open space and parklands before all land is gone.

I personally know that DeAnne is constantly working for the citizens and watching out for them on all fronts. She has high expectations and has proved her dedication and unmatchable integrity over and over in going after an issue and working until the best possible outcome could be achieved. We need DeAnne to continue the work she began at the city level which by necessity overflowed to the county level. We need for her to be able to direct her unquenchable energy to work for all the citizens in the valley. She is the best person to become the Commissioner for District 4!

Candy George
Hamilton

Litter control

Dear Editor,

I am a resident of Darby so I drive the county roads often. As I took some time one day to pick up litter along the highway, I realized how a little bit of committed effort on the part of a few people could help "clean up" our environment. I thought of those who had demonstrated no respect for others as they "freely" threw their garbage and cluttered up the landscape. Then it felt good to look back and see the uncluttered stretch of road in a single view and embrace a small part of the beauty of the Bitterroot Valley.

Then my focus turned from thoughts of a healthy environment to thoughts of healthy values. I believe it is very desirable to live in a community that supports healthy values regarding safety and moral issues. I thought about how pornography and obscenity "litter" the very mind and soul of those who are exposed to it.

Now, as a concerned citizen and grandparent, I am participating with BHVA (Bitterroot Healthy Values Alliance) in an effor to consider some appropriate actions to secure healthy moral values in Ravalli County.

Lois J. Morris
Darby

Support for Rokosch

Dear Editor,

It is a rare pleasure to know a candidate well enough to feel comfortable writing a letter to endorse him for office. Jim Rokosch is running for Ravalli County Commissioner in District 1 (North Valley). I have known Jim for 16 years. He possesses the characteristics that make him the type of individual we would all like to have in a neighbor ñ and in a commissioner.

Jim is intelligent, thoughtful, honest to a tee, and compassionate. He is serious about planning and grasps the fine balance of private property rights and public values. He understands complex issues and works hard at finding a fair means of solving problems, and his training as a biologist helps him examine issues from various viewpoints.

In his 24 years in the valley, Jim Rokosch has been busy. This good neighbor has defined the word involved by the following actions:

• He served on the Lone Rock School Board for six years, two as chair. While chair, he helped resolve a significant consolidation issue, helped design a middle school program, and helped pass a middle school bond issue.

• He was a founding board member of Friends of the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge, where he continues to serve.

• He was a founding board member of the Threemile-Lone Rock Community Foundation.

• He has been both professionally and voluntarily involved in stream restoration projects in the Threemile Area.

• He has been a youth sports coach at various levels for 15 years, is an active member of the Bitterroot Water Forum, and was a volunteer fireman for about four years.

Involved? You bet, and heís a nice guy with a good sense of humor, to boot. On April 3, I will vote for Jim Rokosch for District 1 county commissioner, and I hope you will too.

Chris Clancy
Hamilton

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