Letters to the editor Sept. 20

Bad bond

Are they out of their minds? I’m talking about the Columbia Falls School District bond. They are asking $75.9 million. What kind of marketing ploy is that? It’s almost like going to Walmart and buying something at $9.99. What they really want is $76 million but cut it by $100,000 to make it look like we’re getting a bargain.

What has the school done to cut back on expenses to help with their over bloated budget? Absolutely nothing. What have they done to help with the dismal education they are putting out? Absolutely nothing. Have they asked how this is going to affect the senior citizens and the lower income families of our community? No, they have not.

What about the deceptive language of a taxable value of a home of $300,000 being $150.33 for the first year. How much is it then for the second year, third year and on?

Our school board is incompetent and dishonest and everyone should vote a big “no” on this bond.

— Judy Territo, Columbia Falls

Full pool

Fall is upon us and Flathead Valley residents and tourists alike were pleased that Flathead Lake was maintained at full pool this summer despite the area having a dry year. This proves it can be done with close coordination of flows from the federally managed Hungry Horse Reservoir and the Energy Keepers Inc. (operators of SKQ Dam in Polson) and by Energy Keepers matching outflows from Flathead Lake with inflows into the lake, as was done for many decades under similar conditions.

This is the simple solution that the National Organization to Save Flathead Lake has advocated for since 2023. We commend the federal agencies who managed Hungry Horse Reservoir and Energy Keepers for operating the Flathead River drainage and Flathead Lake level at full pool in a coordinated manner, as was done for decades, and for not repeating operations like 2023 or 2025 that resulted in Flathead Lake substantially below full pool

Our job now is to see that the Department of Interior and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission adopt this solution in the operating license and the mandated Drought Management Plan as presented to the agencies by National Organization to Save Flathead Lake.

— Carole James, president of National Organization to Save Flathead Lake

Property rights

Flathead County commissioners have repeatedly told the public that private-property rights matter.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist said, “I want to continue to protect individual property rights, public access and your tax dollars.”

Commissioner Brad Abell said, “I am a firm supporter of private property rights.”

Commissioner Randy Brodehl stated, “Individual private property rights are of paramount importance to Flathead County residents, and protecting individual property rights and planning for growth is not an either/or proposition. We can do both.” 

Those statements raise an important question about the county’s approval of Steamboat Landing in Somers.

Steamboat Landing is a 252-unit development — 180 single-family homes and 72 condominium units. Its proposed access involves an easement crossing property owned by the Joe A. DeLong Revocable Trust.

The trust repeatedly objected to the proposed use. According to its complaint, the easement had historically been used only for farm equipment, while the proposed development would generate a county-estimated 1,375 vehicle trips per day over the disputed easement. The trust alleged paving and sidewalks could affect its adjoining property and duplex.

Then, on Feb. 3, 2025 — just eight days before commissioners approved Steamboat Landing on Feb. 11 — the trust filed a lawsuit against the developers seeking a judicial determination of its easement rights.

The question is: When the county approved a 252-unit development involving an easement already in active litigation, how did it consider and protect the property rights of the landowner?

If private property rights are “of paramount importance,” as Brodehl said, where is that consideration reflected in the approval?

The case is scheduled for trial Monday, Sept. 21, before Judge Paul Sullivan in Flathead County District Court.

If you are concerned about your own private-property rights, you should be paying attention to what happens in Sullivan’s courtroom on Monday.

— Brooke Nash, Somers