hadowy group

The expensive, professionally-created alert that arrived in my mailbox from Sensible Land Use recently immediately raised a red flag. I searched the alert carefully for a name or phone contact but found only a post office box and reference to a Web site.

That had me wondering who was responsible for the mailing and who paid for it. I can certainly venture a guess.

This type of information by a shadowy group operating anonymously without any accountability is worrisome.

It is unfortunate that we all can't work together to protect one of our most valuable resources — water. Development is at an all-time high. We need to be even more diligent to make sure that land-use decisions protect our water we all enjoy, depend upon and drink.

The cumulative effects of accelerated development have resulted in a deterioration of water quality, according to studies done by the University of Montana's Biological Station at Yellow Bay.

I advise you to get the facts about the critical areas ordinance. Yes, the document is technical and difficult to understand; however, it is dealing with important technical issues. There are provisions for reasonable use exemptions that will hopefully allow land owners to develop their property and be good stewards.

Whitefish has seen this type of negative campaigning funded by illegal groups in the past. If, according to Sensible Land Use, "a balanced law to protect streams and lakes in Whitefish" means we get the algae blooms and they get the profit, I vote to protect the resource.

I hope residents of Whitefish see through this shadowy effort to undermine a public process. Get the facts for yourself and then decide.

Jan Metzmaker

Whitefish