Conservation bond presents rare opportunity

Bill Baum

An amazing thing happened in Flathead County on Thursday, July 31, 2008. Republicans and Democrats and independents came together for a public hearing and the vast majority were united in giving testimony to the county commissioners (on a matter within their jurisdiction) that favored saving our water quality and open land spaces countywide. Independent polling data was quoted as overwhelmingly supporting these conservation efforts.

The public hearing attendance/turnout was disappointingly small, but it was varied and represented a diverse cross-section of our community: wildlife biologists, teachers, environmentalists, attorneys, CPAs, hunters, fishermen, land trust officials, property rights advocates, foresters, forest rangers, and anti-government right wingers. Only one of the two candidates for the upcoming November election for the office of county commissioner attended and gave testimony. It was Steve Qunell and he spoke in support of the ballot initiative, placing him squarely in the majority opinion.

Commissioner Dale Lauman volunteered that he had received numerous phone calls from his constituents that favored considering a bond issue to save our environment through this conservation easement process, and he represented their interests with his "yes" vote. Commissioner Joe Brenneman spoke at length, and eloquently, in favor as well. Outgoing Commissioner Gary Hall "very reluctantly" (his words) went along with the majority.

It sounds like we in this county may have reached a "tipping point" in wanting to control our growth and preserve this "Last Best Place" for our posterity. Farmers should be able to raise money for family needs without having to place their land into housing and commercial development, and could then continue farming their land. This would leave a vista of open spaces for the Flathead Valley community to enjoy and a natural habitat for wildlife survival.

Now all is not well quite yet. Testimony was given by a lobby group, Montanans For Multiple Use (MFMU), which opposes offering such a ballot initiative in the November election that would allow all citizens to vote on this proposal to conserve our lands and water quality with a $10 million bond issue. This small, vocal group does not want us to have an opportunity to democratically vote our will.

We citizens must remain vigilant. Two years ago Flathead County Commissioner Gary Hall, in concert with MFMU, crafted a deceptively worded ballot initiative on the subject of not allowing additional roads into national forest lands that had previously been designated as "roadless areas". (Why a county commissioner would have the audacity to encroach upon the jurisdiction of the federal government is another story for another time in another article.) Alarmingly, people voted two-to-one to support something they would not have supported if the wording of the ballot initiative had not fooled them. Expect that this skullduggery might be employed once again. Call the county commissioners and request that an explanation appear on the ballot that explains the wording, in detail, and read the ballot initiative very carefully to determine its meaning before casting your vote.

We have a great opportunity to join forces in a non-partisan way, which could be a harbinger of things to come. It is long overdue for the people of Flathead County to take an interest in the political issues that affect our lives, rather than blindly voting for our political party of choice's viewpoints, and submitting to the influence of the financial interests in the personal agendas of political action committees, without asking any questions. Do not be complacent, or we are going to lose everything we cherish.

Bill Baum is a resident of Martin City.