Surface water not the best option

We have a resort tax that was voted on by the people of Whitefish and enacted in 1995. According to the code there are four identified uses for the tax money.

1. Property tax reduction for taxpayers (25 percent).

2. Repair and improvement of existing streets, storm sewers, all underground utilities, sidewalks, curbs and gutters (65 percent).

3. Bicycle paths and other park capital improvements (5 percent).

4. A 5 percent administration fee for the city.

Here it is 2015 coming up on nearly 20 years. The city is still struggling with fixing the streets etc. Have you driven across the Whitefish River on the Baker Street bridge? Have you driven on Third Street east of Spokane?

There are many of our “repaired” streets where the manhole covers are four inches or more below the street surface — what is up with that?

I could go on and on but drive around town and judge for yourself.

As you can see, our resort tax has nothing to do with purchasing land, no matter how noble the cause. Plus, there is much more work to do with repair and maintenance of existing streets.

Many municipalities in the U.S. have been forced to stop using surface water for their water supply because of pollution, coli form, mercury PCBs and otherwise. We are warned about drinking water from streams and lakes because of Guardia. Our pristine waters in Montana are not as safe as they once were.

We should be getting water from the aquifers, using several wells. We should be using municipal bonds to make all this happen. Bonds unlike taxes do not last forever.

— Doug Gilbertson, Whitefish