Board Decision to Protest is Disappointing

SEELEY LAKE - The Sewer Board’s decision to protest the bond vote that did not go its way is disappointing.

The facts are:

• The board has no one to blame but itself for the outcome.

• The board and the county representatives supporting it attempted to shove a costly proposal down voters’ throats.

• The proposal would not have significantly protected or improved water quality.

• The project fell most heavily on the low and fixed income residents.

• The elections board went overboard to try to pull together a fair election based on its time and manpower constraints.

• The sewer board had every opportunity to respond to questions and criticisms about the project in the Pathfinder and elected not to respond.

• The sewer board never seriously studied alternative septic treatment options. 

Lets disband the board, return the unspent monies to the taxpayers and start over.

Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier is already working on a proposal to help state lessees clean up their waterfront septics and he has stated he is committed to establishing a countywide water quality district to evaluate and honestly prioritize pollution problems in Missoula County.

Finally, remember this board has spent nearly a half million dollars of our hard earned tax money on an essentially bad project and essentially wasted it. Should we trust them to do more?