SEELEY LAKE - I want to alert the 182 people who signed the grassroots petition opposing the mandatory hookup to the sewer system that your voice has been disregarded. Moreover, my constitutional right to formalize opposition through a petition for a referendum has been rejected on a number of false arguments.
I feel that there is a great deal of resistance to the construction of a centralized sewer system – the most recent vote for the Seeley Lake Sewer Board members is clear proof of the opposition. For example, challenger Troy Spence received 176 votes while incumbent Michael Lindemer received 95.
I knew that there was another way to gauge support or resistance to the sewer: the Sewer District needed to gather 140+ property owners who would voluntarily sign on to hookup with the sewer system in order to proceed. I thought this was fine – if they got this number to sign up, then clearly, they were right and I was wrong.
Therefore, when I learned that the Board was going to require MANDATORY hookups, I was one of 182 residents in the Sewer District who signed a grassroots petition opposing this. I was at the August Board meeting when Colleen Krause attempted to present these signatures to the Board. She was allowed to speak but the signatures were disregarded (not even accepted!) and the resolution was passed.
Because our grassroots voice was disregarded, I decided to exercise my right as a resident, registered voter and taxpayer in the Sewer District to file for a petition for a referendum so that we could have the opportunity to vote on this issue. While the Missoula County Elections Office approved my petition, it was rejected by the Sewer Board and their lawyer on a number of fallacious points.
I have asked the Elections Office to reconsider my petition request, and am writing to a number of people and institutions -- including my local and state representatives, the media, the Seeley Lake Chamber of Commerce and the ACLU of Montana --requesting their assistance.
I want to let people know about this – especially those people who signed the grassroots petition and thought their voices were being heard. I would be interested in hearing from anyone in the sewer district, whether you support the measure or oppose it! You can contact me at againstmandatoryhookup@gmail.com. Please be sure to let me know which phase of the project you are in.
Reader Comments(0)