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Written by Pat Tucker
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Nov 14, 2007 at 08:47 PM |
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Okay, okay, I’m an obstructionist. To me, it’s another word for conservative. I’m conservative about conservation and the use of natural resources. I’m conservative about interfering with natural processes before we really understand how nature’s managed to live without our fiddling for billions of years. So, I agree to wear the label obstructionist without rancor. Of course, when that label was spit out by an audience member at the Big Sky Coalition’s November 4th meeting, it was meant to wound and polarize. For sure it wasn’t used in an effort to promote consensus. I was surprised then, to find that the Robak’s who initiated the meeting and the facilitator, Sonny LaSalle, were sincere and serious about keeping the lid on an audience that came loaded for bear (both sides – there were more than a few conservative conservationists in the audience). For that, I say “Thank you!” We need more community meetings with that objective. While they’re not nearly as much fun as gatherings where people get to yell and scream and call each other names, there is an upside. It may actually lead to discussion on how to deal with wildfire in the valley. So here’s a common sense suggestion from an obstructionist.
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Last Updated ( Nov 26, 2007 at 10:50 AM )
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Contributed by Bruce Weide
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Oct 21, 2007 at 12:16 AM |
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Part I 2:15 a.m., June 6th: The Bitterroot Valley won! All three progressive-minded county commissioner candidates won the overwhelming support of Ravalli county voters—this on the tails of a quarter century of Good Ole Boy rule. We celebrated at the Exchange Club in Hamilton, the same place where, following past elections, we’ve swallowed so many bitter defeats. As I drove home, the clock close to midnight, the sky moonless, and the smell of wet earth floating in the darkness, the radio played a Fleetwood Mac song and it accompanied feelings of contentment, joy, and patriotism that welled up within me. I also felt proud to have played a role in a grassroots effort that brought about a remarkable victory. The song turned my thoughts to a time of innocence when I believed in the version of American Government and Civics they taught us in high school—when I held faith in “we the people” and democracy, when I thought voting went hand-in-hand with hope.
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Contributed by Kathleen Driscoll
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Oct 19, 2007 at 01:56 PM |
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Following is a report Commissioner Driscoll presented to the Commission Oct 17: I’m extremely troubled by the road department’s analysis of costs associated with obtaining chip seal aggregate from the Lost Horse Quarry. I am not an expert. However, I have spent considerable time reviewing the cost analysis contained in the Road Department’s August 15th Memo (please contact the Commissioner's Office if you would like a copy) and discussing it with a variety of state and private road experts. I encourage all of you to verify the following numbers and calculations for yourselves. Please bear with me as I go through a few of my concerns with this proposal with you. I’m not a mathematician and I’m not an engineer but I am finding that this is not rocket science. If I can do it, we all can. If you’re rusty on basic algebra, ask a high school student to go over the calculations used in this paper (equations can be found at the end). 1) To begin with, it appears that the Department assumes 100% efficiency throughout the operation. We all know that equipment breaks down, that humans get sick, etc. The figures should assume a 90% efficiency at the very most. This bumps our cost/hour at the Quarry from the Department’s estimate of $455 to $505/hr.
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