Last week was full of news that reiterates consequences of bad judgment. First, we have the Flathead County commissioners that finally redeemed themselves (save for Pam Holmquist) from extraordinarily bad judgment. Months ago, the commissioners voted to purchase a piece of Lower Valley property that was wholly unsuitable for a county-wide septage receiving facility. This was the epitome of local government putting the “cart before the horse” – prior to investigating the suitability of the site, the commissioners issued an over-priced offer to expend “Biden bucks” that were burning a hole in the county coffers. Thanks to a group of committed Lower Valley and Flathead County residents and business owners, the commissioners’ error in judgment and their mislaid plans were revealed. Were it not for motivated and learned community members, Lower Valley would have been forever changed. The amount of taxpayer dollars wasted on “investigating” this ill-conceived project is regrettable, but at least the freight train of bad judgment stopped before permanent damage could be done.
Next, we have a couple of California folks who failed to obtain a 310 permit to build their home in Glacier National Park on the banks of McDonald Creek. These folks weren’t being covert in their activities, they were simply ignorant to all of the various permitting processes performed by multiple disjointed government agencies. Of course, the affront of a multi-story building that appears to be hanging out over the beloved creek was compelling to the complaining parties. Few in this neck of the woods know how many permitting agencies we have to consider. Now, after a pretty monumental investment, the owners have been ordered to demolish the structure. I suppose they can appeal the decision, but the optics of this case aren’t good. Not many judges will feel comfortable cutting a break to out-of-state owners who have impacted the ambiance of McDonald Creek as a public waterway surrounded by treasured public lands.
Finally, we have one more homicide conviction. The convicted apparently planned the homicide but didn’t consider any consequences would arise from his actions. Flathead County is suffering from a terrible upward trend in homicides. We used to see one or maybe two homicides a year; at last count we had 10 pending homicide cases. At the rate at which the incidents of crime are occurring in our Flathead Valley, we can’t rely upon how we have addressed crime in the past. We must acknowledge the need for more law enforcement support and personnel lest we suffer the consequences of our own bad judgment.
Tammi Fisher is an attorney, former mayor of Kalispell and host of the Montana Values Podcast.