Page 28 - Flathead Beacon // 12.30.15

LIKE I WAS SAYING 30 AMERICAN RURAL 30 DRAWING BOARD 31 Viewpoints
LETTERS
Grateful for Chaplain Drew Buckner
I was happy to see Chaplain Drew Buckner on the front page of the Dec. 16 issue of the Flathead Beacon. Chaplain Drew Buckner is not only an asset to the agencies he works with, the people he works with but to this community. I met Chaplain Drew Buckner during a tragic moment in my life. He sat with me, lis- tened, prayed with me, and o ered me comfort. The short time that he was with me has left an indelible mark on my life and for that I am eternally grateful. Thank you for bringing attention to an individual who plays a very important role in the Flathead community.
Trinity Schlegel Kalispell
Kerr Dam License Intervention Update
Many misconceptions about the interventions in the sale of Kerr Dam during the last year have been in the media. My interventions were not on the sale of Kerr Dam. I intervened in the license transfer proceedings to require the Confederated Salish and Koote- nai Tribe (CSKT) through the Fed- eral Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to meet the same obligations to the public as required of previous dam owners.
CSKT claims they are a sovereign government, which means that they will be immune from Montana state law, taxes, or the public oversight and regu- lation by the Montana Public Service Commission. The turnover of a facil- ity that serves hundreds of thousands of people to a tribe that is not account- able to the laws of the state of Montana places the citizens at great risk for eco- nomic harm. If all or most of this is true, then statements in the FERC license are the only means to assure that the public duty will be protected.
The major obligations are fair elec- tric rates, low-cost block of electricity for Flathead irrigation project (130,000 acres), historic water deliveries for irrigation, state management of water rights, integrated power-agriculture operations, lake shore management, lake level management, non-discrimi- nation in employment and public avail- ability of water and nancial records. These obligations are somewhat typi- cal of monopolies and are put in place to protect the public. They are found in federal and state laws and regulations, Public Service Commission regulations and policies of past Kerr Dam owners.
CSKT has verbally stated that the dam will be operated in the same
manner as it has been operated in the past, but at the same time they are also saying that they are a sovereign nation and they are not regulated by Montana; however, the CSKT attorneys in Wash- ington, D.C. have contested every sin- gle obligation in the interventions and FERC lawyers have refused to consider putting any of the obligations in the license.
The FERC decision to allow the transfer of the license to CSKT with- out any oversight by the Montana Pub- lic Service Commission, without condi- tioning the circumstances under which the license was transferred, or further public hearings did not serve the public interest as was required of NorthWest- ern and other dam operators through- out the state of Montana.
Due to the lack of accountability of federal agencies and no help from the state of Montana, the only avenue left is for individuals to take action. Two major obligations that were requested to be continued in my interventions are now being contested and may end up in court: low-cost block of electric- ity for the Flathead Irrigation Project and yearly payment to Lake County for the Kerr Dam facilities (in lieu of taxes). Loss of these obligations would have a huge nancial impact (millions) on tax- payers, irrigators, schools, road main- tenance and social services in Lake County.
Verdell Jackson Kalispell
The words we utter can be calm, or wise, or kind, or brilliant, or angry, or hateful and threatening. Once uttered, the words belong to us. We create them, and we are responsible for what they create in the world.
When a person declares that they will kill grade school children and put two bullets in the rabbi’s head, they own these words and should be held account- able for them.
Yes, the First Amendment to the Constitution grants us free speech. But that does not permit us to cry re in a crowded theater. It does not permit us to threaten the lives of our fellow citizens. This is not free speech. It is fear speech that harms our ability to live together in peace, to care about each other, and to be open and accepting of the ideas of other people. It puts fear in the way of caring relationships, creates hatred between groups, and fosters violence as a way to solve problems.
This is why David Lenio should be convicted of a felony so that he can no longer own or use rearms, will be eval- uated by mental health professionals,
and treated if he is diagnosed with men- tal illness. The judge placed a restriction on his release on probation under his father’s supervision in Michigan. The judge denied him use of social media during this time. It is suspected that he has violated that order and that the con- tent of his communications have been hate lled as well.
A ve-day trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 19. Love Lives Here in the Flat- head Valley is hopeful that David Lenio will be convicted of a felony and that he will be held responsible for his threat- ening behavior.
Ina Albert, founder Rabbi Allen Secher, founder Will Randall, founder Love Lives Here in the Flathead Valley
LWCF Became Unnecessary Political Football
This year, access to Montana’s nat- ural resources was threatened in Con- gress by agendas that simply don’t understand our traditions and heri- tage. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) became an unnecessary political football, o cially expiring on Sept. 30, despite pleas from Republicans and Democrats alike for the program to remain intact. This year our congres- sional delegation made this issue a top priority.
Congressman Ryan Zinke followed through on his unwavering support for the LWCF when he made the tough deci- sion to support the omnibus, knowing full well how truly important this con- versation program is to Montana.
Access to public lands is the very cor- nerstone of our tourism economy. Last year alone, visitors to Montana sup- ported well over 38,000 jobs across the state and contributed over $3 billion to our economy. The LWCF helps to enhance the quality and accessibility of the incredible recreational oppor- tunities that keep our outdoor out t- ters and guides, most of them small businesses, viable. We nd great value in this program and the opportunities it presents Montanans and tourists alike to fully enjoy increased access to our public lands, from Glacier National Park to the Bob Marshall. While we still have more work to do toward per- manent reauthorization of the LWCF, MOGA thanks Congressman Zinke for his vote and willingness to stand behind Montana’s prized conservation and rec- reation values.
Mac Minard, executive director Montana Out tters and Guides Association
TOP10 STORIES
ON FLATHEADBEACON.COM O cials Threaten to
Disincorporate Browning
Oscar Force ‘The Revenant’ Shot Near Libby
Chick- l-A Opening First Montana Restaurant in Kalispell
A Spirited Start-up
Morley Transferring to University of Colorado
Perfect Prime Rib
Elk Hunt Brings National Attention to Small Montana Town
Montana Man Arrested in Idaho Suspect in Two Deaths
Search on for Man Missing at Lost Trail Ski Area
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
Words Are Powerful
28
DECEMBER 30, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
LETTERS
Tell us what you think. To submit a letter, please e-mail your submission to editor@ atheadbeacon.com. Please keep your letter to 300 words or less. The Flathead Beacon reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity and to prevent libel. Letters must include the writer’s rst and last name, phone number and address for veri cation purposes. Only the name and hometown of the writer will be printed. To mail a letter, please send to 17 Main Street, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Fax letters to (406) 257-9231.