By E.M. Huffman MS, DVM, MPVM and Mike Wiles, Wiles Construction and Excavation, Hamilton
From: The “uneducated, ill-informed, concentrated ignorance crowd” of county residents living along Nighthawk Lane
We read the quotes in the March 25, 2015 Bitterroot Star characterizing opponents to proposed zoning the “donut area” surrounding the city of Hamilton as patently irresponsible. The labeling of Ravalli County residents as “lacking education, pathetically ill-informed and a mob of concentrated ignorance” was childish and demeaning. We are the ones who should be depressed by the expression of such “concentrated ignorance” by the Mayor and City Council rather than the reverse. Why would the Mayor and Council want county residents labeled as “lacking education, being pathetically ill-informed and a mob of concentrated ignorance” to become residents in the city of Hamilton?
We want to comment on Mayor Steel, Council President West and the City Council’s infantile language describing Ravalli County’s citizens.
In 2008, Ravalli County residents (through the ballot initiative process) placed the County Growth Plan on the ballot. Ravalli County voters repealed the County Growth Policy and now require a vote of the eligible county citizens to approve all proposed zoning within the county. Imagine the “depression” the Council is suffering as they realize that there will be significant opposition to implementation of “donut zone” planning/zoning.
Mayor Steel and Council President West must have significant memory lapse. Mayor Steel signed Resolution No. 1128 “NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that it is the policy of the Hamilton City Council to zone only property within the City limits and not to extend zoning beyond the present City limits except in those cases where property owners voluntarily request to annex property to the City or where property is entirely surrounded by the City.” Fortunately, we residents along Nighthawk Lane do not have memory problems. It does make you ponder how could a mob of uneducated, ill-informed, ignorant Ravalli County residents be united in thought to oppose ill informed bureaucrats using playground slurs to degrade and defame us.
The neighborhood long Nighthawk Lane (adjoining the proposed Westside Road “donut boundary”) is a community of scientists, surgeons, doctors, veterinarian, commercial pilot, civil and aeronautical engineers, airport managers, fortune 500 CEO, attorneys, police and the county administrative assistant. Besides beauty, we selected residence in this area that provided freedom and chose to live in a rural environment. We no longer wanted to suffer impositions thrust upon us by city bureaucrats. In contrast to President West’s depression, we are enjoying life in our neighborhood. We take pleasure that the County Commissioners have yet to label us in the shameful manner expressed by the Hamilton Mayor and City Council. We are energetic, enthusiastic and capable of addressing your questionable zoning non-sense.
A point to ponder – If the Mayor and City Council represent the attitude of Hamilton businesses toward Ravalli County citizens, why would we want to patronize Hamilton businesses?
We want to examine the meaning of “donut zone.” In the thesaurus the meaning of dough can customarily represent something legally used as a medium of exchange, value or payment. We would thus propose that you are looking to the “donut zone” as a future source of city revenue. This conclusion is self-evident in light of the recent council’s action increasing city’s share of property tax by 34%.
Ahh! Follow the money.