The people of Stevensville owe a big debt of gratitude to Mayor Jim Crews and members of the city council for finding a solution to the river access issue. Think of the variety of people who benefit from this good deed: the business community, guides and outfitters, fisherman, river recreators and the general public. And the park now is protected for future generations. Our elected officials confronted a problem, sought advice through public hearings, and found a solution that benefitted the citizenry. That is the way that local government is supposed to work.
Mayor Crews dealt with a number of government entities, including Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the county flood plain administrator and the country commission, and the latter group deeded a 1.52 acre parcel on the west side of the river to the town, land that hopefully will be used as part of a permanent access site. While those negotiations were underway, Streets and Alleys Supervisor Ed Sutherlin and his crew, with financial support from the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association, opened a temporary access road to the river with minimal impact to the environment.
All in all, that is a job well done!
Dick Ellis
Stevensville