by Joe Petrusaitis, Hamilton
For the past 20 years, previous administrations, plus laws passed by previous councils, have supported annexation for water and sewer services. Grants are usually given for repairs of old existing systems. Expansion of services have to be paid for by the residents. We have been advised repeatedly that control of planning is best done and approved at the time of annexation! In the last study the city was told that our water system would carry us for the next 20 or so years. Why has a different company given a different assessment? Please be very careful about giving breaks to folks outside the city limits and putting new expenses for new equipment on the tax bills of longtime residents! Most grants come from the interest on the coal tax fund. Most cities apply for these grants every two years. The competition and awards are based on greatest need. Thank you for your PUBLIC service.
Hobo Hilton says
A few points:
What is a Planning Board?
A planning board is a group of citizens who advise on planning, land use, and community development for towns, cities, and counties. The governing bodies of the local jurisdiction appoint them. The governing body of a county is the board of county commissioners and the governing body of a city or town is the city council or city commission. The planning board is an advisory board; the governing body makes decisions on land use matters.
Montana Code Annotated 2023
Planning Boards Authorized
76-1-101. Planning boards authorized. The governing body of any city or town, the governing bodies of more than one city or town, or the governing body of any county or any combination thereof “MAY” create a planning board in order to promote the orderly development of its governmental units and its environs.
The planning board for Hamilton / Ravalli County is put together by special interest people. The special interest commissioners “choose” members who will continue to build a “special interest” bureaucracy. The voice of “We the People” is silenced by the bureaucracy.
This bureaucracy, and many other’s, will be dismantled by the courts. The SCOTUS has started by overturning the Chevron doctrine.
Time for Ravalli citizens to push for reform.