By Russ Hanni, Stevensville
I haven’t been to a town council meeting since this Covid-19. Updates have been the Star (thank you for the paper) and I have seen many mayors come and go in my past living in and around Stevensville.
It is like all the dairies that don’t exist. We had the creamery here to help the dairy farmer, lobbies step in, dairies started to leave, sell out, families can’t make a living. So then we start losing the hay farmer. Without dairies they can’t sell hay. No hay, no dairies.
To get to my point, you start to get people’s family selling out, for their kids, not that they would not love to stay and keep the family way of life, they just can’t. So that leaves to sell, and who do you sell to?
It’s not Montanans that come in and start making changes! For what they left, they want to bring with them. Neighborhoods outgrow so you make a start for more neighborhoods, more and larger sewers, streets, sidewalks, and more changes.
Then you elect a Mayor that tries to follow the laws made by the people of Stevensville and he gets the shitty end of the stick.
I’m not reading that the mayor is making life miserable for the working staff, no, all the lawsuits come from leaders of the council and one past mayor fill-in. Your mayor is just doing what he was elected for, trying to do his best.
Don’t bully him, help him. If your son or daughter is getting bullied, step in and help, don’t add to it!
What this boils down to, is: Let’s work with the Mayor. Let’s work together.
Sue Devlin says
Russ, I don’t know why crews is attacking/bullying you – you make very good points. Bullying has been a way of life by some people in town for far far too long, crews being one. We’re working very hard to turn things around in this town – to return it to a happy place that people are proud to call home. BTW, crews is selling his house….hope it sells quickly and he leaves soon. One less bully in town.
Thanks for your letter
Jim Crews says
Time for the Mayor to learn his role as mayor and understand he is not a strong mayor. He is a weak mayor and council has all the power.
Time for folks to educate themselves on their form of government and what the duties and powers of each branch has.
Time you you Mr. Hanni to stop bad mouthing people you do not know very well. You did this to me before. You do not know me. You have only had occasional instances to interface with me.
Sharon Gee says
Question about Jim’s response:
If the Council holds the power, why have the same two councilmembers missed important town meetings two weeks in a row – (I’m sure they realize how important it is to approve the budget and the cost to the town when they miss meetings).