Where’s the truth?

by Marilyn Wolff, Stevensville

I wrote a brief Letter to the Editor this past week but felt I needed to follow up after seeing a smear campaign against Steve Gibson who is running for Mayor. In the 10-13-2021 Ravalli Republic interviews with Mayor Dewey and Town Council Member Paul Ludington, both voiced deep concern for Stevensville, but their past actions don’t align. Dewey touts making the town a desirable place to live, increase transparency of issues. He wants to improve service and infrastructure that can be counted on, saying “our role is to listen and implement the vision of our citizens for the community.” Ludington wants to keep it a viable place and again mentions infrastructure and that citizens demand to be heard.

This is called easy election year lip service to stay in office. Many citizens were unable to participate in zoomed Planning & Zoning meetings regarding a proposed unusually large development. Even our county commissioner Greg Chilcott was concerned about lack of public participation in all the meetings that went past midnight. More creative ways could have allowed more participation such as different venues including the outdoors in spite of covid. Dewey and Ludington quickly pushed along preliminary approval of Burnt Fork Estates (BFE), a massive buildout of the town that will surpass the town’s infrastructure capabilities such as water and have deleterious impact to local roads. Both officials are on video 1-7-2021 purposing SIDs to all 60 homeowners in Creekside Meadows to help pay for improvements to Logan Lane. They want all users to pay for what should be a developer’s responsibility on such a huge project.

Those of you who live in Twin Creeks and the newly proposed small development along the East Side Highway bordering Creekside Meadows, should carefully decide your vote regarding these two candidates as to whether they can be trusted to protect town residents. Your vote is important. Don’t accept punitive costs to help a big developer who hopes to reap large profits in our beautiful, small, historic town.