by Jim Crews, Stevensville
To the Mayor, Town’s Attorney and the Council:
I have been reviewing several town documents and one document that needs to be addressed is the Town Ward Map.
There has been no assignment of Ward Representation for Council regarding the Stevensville Airport.
As an incorporated section of the Town of Stevensville, there needs to be representation for the Airport via Council Member. As businesses in the main portion of the town have representation by council via Ward 1, Ward 2 Council Members (although businesses are not citizens, the interest of the town and businesses are represented and addressed by Town Council Members), it only seems appropriate that the members of businesses at the Stevensville Airport should have Council Representation so that their voices will be heard regarding taxation and town legislation and policy. As there are no residents at the airport, former Mayor Mim Mack acted as the town property owner for incorporation and not one member of the business entities occupying the airport had a voice as to incorporation. As there is still no representation by council at the airport other than one council member being on the Airport Board, the problem of representation continues.
§ 7-3-218 MCA states via Town of Stevensville governmental structural sub-option:
7-3-218. Selection of commission members. The commission shall be:
(2) elected by districts in which candidates must reside and which are apportioned by population;
Granted there are no citizen residents at the Town of Stevensville Airport, but it is incorporated into the Town of Stevensville Town Limits and thus must be included in the Ward Map so that the businesses at the airport have council representation.
The reason why I say this should be assigned to a Ward and Council Representation established is that there are areas of the town which are zoned non-residential and they receive council representation without citizen residence.
Can you please address and correct this issue?
With all due respect, I am not an attorney, this is not legal advice, it is simply an observation of a citizen of the Town of Stevensville.