Getting crushed

Are you ready for uncontrolled gravel pit operations including smelly asphalt plants, round the clock crushers and cement batch plant operations in Big Fork; How about downtown Lakeside or Big Mountain area? Recently an opinion was handed down by Forest Sanderson of the Flathead County Planning Board stating that commercial gravel pits can operate with No planning or zoning restrictions such as hours of operation, dust, noise, or odor control unless it is located in an area designated as" Residential" (few places in the county are designated as Residential). In addition Gravel mining operations suddenly and mysteriously do Not have to comply with original reclamation plans if they are sold to a different Corporation. This reverses at least 11 years of county policy and is contrary to planning policy in other high growth counties in Montana. Mr. Sanderson's opinion comes at a convenient time when State and County Bureaucrats (including the County Commissioners) have to choose between the job of protecting the health and well being of the citizens or catering to Big Corporate Interest.

Fifteen years ago many families including my own purchased homes next to commercial gravel pits. We did this based on officially established State and local planning laws requiring these operations to end and the mines to be reclaimed when the gravel on the claims ran out. These plans and laws went out the window when JTL Corporation purchased an existing "played out" gravel operation near our home and proceeded with a massive expansion of operations. The dust, noise, odor and hours of operation have become oppressive. Upon complaint the response from the "officials" has been on the order of "oh well".

Our homes are the last refuge from a chaotic world. We expect our elected officials to protect and provide us the healthy and peaceful environment that we are supposed to be guaranteed, both by Law and Moral conscious. It is time for the County Commissioners to reverse Mr. Sanderson's opinion and stand up for the people they represent. It is also time for State officials to do their job by enforcing mining reclamation laws. For those of you not affected, get ready; it may be your turn next.

Respectfully,

Judy Pettersen

Grateful for generosity

The Bigfork Food Pantry would gratefully like to thank the community for their continued support throughout the past year. Through the overwhelming generosity of the community, our job in serving our neighbors in need is made possible. During the last 2 months of 2004, we received an astounding amount of donations-food, money and gifts for the Christmas baskets.

We would like to individually thank everyone who made these donations-schools, businesses, groups and individuals-who so gladly gave during this time, but it is impossible for there are just too many. The community giving, not only in gifts, but also in volunteer hours, makes this one spot in our community so unique. Thank you all!

If anyone in the community would like more information regarding our services, please contact the food pantry at 837-2297.

Thank you and may God bless you all.

The Bigfork Food Pantry Managers