Are you prepared to pay?

Citizens of Whitefish, prepare to empty your pockets, get out your checkbooks and turn over your wallets. The first of many more robberies has only begun, and you're being held hostage. Sound dramatic? Consider the facts.

Were you aware your wallet is already $50 lighter? The $300,000 in recent court damages (not including nearly $100,000 in attorney fees) against the city of Whitefish for violating the rights of a property owner the lawful use of their property equates to $50 per person for our population of 6,000.

That unanimous 12-0 jury decision sent an overwhelming message to the city of Whitefish to stop infringing on private property rights.

What was the city's response? A resolution reaffirming their position in direct defiance of the court at the recommendation of city attorney John Phelps. That resolution was suddenly and strategically tabled at the July 16 city council at 12:30 in the morning after 20 citizens persevered to voice their objections to the resolution.

Can the city attorney truly be telling the Whitefish City Council to snub our constitutionally ordained judicial process? Obviously so — and especially grieving are the untruths set forth in the defiance resolution when compared to the original "06-08 Ordinance" that it erroneously references.

The city council deserves, and should demand, competent advice from salaried city staff to lead our town in the correct direction in these crucial times of change. Otherwise, the lawsuits have just begun, and we taxpayers will burden the cost of bad counsel from city staff.

For a city attorney to recommend our city council set itself above the law by ignoring a court decision opens a wide door for future litigation.

So, taxpayers, it's time to make your voices heard at city council meetings and demand the excellent staff our city requires. Otherwise, we should all open up our wallets and be prepared to pay.

Connie Davis, of White-fish, is a member of the Commission for Fair Land Use and Government.