Operating these vehicles on the open road presents an unnecessary hazard not only to the rider, but to others. Until the Montana Highway Department builds roads that accommodate scooter and bicycle riders, I believe there should be a prohibition of operating these vehicles outside city limits. If you want to get from Hamilton to Stevensville, use your car.

David Werner

Missoula

Growth policy petition

The emotional response from Richard Marcus against the petition to repeal the growth policy is typical.

We’re self-serving, we don’t support the community, we’re in favor of porn businesses, we want to harm our neighbors’ property values, etc. Nothing could be further from the truth. The real reason Dan Cox and I want to repeal the growth policy is to stop the abuse that will affect every working class citizen in the valley.

The truth is that no matter what draft is approved, it can be changed on a whim by any newly elected commissioner to say anything they want. In the thousands of times that zoning has been approved in the U.S., it has always been changed from its original form. Right now, anti-gun supporters in Washington, D.C. are trying to use zoning to stop residents from having firearms. This is to counter the recent court decisions to allow Washington, D.C. residents to have the right to have guns in their homes.

Who’s going to pay for this new government policy? The building, the staff, zoning enforcement officer, paperwork, permits, etc. The working class folks in the valley are barely making ends meet with the high cost of food and fuel and our opponents want them to finance a new government agency. Right now these residents can improve their property without asking the government for permission or paying for permits. Take a hard look at the permit fees in Missoula. Is that what we want in Ravalli County? Do you really trust politicians enough to give up your property rights and expect them to do what’s best for you and not use zoning fees as their new cash cow? Hey, if you can’t afford to the pay the fees and taxes to finance zoning, don’t worry … there are plenty of wealthy people from out of state who can.

As for Richard Marcus’ disappointment of the Republic Central Committee endorsing the repeal of the growth policy, that’s what Republicans do … stop big government from interfering with your life. Working class people are losing 37 cents of every dollar they earn from taxes. Our Montana governor is running a $400 million surplus while we’re barely making a living.

Now they want us to finance a new government agency to implement zoning. Understand this …working class folks don’t have any more money to finance more government. So please do the research yourself when thinking about the zoning issue. Look at the abuses nationwide and look at the fees charged in Missoula for permits. Take the emotion out of the politics and look at the facts. When it appears on the ballot, vote to stop the growth policy and protect your property rights.

Richard Stamey

Republican Committeeman

Victor Precinct 14

Zoning and setbacks

I take issue with the letter from Mary Morris on Aug. 7 in the Ravalli Republic.

What makes her so smart to know that we need zoning and streamside setbacks in Sula?

Most people in the Darby, Conner and Sula area are not for zoning and we don’t like getting this shoved down our throats.

We live in a free country and it is the right thing to do to put the zoning issue on the November ballot and let the people themselves decide. Within two weeks enough signatures against zoning were gathered and it shows that a great number of people in the valley do not support zoning.

As far as Mary’s reference to “bullies and fear mongers” in concerned, if the majority votes against zoning this isn’t bullying but democracy at work.

Wolfgang Kuhn

Sula

Silver bridge

Remember the silver bridge is a travel landmark: pilots flying in and out of Ravalli County Airport report “over the silver bridge.” Every one knows where it is.

To lose this cultural treasure of ours would be a genuine loss to our community and the state as a whole, as we are losing our contact with Montana’s great and colorful history.

Also, as a destination, people from far away would come to take photos and enjoy “a little slice of old Montana.”

Its loss will be a shame and an expensive loss.

Jay Foard

Hamilton

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