Wake up and be sure to comment on county growth plan

To the Editor:

Wake up Lincoln County! The Lincoln County Growth Committee will soon be unveiling its new county-wide plan in March.

Property rights are fundamental to our freedom and security here in Lincoln County. When these rights are eroded by building site permits, impact fees, and, or mitigation fees, it undermines our investment in property. These new "taxes" could eventually prevent some people from being able to build on their own land.

The county planner, Mary Klinkam, tried to assure the committee members that, "building permits are looming way off, at least five years in the future." To people who have lived here all their lives, or perhaps 20 to 30 years, "five years" is nothing.

It seems we are getting shot at from all sides. Eminent domain (the right of a government to take private property for public use) is to be discussed on the state level, county commissioners are ready to eternally lock up more of our county by making it a wilderness, and now the Lincoln County Growth Committee is going to offer a plan with fees, zoning and restrictive land use provisions.

Trego, Fortine, Eureka and West Kootenai, can you hear the hoof beats? Do you hear the shout of warning, Happy's Inn, Bull Lake, Libby and Troy? Many of the Yaak residents have already seen the light and signed a notice to the planning committee.

If you are concerned at all, let your county commissioners know. They meet every Wednesday in Libby, and one Wednesday a month in Eureka. Also, contact the members of the Lincoln County Growth Planning Committee: Eureka - Chris Fox (president), Mike Marvel and Rick James. Troy - Hank Lasala (secretary), Tom Jones and Ted Anderson. Libby - Carl Leggins, Joe Kelly and Paul Tisher.

They care about what you think and will listen to you.

Be sure to attend the public input meetings in your area, and be sure to comment. If your area is not represented, make the committee aware of that too.

I may not be riding a horse, but I am carrying a lantern. Its light shines for freedom. Let Lincoln County, Montana, remain emancipated: the County of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

Chuck Leidigh

Yaak