City Councilman is disappointed at Park Committee's treatment of veterans

Letter to the Editor,

As a councilman of Libby, I would like to say that I am totally embarrassed for the Parks Committee women for the way that they are treating our veterans.

They should be honored that the veterans came to them with their plan for a Veterans Memorial in Riverfront Park. They are giving Libby yet another bad rap, and we don’t need it. Every community should be honored and thrilled to have something like that in our public park.

I am also embarrassed that I read in the Nov. 7 paper, (Veterans, Park committee differ on site.) This quote from Councilperson Vicky Lawrence “It’s not something I feel favorable about. I just don’t think it’s compatible for the vision I see for that park.”

This is our public park, not councilperson Lawrence’s park. The community should have a say in the park, not just one person dictating what will go on down there. They have their head down and don’t care what anyone thinks. It is my understanding that the Park Committee spent $540 to revise the veterans memorial and then threw it immediately away with no council input or approval.

To want a green space that will fit 10,000-plus people in it is ridiculous. Only royalty has that kind of wedding, and I doubt they are coming to Libby to get married.

The Blues Festival did just fine this year with most of the park closed off. Besides, they don’t want people on the grass or their $25,000 irrigation system, that grows monthly.

No one knows what their plans are for this park, and it is no one’s business.

I have heard no dogs, no kids, no playground equipment for the kids, no soccer, no baseball, no football, no Frisbee, no flying airplanes.

What is a public park for? Now they want to kill off our deer because they rub one tree down. Leave our deer alone.

We live in the country, not Seattle or Los Angeles.

Oh, they do want to put some select businesses down there. At who’s expense? With 12 or 13 empty buildings on Mineral Avenue, is that really best for Libby?

— Councilman Allen Olsen

Libby