Candidates discuss golf course, vision of Libby's future
Eight of the 10 candidates for Libby City Council responded to questions about their backgrounds, personalities and ideas for Libby’s future. This is the fourth in a series of articles with the candidates’ answers to those questions. Candidates D.C. Orr and Doug Roll did not respond to the questions.
What is your position with regard to the $1.5 million dispute between the city and the Cabinet View Golf Club?
Joe Miller:
I don’t have enough information about the issue to formulate an opinion at this time.
Gary Beach:
Only reading what is published and rumors on the street does not provide an accurate occurrence of the facts and dealings of the past. More research on my part would be required to form a valid opinion. No matter what the case may be the city and the golf course need to come to term to further or abandon the project so the repayment of borrowed funds can commence.
Arlen Magill:
More should be done to find an amicable settlement. Arbitration with a neutral arbiter should be the next step.
Joseph Johnston:
I believe the dispute between the City of Libby and the golf course is simple contract law. The public deserves to know if a valid contract exists, and if so, the contract must be adhered to. The contract should contain language that addresses penalties for non-performance. If a remedy can not be reached, perhaps arbitration needs to be considered.
Brian Zimmerman:
I believe the two need to work together and come to an agreement. The city needs the expansion paid back, but the golf course needs to be able to sell the land and/or find a backer to get the development promoted and going.
Peggy Williams:
Cabinet View Golf Course was given a $1.5 million loan for the development of an additional nine holes of golf. Repayment of the loan was to come from proceeds from development of golf course property.
At the Sept. 10, 2007, meeting the property subdivision was discussed by the City Council and a condition was added, by the council, to the subdivision. That condition was that the golf club pay a portion of the cost to the city, according to the council minutes of between $500,000 and $750,000, of bringing sewer to the subdivision. That condition was not acted upon by the county planner in place at the time, the condition was not known by the golf course until they returned to the council for an extension on the approval of the subdivision. With no subdivision currently on the table, there is no condition.
Cabinet View Golf Club wants an assurance that the condition will not be added when a subdivision is brought to the council. My feeling is that there is no $1.5 million dispute. There is a dispute on whether or not the golf course should or should not pay part of the cost of a sewer project that will serve their subdivision. It will be up to the sewer rate payers to express their feelings should the dispute be continued or dropped.
Allen Olsen:
In three and a half years we, as a council, have had one meeting with the Cabinet View Golf Club, and that only because they invited us to their meeting. Everything else has been done by our attorneys, past and present. We have looked at their books; they have no money without the sale of the lots. We, as a council, need to move forward. This has been on hold too long, and our mayor and attorney keep everyone in the dark. We do need to have some sort of repayment that everyone can agree on.
Dejon Raines:
Through my work experience, I have an understanding that agreements need to be very detailed, on paper, and signed by both parties. If they’re not prepared in that fashion, it’s inevitable that the agreement will get muddled. Unfortunately, the disputed agreement was not prepared that way and hence, it’s resulted in the situation we’re in today.
I would like the council to have a public meeting with the golf club to discuss terms that would work for the club and the city. Once agreeable terms are determined and given the opportunity for public comment, they would be signed off by both parties.
What is your vision for the future of Libby during the next five years? The next 10 years?
Joe Miller:
Libby has always been and will continue to be my home. I would like to see more businesses in our downtown and more of our homes occupied. I am confident that Libby will continue to be a great place to live.
Gary Beach:
Within the next few years the city needs to focus on transparency, public image and laying the groundwork to secure grants and putting Libby back to work. In the next five to 10 years, we need to be self-sufficient and become a place where people can live, work and play as they used to.
Arlen Magill:
I envision people working together to further Libby, much the way Mayor Coldwell and the Troy City Council have done for Troy. I feel that in 10 years of community involvement and a hard-working leadership Libby residents should be less grant or government hand-out dependent. Libby was built through hard work, now it’s time for that to happen on a city-wide level.
Joseph Johnston:
Within the next five years, we should expect completion of the new Flower Creek Dam and all operational bugs worked out. We should expect to see the bulk of the distribution lines replaced, repaired and working properly. Currently, the amount of water treated far exceeds the water that is being distributed and paid for. Water treatment costs are not being collected at an acceptable rate.
Within the next five years, we should have more of our streets repaired and in decent condition. We will accomplish these goals through proper budgeting and management. Planning for sewer plant expansion needs to be a topic for discussion now, so the city is prepared for the housing growth that will take place on the golf course.
The economy will turn around and property sales will be on the upswing once again. The city needs to have financing available to meet these needs; it’s that kind of growth that increases the city’s tax revenues.
Brian Zimmerman:
I would very much like to see Montanore be given the go-ahead to proceed with the mine and bring much-needed local jobs to this community. I would love to see, hear and smell a sawmill again with a viable footage contract with the Forest Service.
I envision the possibilities of other economic development made to the this town, so local businesses can prosper again and more tourism will come to enjoy all the great outdoor activities we have to offer.
Peggy Williams did not answer this question.
Allen Olsen:
Because of our last two mayors, it has taken Libby 20 years to slide this far downhill. I believe that Libby can recover, if it is run like a business. I have had several city employees say that we will throw money at anything, even if they know it will fail. It just depends on who has the idea. It is time to get Libby back on track.
Dejon Raines:
My vision for Libby in the next five years is a well-rounded, thriving community. The town’s industry will be a combination of tourist, medical, forest management and small entrepreneurial business. I see Libby not putting all its eggs in one basket, but rather multiple smaller baskets. My 10 year vision is similar to my five year vision, except for the hopes of the Montanore Mine being open and fully operating in 10 years.
Please provide a brief summary of your current and previous civic involvement.
Joe Miller:
I served in the Montana Army National Guard for 12 years. I am currently an active member of the Lincoln County Sno-Kats.
Gary Beach:
My civic involvement has been limited, in the past I assisted in the stand down at the VFW and more recently I have been involved in organizing fundraisers for Montana veterans.
Arlen Magill:
I am blessed to volunteer in numerous places and I get to work with some great folks. I enjoyed helping accomplish a painting at Fireman’s Park, I got to help clean the Senior Center, where my wife works. I am able to help at the Kootenai Valley Christian School, where my children are enrolled and I am very fortunate to work at both the Christian School and the Libby Assembly of God Church as a custodian. Simply put, I am not afraid of getting my hands dirty to get the job done. It’s an honor to be able to serve Libby with a thankful heart.
Joseph Johnston:
Currently, I am a member of Libby Elks Lodge 2231. I have been a member for 22 years. Our mission is to help better our community by doing charitable works. Some examples include scholarship programs and drug awareness campaigns. The Elks Lodge is committed to helping our veterans through the Wounded Warriors project, assist veterans’ homes, our local Veterans Memorial and funerals, medical screenings and many other programs.
Brian Zimmerman:
I was a member of the Libby Volunteer Fire Department from 1999 until 2014. I was Team Leader for 10 years with the local church’s young adult SEARCH program, which was put on for the juniors and seniors in the high school. I was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and now the Libby Christian Church.
Peggy Williams:
In the 38 years of living in Libby, my community involvement of time and money has been wide and varied. When my children were home I was a Girl Scout leader, classroom volunteer, Sunday school teacher and cross country ski coach. As they grew my interests expanded to serving as church treasurer, Habitat for Humanity board member and volunteer for STOKR. I have served on the Kootenai Heritage Council and Nordicfest boards. I am currently Nordicfest queen for the second year and greatly enjoy the opportunity to promote Libby from the Nordicfest float. Financial donations to the community include past and current hospital building campaigns, Fireman’s Memorial, Kootenai Heritage Council and Lincoln County Campus.
Allen Olsen:
I sat on the Chamber of Commerce board and started the annual Open House Day, in which up to 21 gift stores participated in order to promote shopping locally. I helped start a free Christmas carnival for kids, along with a Christmas parade. I have given over 200 soy wax candles for cancer victims throughout the valley. I have also given away more than 150 plants to various groups and do volunteer work to maintain the grounds at the Libby Care Center.
Dejon Raines:
I’ve been involved in the following: Libby Nordicfest parade, St. John’s Festival of Trees, volunteer with STOKR, organizer of Le Tour de Koocanusa, past vice president of the Lincoln County Board of Realtors, creator of explorelibbymt.com, current board member of the Lincoln County Community Health Center, current member of David Thompson Search and Rescue and current Libby City Council member.