Calm needs to prevail in Clark Fork planning

Want a ringside seat to what amounts to a town brawl? Go to the Clark Fork town council meeting. It's an eye opener.

I spent 21 years in the Marines. I saw governance of groups of people in a different light than the citizens in my town. It was never about economics or that higher-status feel you get when you have a new fence. It was always about hygiene, overall appearance, respect of others and of self. The law was laid down for everyone and what was good for the goose was good for the gander … always.

Then we didn't vote for our sergeant either. He got picked by someone who knew what to look for in leadership. When I vote, I am saying that I know what to look for in leadership. One guy was threatening to get the whole town to "unvote" the leadership right off the floor. I looked around and I didn't see a mayor-looking face at my table. I asked several others if they would be willing to be the mayor and the response from all was "no way." Not just no, "no way."

There was a lady nearby who was sure there was a conspiracy in the works against the taxpayers of our town. She all but accused the council of loading the dice by selecting a professional advisor for Planning and Zoning.

There were a couple of guys in the back of the room who gave an "Amen" to the idea of firing everyone and a loud … but not to loud comment about "common sense."

One guy was about to get thrown out for swearing so he exercised some of that "common sense" and headed for the door before the shootin' started. It had a real Wild West feel to it. The kind of meeting where if you work it just right, somebody could end up on "Dr. Phil."

In all fairness, the excitement didn't start overnight. A series of events which led to confusion and speculation had a snowball effect. Top that off with a couple of hard-hitting townsfolk who have something to lose if the ordinance stands, (myself included) and you have the makings of a real political battlefront.

But, the "us" versus "them" mentality needs to go away and the folks who said they had experience with this sort of mess need to step up to the plate and not step on the heads of the people who are trying to make a plan.

Rude and unruly meetings just sour my enthusiasm for a town like Clark Fork. We are actually better than what happened at the last town council meeting. As a group we can fix the problem in a logical way. We can create a plan that maximizes the use of our God- given, Veteran-insured freedom and our need to lay a foundation for those who are coming after us and even with us as we grow. We are growing. We had better make a plan or a plan will make us. Any takers?

JAY WHITE

Clark Fork