Week of March 23, 2007    By Rory Horning    Editor    POLSON - PRESENT WATER SITUATION:    In spite of the consorted efforts of some of our    self proclaimed prominent citizens the Montana    Supreme Court has rendered its’ opinion on the    Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes v. Bud Clinch and the Montana Dept. of the DNRC water case. You may see the opinion through the link on our website rivercitydispatch.com. I look forward to the final Compacting between the State of Montana and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. As Tribal Chairman Steele was quoted a few weeks ago in the Missoulian newspaper “We are all Americans”, this should help with future negotiations. If we can encourage the DNRC to move the Flathead Basin up on the adjudication list, as we are the fastest growing area in the state it will be of benefit to everyone. Water will continue to be a major topic of this column until the adjudication process and the compact is complete. PENDING CITY LITIGATION: Going back a few years a citizen of Polson protested an unusually large rate hike at the Polson Golf Course. After being snubbed by both the Polson Golf Course Board and the Polson City Council the citizen was forced to do research and a report on the effect of the rate hike on the local membership. While doing this research many anomalies were discovered and the city imposed a 25 cent per copy policy on copies to citizens requesting document copies. The more these anomalies were brought to those in charge of the Golf Course, (an asset belonging to land holders of property within the city limits of Polson, of which the protesting citizen was one), the more harassment this citizen received by among others the elected members of this community. When this was reported to the proper authorities namely the County Attorney, the citizen was told to, hire an attorney. Instead the citizen requested and got assistance from the Montana Human Rights Commission. The HRC ruled the City of Polson to be in violation of the discrimination statutes, which the city did not and could not deny; especially since the aforementioned citizen repeatedly requested the city and the Golf Course Board comply with the law. Through the HRC’s investigation of the first charge it discovered and filed charges of retaliation against these same individuals in charge of the citys’ assets. Instead of stopping this harassment of a law abiding citizen, these elected officials are continuing the fight by engaging not one but two Missoula attorneys, be it personally or through the Montana League of Cities and Towns Insurance policy; to convince this citizen and others, that protesting against injustice in Polson will not be tolerated at least by those in public office. If you feel that spending tax dollars to defend violations of the LAW is not acceptable, request information, look at the documents on rivercitydispatch.com and let your voice be heard. The local media doesn’t think this is an important story. Whether I agree with this citizen or not, which I do; we HAVE the right to protest and when we find problems we have the right to expect courtesy and support from our elected officials. To the go-along-to-get-alonger’s, may you have your turn to feel what this citizen feels. Happy Trails, may you attract only good for you and your family. Copyright © 2007 River City Dispatch.