City manager’s goals not ‘will of the people’
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
An organized group of supporters were present at the Polson City Commissioners Dec. 3 meeting to support the renewal of Mr. Crossett’s contract. People who did not support Mr. Crossett were also present, but for various reasons did not speak out. His supporters were clearly disappointed about the outcome — even angry. The focus of this letter is to address the lady who loudly exclaimed after the vote, “So much for the will of the people.”
Her comment clearly expresses a major problem in Polson. A rather small group of people has been working closely with Mr. Crossett. They have shared visions and goals, and they fully support each other. They firmly believe their vision and goals are correct and therefore “the will of the people.” They wear blinders.
The group I am referring to has different names, but the major players are the same: Greater Polson Community Foundation, Envision Polson and the Orton Family Foundation Heart and Soul Project. Last year, Envision Polson conducted a survey. They claimed to want to know what people thought about eight goals “they” set. Goals 5, 6, 7 and 8 include trails in some aspect. That explains why Mr. Crossett has been so focused on trails and actively pursued plans, including a very costly piece under the Highway 93 bridge. His familiar line has been, “There’s a lot of support for this.”
The survey results did not indicate support for these trails. The percentage of positive support was quite low. Did the group rethink “their” goals? No. One question specifically asked if there was interest in Polson hosting a triathlon. Only 29 people (11 percent) expressed favor. Before long, Penny Jarecki (who plays a role in the three groups mentioned above) publicly announced that a trail was being built in Riverside Park for a triathlon.
So, we have a self-appointed group working with an unelected city manager to fulfill their personal visions. It is also interesting to note that the same Envision Polson survey revealed the belief that Polson has a “good old boys club” that runs the city. I am beginning to understand what that means. My reply to the lady who lamented about “the will of the people” is a suggestion to take a step outside her small “group think box” and look around.
Diane Speer
Polson
