Defending referendum, let irrigators decide
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Editor,
On Oct. 16, the four Flathead Joint Board of Control commissioners currently controlling the Mission and Jocko Valley Irrigation Districts — Paul Wadsworth, Jerry Johnson, Kerry Doney, and Roger Christopher — held official meetings of those districts, which they closed to the public. Irrigators, you have a right to know what they did.
Those four Commissioners voted to use their constituents’ money to sue Lake County to stop the FJBC referendum. That is, they used your money to prevent you from voting on whether to withdraw from the FJBC or remain a part of it.
Lake County is defending the suit, and the FJBC has asked the court to allow it to help. The FJBC also brought to the court’s attention the violations, again, of the public’s right to know what their district is doing and to participate in its process. First of all, closing those meetings was illegal, in our opinion.
Thirty-four irrigators from the Mission and Jocko Valley Districts also joined us in this defense, as well as 10 irrigators who wanted to remain anonymous to avoid retribution.
Because the judicial district has been without a judge for nearly two months, that may stall the referendum. We are working to make sure it does not. But for now, it is on hold. Please stay tuned. We hope you get the chance to make up your own mind on the issue.
In regard to your irrigation water, the FJBC is advocating for ownership, verification, and equal participation.
Johanna Clark
FJBC Executive Manager
St. Ignatius
