Find out about Heart and Soul
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This past February, I was pleased to add my signature on behalf of the City of Polson to the Heart and Soul partnership agreement along with the Greater Polson Community Foundation and the Orton Family Foundation. The purpose of the Polson Heart and Soul project is to seek input from all members of our community and surrounding area in hopes of generating ideas that will enhance living and working in the Polson community and help ensure a bright future for all of us.
Polson Heart and Soul deeply desires to include the voices of as many people as possible throughout our community, realizing that many do not typically participate in public processes and therefore remain unheard. Hearing from people of different walks of life is important to the Polson City Council. The council values knowing what our constituents think and learning various points of view on topics. With zoning and other plans in the process of being redesigned, this is an excellent time to obtain additional public input. The Heart and Soul project will help ensure this happens.
Of course, there are always a few detractors or doubters with any new initiative. A challenge to those individuals, just as it is to all of us in the community, is to step up and take a positive part in the Polson Heart and Soul project. Let’s listen to each other and work together with a positive attitude and enthusiastic determination to help plan Polson’s future. Nothing can be gained by sitting back with a negative attitude to the process, the people engaged in it, and the ultimate outcomes.
Ensuring that private property rights are respected and protected is of concern to everyone, as is ensuring our taxes remain low and are used effectively and efficiently. Heart and Soul wants to explore these and other topics in-depth and across neighborhoods to understand what priorities people in our community have and why. The project will help us in local government make well-informed decisions about capital investments and much more.
Finally, I have had the pleasure of getting to know many of the hardworking, dedicated volunteers associated with this project. Some have deep-seated roots in the Polson community going back several generations; others have returned to the valley after a long absence and just want to contribute; and folks new to the area simply want to get involved and learn more about our community. As mayor, I’m excited about the opportunity to gain further insight and feedback from all members of the greater Polson community.
My sincere thanks to all the Polson Heart and Soul volunteers and participants who are putting time and effort into the important work of ensuring our great place to live is even better in the future.
I strongly encourage everyone to participate at a Polson Heart and Soul gathering in your neighborhood. For more details, contact polsonheartsoul@montanasky.net or 406-250-3498.
(Editor's note: Pat DeVries is the mayor of Polson.)
