Running to regain local control
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Editor,
I would like to introduce myself and tell you why I am running for the Flathead Irrigation District Commissioner. I am a fourth-generation rancher in this valley, I believe in agriculture, and if I am going to stay in agriculture, I need water.
After the CME came into existence under local control in 2010, irrigators saw major improvements in project operations and maintenance.
Despite that success, the present Flathead Irrigation District Commissioners refused to join the Mission and Jocko districts and maintain local control over the project. As a consequence the BIA resumed control of project management. We now have federal costs, federal wages (O&M will go up $3 next year to maintain the new federal wages), federal employment requirements (new hiring policies require strict adherence to tribal preference hiring guidelines); all work slows as the slower federal government process takes over. Many CME employees lost their jobs.
The Flathead Irrigation Commissioners could have stopped that. They had total control to prevent it and instead they blame everyone else for the BIA re-assumption. That was putting politics before irrigators. That’s wrong.
All irrigation boards on the reservation now have zero control of the water project. It is my goal to restore irrigator control and get our project back on track.
Most of the current FID commissioners would rather litigate than protect our irrigation water. And they appear ready to sign a blank check with their lawyers. The current board has done nothing but run up bills with special meetings and lawsuits, none of which have had any positive outcomes.
We need a change.
I would appreciate your vote in the upcoming Flathead Irrigation District election. It’s time for farmers and ranchers to regain control over the Flathead Irrigation District and focus on maintaining water deliveries to farms and ranches.
Paul Guenzler
Ronan
