Commissioners discuss cell phone ordinance
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
2 of 3 free articles.
POLSON — A proposed ordinance prohibiting the use of hand-held electronic communication devices while operating a motor vehicle drew mostly negative comments at the Feb. 6 Polson City Commission meeting.
Polson Police Chief Wade Nash said he supports the concept of the ordinance, but he had questions.
“How are you going to enforce this in the City of Polson?” Nash asked, since the city is located on the Flathead Reservation.
Nash recommended contacting the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and discussing the issue with them.
Local resident Andrew Speer said fatality rates are dropping instead of rising so statistics do not support the proposal.
“How is (cell phone use) a problem?” Johna Morrison, a Polson business owner, asked.
She also asked if the ordinance would be applied to GIS, policemen, firemen and emergency medical technicians.
As a business person, Morrison said she needs to be in contact with her business 18 hours a day.
A draft of the proposed ordinance can be found on the City of Polson website at www.cityofpolson.com.
On the left side of the first page, click on city hall and then on city council meeting agenda.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held at 6 p.m. preceding the next city commission meeting Feb. 22.
An agenda item authorizing Mayor DeVries and the city manager to sign a partnership agreement with the Greater Polson Community Foundation and the Orton Family Trust also had lots of speakers.
Penny Jarecki, Greater Polson Community Foundation President, noted that the Heart and Soul Grant Polson received from the Orton Family Foundation is “a grassroots movement, not a top down approach ... a way to guide our own local growth and change.”
Also speaking for the partnership was Darlis Smith, GPCF board member and grant writer.
“From the very beginning, the Heart and Soul approach spoke to us because it encourages the use of storytelling as a method for the determining the heart and soul — the values and character — of your community before taking action...”
Terry Backs and John Swenson spoke against the partnership.
Swenson did not agree with the Orton Family Foundation helping Polson lay out a 20-year plan.
Proponents of the plan who commented were Daniel Smith, Liz Marchi and Nancy Glueckert.
Former city commissioner Elsa Duford said the public needs more time to digest information about the partnership.
After discussion, the commission unanimously passed the motion.
In other business four Polson residents, Bob Fulton, Mike Lies, Joslyn Shackelford and David Rensvold wrote letters of application for the City/County Planning Board. The commissioners selected Fulton and Rensvold.
Ken Siler and Donald McMillan, the only applicants for the Board of Adjustments, also were appointed.
Commissioners approved the review committee recommendation for redetermination of impact fees for a piece of property owned by Roger Sampson. The fees were lowered from $5,256 to $2,039.
They also approved an item authorizing Polson City Manager Todd Crossett to negotiate and execute an agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation for resurfacing of the secondary state route on Seventh Avenue west of Main Street.
