Speak out

As a resident of Bigfork, I feel compelled to write this letter. It pertains to the old Swan River School building that was moved to the corner of Highway 35 and Highway 83. Is anybody else wondering if the owner will ever finish this building?

There is an abundance of trash, an old furnace, rusted equipment, vehicles, a horse trailer, a fuel tank, and there used to be insulation, but it was blown away years ago. The trash is right up to the property line and now the equipment has spilled out onto the road.

It has been looking like this for over three years now and he hasn’t even finished putting siding on the building! I think he needs to clean this mess up as a good neighbor in the community and to the businesses around him. It’s not fair to the customers at the drive-up espresso stand next door or to the congregation at Crossroads Christian Fellowship on the other side to have to look at his debris.

There is a request for a conditional use permit for a Hotel and Spa on the property with an expansion to the existing structure. The first hearing on this is Thursday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Bethany Lutheran Church. He has been granted a conditional use permit already for a tavern in a restaurant/supper club but has added the word “Casino” to the language in his new application. Local and state government officials have also already granted the owner occupancy rights to open a bar in the structure the way it sits today, which just absolutely amazes me!

I encourage anyone who lives in Bigfork to drive around this building to see for yourself and then come to the meeting and let our local planning board know this owner needs to finish what he started. You can also call Rebecca at Flathead County Planning and Zoning at 751-8200 and tell her how you feel either for or against the new request. The outcome of this request will be determined a great deal by the public input at this meeting.

Bob Young