Kudos to city planning director

I want to show my appreciation by thanking you for all you do to conserve and preserve natural resources in the Whitefish area. I only wish the rest of Flathead County and all of Montana could benefit from your progressive leadership.

Please hang in there from an obvious onslaught from the maniacal, rabid Republican Party that is attempting to exploit natural resources for personal capitalistic gain. You have proven to be a pillar of strength thus far. Keep up the good fight on behalf of the silent majority of the citizenry wanting Whitefish Lake and its tributaries to survive in an ecologically pristine state.

The force of the attack upon you is coming from a small group of the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors and some others, led by Greg Carter, who claims to represent the entire NMAR Government Affairs Committee that drafts, appends, modifies, supports or opposes Montana congressional legislation to protect our bundle of property rights in Flathead County.

This small subset group of the NMAR Government Affairs Committee also claims to represent all of the 1,000 Realtors in Flathead County. The trouble is I am a Realtor in Flathead County, and this group does not represent me in wanting to pollute Whitefish Lake.

In fact, I am a member of that same NMAR Government Affairs Committee, and I have not been represented. I am also on the NMAR Technology Committee, and I am the chairman of the task force created to redesign the Multiple Listing System. My goal in that capacity is to enforce ethics among the Realtors and better protect the general public.

I support your Draft 3 for Critical Stormwater Conveyances. I oppose Greg Carter's Draft 4, of which I was not a part of writing nor was I allowed to comment on.

I support Doug Chadwick's (scientist and author) call for a Draft 5, which would encompass new commentary from those who would protect the Whitefish Lake's environment/ecology to an even greater extent.

I oppose Ron Buentemeier's (logging executive) request to separate the key issues in order to see them better come under duress from the Republican Party attack machine (a divide and conquer strategy). I agree with Jack Stanford's (director of Flathead Lake Biological Station) scientific analysis of lake pollution.

I oppose planning board member Martin McGrew's unprofessional, dysfunctional, public outburst and personal verbal political attack upon planning board chairman Dennis Bee at the Dec. 21 Whitefish City-County Planning Board meeting, who was running a non-political, diversity-laden, public hearing in the best traditions of a democracy.

I call for McGrew's resignation from the planning board. That is no place for his inane, public displayed, temper tantrum.

Bob, your leadership in protecting the ecosystem during this rapid increase in growth in Whitefish (and Flathead County) is exemplary. One can only hope your courage will inspire planners in other cities and the county to be brave enough to follow in your footsteps.

We all have to leave Whitefish Lake pollution-free for the survival of aquatic life and for future human generations to enjoy. It is far more important than individuals' property rights. Thank you, again.

Bill Baum is a Realtor. He lives at BearKat Ranch near Coram in Flathead County.