Agency on Aging building not a good idea

The following words were presented to the Flathead County Commissioners during their June 16 hearing on the preliminary budget.

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Don’t build a $6 million building for the Agency on Aging.

For the record, my name is Jerry O’Neil. I am the state representative for Montana House District 3. My constituents include the residents of the northeast corner of Flathead County, including Columbia Falls, Polebridge, Hungry Horse, Martin City, Coram, West Glacier, Pinnacle and Essex.

It is not fair that this commission will spend $6 million for a building that will serve the Kalispell area and tax my constituents to pay for it. It is also not fair to force the residents of Whitefish, Bigfork, Somers, Nirada, Marion, Olney and McGregor Lake to pay for it. We all reside far enough away from Kalispell that it is unreasonable to expect us to have our meals in Kalispell.

If Kalispell wants a building for their senior citizens, let them build one. Then the people who are realizing the benefits are paying the toll.

A better alternative than spending $6 million to build a building to serve us old people would be to figure out what services you want to provide us, then send out a proposal to the churches, fraternal organizations and any other organizations, whether non-profit or for-profit, and find out what they would charge to provide these services.

I figure that, besides the Moose, Eagles, Masons and Knights of Columbus, there are more than 50 churches in Flathead County. Providing these services would build them up, rather having the county providing these services in competition to them.

Your present Agency on Aging office should be able to handle the contracting and overseeing these services.

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Rep. Jerry O’Neil, R-Columbia Falls, represents House District 3.