Let’s be civil. The Flathead Beacon encourages vigorous discussion and lively debate, but we will delete comments that attack other readers, make accusations we can’t verify, stray too far off topic, criticize local businesses (call them if you have a problem), convict someone of a crime, use profanity or are simply judged to be in bad taste. We don’t always have someone moderating comments, so we ask for your help: If you see a comment that violates these ground rules, or you simply deem it offensive, please e-mail editor [at] flatheadbeacon.com. The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.
By wouldb1 on 11-12-09
“Whitefish residents Rick Blake…“ No, FB, Blake is NOT a WF resident, and that is why I and many others were so disgusted with his involvement and all of the misinformation he spewed prior to the election. I encourage the Beacon to do a little investigative journalism - we know what motivates Tim Grattan; tell us who this Dick Blake is and why he was so involved. Is it more than him simply enjoying spending his father-in-law’s cash?
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By MontanaTrace on 11-12-09
woodbee: let go of the negatives. Our attention needs to be the opposite of how you choose to spend your energy.
Stop the expensive lawsuits that were so typical to the past councilors and attorney. That is one objective I am confident the new council will accomplish.
The money saved by reducing the lawsuits will be better used in so many ways.
Just left the taxi meeting. Room full of people looking for solutions. Good positive energy. Without a strong focus on attacking others, as in the above comment, a solution will be found and implemented. I hope the new and existing council members will bring their positive energies and abilities to the table. It’s a real need that will make the residents and visitors realize a whole community.
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By wouldb1 on 11-12-09
The only negativity in my comment was my reference to Dick Blake and his character assasination of candidate Sweeney. The Beacon wrongly identified him as a WF resident, which he is not. You want negativity? Mitchell’s entire campaign was negative - no solutions, just anger and attacks. Two of these three newbies will prove to be so polarizing that nothing will change, and mark my words, they will be out after one term - if they stick it out.
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By MontanaTrace on 11-12-09
Ahh, that’s more like it! Some real positive vibes.
Now go out and make some babies cry and kick a dog or two.
WB: read what you write. All negative.
Please go away. Get a hug. Come back when you are ready to build up, not tear down.
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By doughnuteer on 11-12-09
Rick Blake is a Whitefish Doughnut resident—he has NO representation—I can see and agree why he was involved - thank goodness for the facts that he presented…...............
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By emerson on 11-12-09
So doughnuteer, are you saying that Rick Blake and other Doughnut residents should start paying Whitefish taxes?
It sounds like you are advocating to become residents of the City of Whitefish? Otherwise aren’t you just saying you want to have a say in a town that you don’t pay taxes into?
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By MontanaTrace on 11-13-09
If the city is to require the DN’s to live by city rules, they should have some say.
Tax ‘em when they use city services.
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By doughnuteer on 11-13-09
I AM SURE MR. BLAKE WOULD LIKE TO BE GOVERNED BY THE COUNTY WHERE HE LIVES AS WOULD I
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By emerson on 11-13-09
Mr Blake is governed by the County. City regulations do not apply to residents of the County with one exception:
If they want to SUBDIVIDE their property.
The reason why the donut has been in existence for more than 40 years is because what happens at the edge of the city - affects the city - and the residents of the city.
Would it be fair to the residents of Whitefish if Mr Blake subdivide his property and invite 1000 more people to live at the edge of Whitefish - and Whitefish not have anything to say about it?
To say that residents of the donut don’t use city services is simply untrue. They drive on city streets every day. They probably spend as much time in the city limits as they do outside of the city limits.
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By Myers Reece on 11-13-09
I have changed a sentence in the story to read “Whitefish area residents” instead of “Whitefish residents,“ in reference to Rick Blake and Tim Grattan. Blake does not live within Whitefish city limits, though Grattan does, according to the Flathead County Election Department. We will run a clarification in next week’s print edition as well.
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By MontanaTrace on 11-13-09
Does Kalispell have a doughnut? If so, how do they handle the same issues faced in WF? If not, why not? Why a DN for WF and not Kalispell?
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By emerson on 11-13-09
Columbia Falls does have a donut (interlocal agreement). Kalispell is a good example of what happens when the city has too little control over what happens at its edges. The city is on the brink of bankruptcy because the strain to city services that came about because of the demands and growth immediately at the town’s edges.
Kalispell is a good example of why interlocal agreements are good for taxpayers.
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By emerson on 11-13-09
Myers- Tim Grattan owns a home within the city limits of Whitefish. To say he is a resident of Whitefish is not entirely true. He lives most of the winter in Arizona and much of the summer in Colorado.
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By doughnuteer on 11-13-09
Myers—please if necessary call Tim. He is a long term WF resident—also the control of the doughnut has a lot more to do than just subdividing your land
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By emerson on 11-13-09
Maybe someone should hire a private investigator to keep an eye on Mr Grattan and see how much time he actually spends within City limits
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By doughnuteer on 11-13-09
Considering that one of the WF counselors did not spend one day at their WF City home in the 60 days prior - according to his own testimony—I would guess its not necessary
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Let’s be civil. The Flathead Beacon encourages vigorous discussion and lively debate, but we will delete comments that attack other readers, make accusations we can’t verify, stray too far off topic, criticize local businesses (call them if you have a problem), convict someone of a crime, use profanity or are simply judged to be in bad taste. We don’t always have someone moderating comments, so we ask for your help: If you see a comment that violates these ground rules, or you simply deem it offensive, please e-mail editor [at] flatheadbeacon.com. The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.
By wouldb1 on 11-12-09
“Whitefish residents Rick Blake…“ No, FB, Blake is NOT a WF resident, and that is why I and many others were so disgusted with his involvement and all of the misinformation he spewed prior to the election. I encourage the Beacon to do a little investigative journalism - we know what motivates Tim Grattan; tell us who this Dick Blake is and why he was so involved. Is it more than him simply enjoying spending his father-in-law’s cash?
By MontanaTrace on 11-12-09
woodbee: let go of the negatives. Our attention needs to be the opposite of how you choose to spend your energy.
Stop the expensive lawsuits that were so typical to the past councilors and attorney. That is one objective I am confident the new council will accomplish.
The money saved by reducing the lawsuits will be better used in so many ways.
Just left the taxi meeting. Room full of people looking for solutions. Good positive energy. Without a strong focus on attacking others, as in the above comment, a solution will be found and implemented. I hope the new and existing council members will bring their positive energies and abilities to the table. It’s a real need that will make the residents and visitors realize a whole community.
By wouldb1 on 11-12-09
The only negativity in my comment was my reference to Dick Blake and his character assasination of candidate Sweeney. The Beacon wrongly identified him as a WF resident, which he is not. You want negativity? Mitchell’s entire campaign was negative - no solutions, just anger and attacks. Two of these three newbies will prove to be so polarizing that nothing will change, and mark my words, they will be out after one term - if they stick it out.
By MontanaTrace on 11-12-09
Ahh, that’s more like it! Some real positive vibes.
Now go out and make some babies cry and kick a dog or two.
WB: read what you write. All negative.
Please go away. Get a hug. Come back when you are ready to build up, not tear down.
By doughnuteer on 11-12-09
Rick Blake is a Whitefish Doughnut resident—he has NO representation—I can see and agree why he was involved - thank goodness for the facts that he presented…...............
By emerson on 11-12-09
So doughnuteer, are you saying that Rick Blake and other Doughnut residents should start paying Whitefish taxes?
It sounds like you are advocating to become residents of the City of Whitefish? Otherwise aren’t you just saying you want to have a say in a town that you don’t pay taxes into?
By MontanaTrace on 11-13-09
If the city is to require the DN’s to live by city rules, they should have some say.
Tax ‘em when they use city services.
By doughnuteer on 11-13-09
I AM SURE MR. BLAKE WOULD LIKE TO BE GOVERNED BY THE COUNTY WHERE HE LIVES AS WOULD I
By emerson on 11-13-09
Mr Blake is governed by the County. City regulations do not apply to residents of the County with one exception:
If they want to SUBDIVIDE their property.
The reason why the donut has been in existence for more than 40 years is because what happens at the edge of the city - affects the city - and the residents of the city.
Would it be fair to the residents of Whitefish if Mr Blake subdivide his property and invite 1000 more people to live at the edge of Whitefish - and Whitefish not have anything to say about it?
To say that residents of the donut don’t use city services is simply untrue. They drive on city streets every day. They probably spend as much time in the city limits as they do outside of the city limits.
By Myers Reece on 11-13-09
I have changed a sentence in the story to read “Whitefish area residents” instead of “Whitefish residents,“ in reference to Rick Blake and Tim Grattan. Blake does not live within Whitefish city limits, though Grattan does, according to the Flathead County Election Department. We will run a clarification in next week’s print edition as well.
By MontanaTrace on 11-13-09
Does Kalispell have a doughnut? If so, how do they handle the same issues faced in WF? If not, why not? Why a DN for WF and not Kalispell?
By emerson on 11-13-09
Columbia Falls does have a donut (interlocal agreement). Kalispell is a good example of what happens when the city has too little control over what happens at its edges. The city is on the brink of bankruptcy because the strain to city services that came about because of the demands and growth immediately at the town’s edges.
Kalispell is a good example of why interlocal agreements are good for taxpayers.
By emerson on 11-13-09
Myers- Tim Grattan owns a home within the city limits of Whitefish. To say he is a resident of Whitefish is not entirely true. He lives most of the winter in Arizona and much of the summer in Colorado.
By doughnuteer on 11-13-09
Myers—please if necessary call Tim. He is a long term WF resident—also the control of the doughnut has a lot more to do than just subdividing your land
By emerson on 11-13-09
Maybe someone should hire a private investigator to keep an eye on Mr Grattan and see how much time he actually spends within City limits
By doughnuteer on 11-13-09
Considering that one of the WF counselors did not spend one day at their WF City home in the 60 days prior - according to his own testimony—I would guess its not necessary