Dear Editor: Basically Just Talk But No Action

Dear Editor,

I attended the Special Meeting of the Whitehall Town Council on Jan. 4th, listened to the Recreational Proposal, and participated in the comments about the history of the current Recreation Complex. When the Town received the land from the County, there was no plan in place to maintain the facility. All maintenance was done by volunteers, primarily by members of the Saddle Club. Other groups had wanted to use the facility but did little to develop their areas.

With limited funds from the Town and volunteerism primarily from the Saddle Club, the facility is what it is today.

Various groups want to use the facility but have minutely contributed financially or provided volunteers for their respective events.

If the proposal goes through and the Town receives the grants, will the funds be spent on actual maintenance or on consultants? History repeats itself and in five years will we still be looking for volunteers and funds to pay for the upkeep?

The speakers at the meeting need to be some the volunteers to support the grants. If not, will you have a little nicer facility with no one to follow through on the activities?

Council members, how much have you contributed to the upkeep and have any of you volunteered? Maybe some have, but on a very limited basis and basically just talk, but no action.

Tom Jenkin

Whitehall, Montana