Someone Found a Letter You Wrote Me

August 22nd, 2007 | by Craig |

It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time for another edition of Small Town, Long Streets.

This week’s guest is Kenneth Kailey. We’ll be talking about running cities in Montana, and that’s just for starters. It promises to be an interesting and informative hour.

We’d love to have you join us.

Phone: (718) 664-9769
Yahoo! IM: mtppodcast
Email: podcast@mtpolitics.net

Gotta Get Something Off Your Chest?

  1. 5 Responses to “Someone Found a Letter You Wrote Me”

  2. By Randy Heinz, SFO on Aug 22, 2007 | Reply

    I enjoyed the show immensely but I do have to ask Moorcat if he is going to give his blog name a minor tweak.

    Shouldn’t your blog be called “Pragmatic Revolt” with a subtitle of “I Kid You Not!”?

    Ken, I love your passion. Keep up the good fight. The arrogant will fall, eventually.

  3. By moorcat on Aug 23, 2007 | Reply

    I would find the things going on here patently unbelievable if I hadn’t witnessed them myself. In fact, I still find it difficult to believe as more and more things are done by our City Government. Just when I think they can’t possibly do something worse, they prove me wrong.

    I wish I could have had the chance to see a City Government work correctly. It would ve a welcome change…

    Anyway, I enjoyed being on the show and look forward to doing it again if Craig will have me.

    Moorcat

  4. By Craig on Aug 23, 2007 | Reply

    You’re kidding, right? Definitely have to have you back soon — especially as election time draws nigh.

  5. By moorcat on Aug 31, 2007 | Reply

    Craig,

    I was unaware that Kenneth Weaver had written a book. Today, one of the Dillon City Council (who, BTW, listened into your show), brought over a copy of the book for my wife and I to read. It is called “Governing Montana at the Grass Roots” and while I haven’t gotten very far into it yet, I am finding it a wonderful resource on local small town Governance. Thanks for steering me in his direction…

    Moorcat

  6. By noodly appendage on Sep 3, 2007 | Reply

    Ken Weaver and his Local Government Center partner Judy Mathre have done more to improve local government in Montana than any Montanan dead or alive.

    Both were Mayors of Bozeman.

    I post below the AG opinion that allows Bozeman to charge low income homeowners less for utility fees. You’ll see that cities are not allowed to discriminate in favor of senior citizens, as age is a protected class.

    It’s also closely related to the Dillon’s rule, and that discussion is in Ken’s book on page 177. The book is out of date with regard to Bozeman’s form of government. Bozeman is now a self governing city with a charter. Ken’s book is required reading, imo, for anyone wanting to jump into local government politics.

    This opinion is from Attorney General Mike McGrath.

    VOLUME NO. 50 OPINION NO. 10
    CITIES AND TOWNS - Establishment of preferential water and sewer rate for senior citizens by self-governing municipality;
    HUMAN RIGHTS - Application of Human Rights Act to self-governing local governments;
    LOCAL GOVERNMENT - Application of Human Rights Act to self-governing local governments;
    LOCAL GOVERNMENT - Establishment of preferential water and sewer rate for senior citizens by self-governing municipality;
    MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT - Application of Human Rights Act to self-governing local governments;
    MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT - Establishment of preferential water and sewer rate for senior citizens by self-governing municipality;
    STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION - Application of specific provision of Human Rights Act over general provision of Governmental Code of Fair Practices;
    MONTANA CODE ANNOTATED - Sections 1-2-102, 7-1-103, -113(3), -114(1)(g), 7-13-4301, -4304, -4304(2), -4304(4), 49-1-102, -205, 49-2-205, -308, -402, 49-3-205, 69-7-101 to -113, -201.
    HELD: 1. A local government with self-government powers may set rates for water and sewer service without regard to the requirements of Mont. Code Ann. § 7-13-4304.
    2. Protection against unlawful governmental discrimination is an area affirmatively subject to state control. Consequently, the provisions of Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-308 of the Montana Human Rights Act apply to a self-governing municipality in the setting of water and sewer service rates.

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