City Club Missoula – Stupidity at heart of matter in Search and Rescue debate

Can Missoula tax stupidity?

Should it?

Those questions prompted a lively discussion Friday at the April City Club Missoula http://www.cityclubmissoula.org luncheon.

Maybe people who ski out of bounds, canoe without life jackets, jump into rivers, ignore avalanche warnings or recklessly ride their snowmobiles into the backcountry should pay the tab for flouting rules instead of asking taxpayers to foot the bill, some argued.

“It doesn’t seem right that they can thumb their noses at the rules, and then put you guys at risk,” said one speaker. “It’s rude. It’s not right.”

The “you guys” she mentioned are members of the Missoula County Search and Rescue, who often do jeopardize their own safety to search for those who are lost, in trouble or hurt. They were guest speakers at Friday’s City Club session, fielding questions about the request for a new tax to support their operations.

By MEA ANDREWS of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/04/22/news/local/news04.txt

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Next City Club Gathering

"What’s Worth Preserving" with the Missoula Historic Preservation Commission

Friday, May, 12

6:30-8:30PM

The Governor’s Room of the Florence building.

Free hors d’heuvres: donations accepted

RSVP to 721-9620 or to [email protected] on or before May 8