Government officials wise to start talking
Most of us are probably familiar with the recent incident involving downtown parking around the courthouse. It did have its humorous aspects.
County Executive Kenneth Rogers, upset county employees were only allowed to park near the courthouse for two hours at a time, ordered several parking signs in that area removed. This act, as expected, only served to anger city officials, who told Rogers they wanted the signs returned to their original spots. Rogers didn’t comply so McMinnville leaders had the signs put back anyway.
While that is the amusing part, here’s where the controversy begins to produce favorable results. In an effort to resolve the sticky situation, city and county officials agreed to sit down and talk. And, as crazy as it might sound, this solution actually worked.
When given the chance to talk things over, city officials discovered county commissioners aren’t that bad after all. And county commissioners, likewise, directed positive remarks toward city aldermen.
It’s reminiscent of that old Life cereal commercial where Mikey’s brothers didn’t want to try a bowl of Life. They pushed the bowl back and forth before finally giving it to Mikey. To their surprise, they were stunned to see Mikey liked it.
That sort of feeling seems to be taking place between city and county officials. After arguing and squabbling for about as long as any of us can remember, the two governments decided to work out their differences in a logical manner. And they found out they liked it.
Following a meeting between the two sides last week, County Commissioner Carl Bouldin said, “This is exactly what needed to have been done from the beginning. It’s really good to work with the city on this.”
Added Alderman Michael Chrisawn, “We got together and worked things out in an amicable way. That’s what we need to be doing on a lot of other things too.”
Perhaps this is a sign of promising things to come. With a group of newly elected aldermen that includes Chrisawn, Bobby Kirby and Jimmy Haley, the city appears ready to bury the proverbial hatchet – and this time it’s not in the county’s head.
In a recent call to the Standard office, Kirby in fact said he was dedicated to seeing the city and county work together. It appears such cooperation is already taking place. And it’s a welcome change to the bickering which has occurred through the years.
We’re sure it’s not going to be clear sailing between the city and county from here on out. There are going to be some disagreements, some differences of opinion. That’s only natural and it’s bound to take place.
But if city and county officials can agree to work out their differences in a mature way – without taking down parking signs or erecting a fence that runs through the middle of the former William Biles School property as we saw happen a few years back – it will greatly benefit both governments.
When that happens, it will greatly benefit all Warren County residents.