[ad_1]
My mom taught me that everytime you move out critique of somebody or one thing that’s not residing as much as customary, if you happen to really imply effectively in that critique, you’ll additionally observe it up with a bit reward when an try and be higher as been made.
The February 21 Newton County Board of Commissioners assembly was essentially the most tenuous and hard-to-watch native authorities spectacle I’ve personally needed to cowl. And, if you happen to recall, I used this house to challenge a problem for the BOC to do higher.
I don’t know what number of BOC members, if any, really learn that piece. However what I do know is that I used to be removed from the one one talking that “do higher” sentiment, so whether or not they heard it from me or others throughout our county, I’m certain they acquired the message.
Thusly, the March 7 assembly was the smoothest one I’ve seen so far. The enterprise portion of it began with an apology from Chairman Marcello Banes who expressed what felt like real sorrow for that Feb. 21 debacle that robbed residents of an opportunity to hold forth on problems with concern as a result of Banes adjourned it early as a consequence of incessant chatter and bickering by the Board.
However final Tuesday’s assembly was environment friendly and congenial, if not nice. And it was a refreshing change of tempo. Albeit, it was only one assembly. To make sure, the Feb. 21 assembly was an eruption of a gradual build-up of tensions that’s stretched again a number of months all the best way again to the insurance coverage lapse when Vacationers Insurance coverage Co. advised the Board final August that it could not renew its protection for the county.
Let’s hope this most up-to-date assembly alerts a optimistic construct up that continues.
Why? As a result of Newton County has manner an excessive amount of occurring in and round it for our governing board to be vehemently and visibly at odds with one another or with the county’s residents. That’s not my manner of suggesting {that a} Pollyanna world ought to exist. I’ve mentioned on this house — and actually in any house I can — how a lot I detest politics at instances. However simply because I don’t like politics doesn’t imply I don’t perceive politics.
And the reality is, regardless of the way you slice it, politics may be messy. It may be nasty. It could possibly current a few of a group’s most cantankerous characters and chaotic moments. But it surely doesn’t at all times must be that manner.
Right here’s one other little bit of knowledge from Pricey Previous Mother: You don’t at all times have to love somebody to be able to respect somebody and work effectively along with that individual.
This holds true, particularly when working for the better good of the constituents that positioned elected officers of their seats. Whether or not we’re speaking County Board, Metropolis of Covington, Newton County College Board, no matter, now we have a lot larger fish to fry than to be making an attempt to 1 up one another in public view.
I don’t know the way effectively the County Commissioners get alongside behind the scenes. I don’t absolutely know the interpersonal dynamic of our Board. Do they chat on the cellphone with one another once in a while? Have they got informal lunch conferences to debate points with out the stress of a public vote in entrance of the scrutinizing gaze of residents?
Fact is, it doesn’t matter.
While you have a look at the scope of our county and see all that’s coming, to not point out all that’s already right here, in the best way of progress, we’d like a unified Board now greater than ever.
We want a Board that’s selfless and keen to embrace the truth that nobody particular person will at all times get his or her manner.
We want a Board that places private emotions apart to push for what’s in one of the best pursuits of the County and its residents.
We want a Board that does all of the issues we’ve taught our youngsters about respect and dealing collectively for a typical objective — classes most of us realized in Kindergarten.
I hope now we have that Board now.
After I got here into this place as Writer final August, some readers despatched me emails loaded with assumptions of my, and by proxy, our newspaper’s, allegiance to sure members of our County Board of Commissioners. To today — although I do know it’s par for the course for our trade, and actually our present cultural local weather — it baffles me how individuals who don’t know an individual could make such private assumptions of what that individual believes in, helps or holds in excessive esteem.
I’ve my ideas as to why it was really easy for a few of these of us to make these assumptions. However I digress.
The purpose is that this: The one factor we at The Covington Information are rooting for is unity amongst our county’s native determination makers. Unity doesn’t at all times imply settlement. I don’t count on folks in such capacities to agree on the whole lot. However at the very least let’s agree on rallying collectively to do what’s finest for the county’s curiosity and never our personal — and to do it as peaceably as humanly potential.
March 7 gave us a glimmer of hope that, with this group, such unity is feasible. We all know that it’s sorely wanted. Solely time will inform if it will likely be persistently executed.
Gabriel Stovall is the writer and editor of The Covington Information. He may be reached at gstovall@covnews.com.
[ad_2]
Source link
