View Point - Letters to the Editor

EDITOR: After reading last week’s report on the Traill County Commission meeting in which the Home Rule Committee provided their preliminary recommendations, I thought it worth the time to evaluate . . .
Among others, there were two key points brought to the commissioners for consideration — the first is whether our commissioners should be elected by district or by the county at large. The second is whether our current elected offices should continue as elected officials or if they should be appointed. Both of these items were quickly dismissed by our commissioners — the decision being that things should be left alone.
I’m sorry, but I find the position taken by our commissioners to be offensive and self-serving. It seems to reason that if the people of the county are going to vote on a Home Rule Charter, then they should also be able to have a say on what they believe to be the best election or appointment processes for this new form of government. In both cases, valid points were brought out as to why a person might want to have voting at large or appointment-based offices and are at least worthy of consideration beyond the immediate moment or meeting.
One cannot help but wonder why this decision had to be made so quickly and so unilaterally — business as usual. It seems to reason that we — the people of the county – should be able to have the opportunity to weigh in on the pros and cons of these choices. Arriving at a conclusion that is thought out and allows for dialogue on the best interests of the county means opening it to discussion, not just spoon-feeding an arbitrary decision to us. In the 21st Century it may be necessary to consider new options. My objection is that we aren’t being given this opportunity.
Give a voice to this — write, call or visit any of the commissioners. Write a letter to the editor — or go to the online County News article on the Banner’s website and comment on this. Let’s offer this the consideration it deserves! If our form of government is to change, lets examine ALL the options, not just the ones chosen for us — give us the opportunity to choose how we will be governed.

Gail Mooney
Cummings