A newspaper is a mirror of the community it serves.
And even if the newspaper doesn’t always like what it reflects, the newspaper’s responsibility is to ensure that its readers know the tone, the context and the passion with which their elected leaders are speaking. Only by reporting their comments — even when we believe they should not have been uttered — can the constituents understand how their elected officials are representing them.
That said, we believe that comments made by both International Falls and Koochiching County officials have gone too far. Each group seems to take jabs at one another and the dysfunction has spilled over onto other issues, other agencies and now into the campaign arena. And while each group deserves some of the blame, we must agree that comments made by some county commissioners cross the line of appropriate criticism in to personal attacks.
The current dismissal of a court case involving the city, county and state, makes this the perfect time to stop. Pushing meetings between the two groups now isn’t the answer. Frustration, grandstanding and tempers have gone too far. Instead, we suggest a cooling off period during which time no one makes any comments about the other group. And the business of the two groups continues.
City and county officials must continue to play a role in collaborative efforts, and both groups have said they would do that. They must — and have in past situations — set aside their differences to move forward with proposals and projects that benefit the larger community. But at the same time, they can move forward as they wish with efforts that will focus work on their respective constituency. The county has its Koochiching Development Authority, and now it appears that the city will revitalize its economic development authority powers. Both of these EDAs have value alone and together.
Killing the messenger of the bad news isn’t the answer. We will continue to reflect what is said and how it is said at meetings. It is our obligation.
However, we’d much rather shine a light on a cohesive, healthy effort at growing a stable economy for the community.