SOUTHERN EXPOSURE: GOVERNMENT, LIKE MARRIAGE, TAKES COMMUNICATION

Since around June, the people of Scott City and their elected council have had a rocky road. And much like a marriage gone bad, most of the problems deal with a lack of communication.

Last month, rumors started circulating about a petition that was going around town calling for a recall election on many of the Scott City Council members.

I've heard a lot of talk about how faxes have been sent to the Missouri Ethics Commission requesting an investigation, even though the ethics commission won't confirm this.

Don't get me wrong, there might be an investigation. There might be several investigations, it's just that the Missouri Ethics Commission has to deny everything. When pressed they'd probably deny that there is an ethics commission. It's very hush-hush.

Anyway, the problems between the citizens of Scott City and the council have drawn a full house to every council meeting the past few months. Most of the people are there to see with their own eyes just what's going on. All they hear is a lot of negative talk in the papers and on the streets. They're concerned and a little embarrassed.

Lately there has even been some shouting and some hard feelings expressed.

Now I'm not going to point a finger at the council members and say they are wrong about the things they are doing. Like most government entities, I'm sure they have perfectly sound reasons for some of the questionable things they do.

But they are not explaining them.

All the people want is to feel that their council is doing what they want it to do. You know, government of the people, by the people, for the people. The people are given the express right by the Constitution of the United States of America to have every issue explained to them in excruciating detail if they so desire.

So when the mayor of Scott City tells the audience that he has dissolved the police personnel commission because "I'm the mayor, I can do that," the people get irate.

If you pay a doctor to perform a tricky operation and he won't explain the procedure and storms out of the office if you ask him about it wouldn't you get a little concerned?

Even if the council is completely above board they don't appear to be. That is its biggest problem. They talk quietly during the meetings, and to each other, even when they're asked to speak up.

They have even been right about some things that seemed wrong but because they won't explain -- or maybe they feel like they haven't been given the chance to explain -- their actions are deemed underhanded.

Three council members have begun questioning decisions of the majority at nearly every meeting. One member has even called this council a government "of the few, by the few and for the few."

Doesn't this send a message to anyone? Doesn't it appear that the people are asking for something and not getting it?

Simple, down-to-earth communication would solve so many problems. If there is nothing wrong with the ordinance or action that a council member has just voted for he or she should be happy, even eager, to explain the matter to any audience member that asks.

Emotions are running high and that is clouding a lot of thinking at the council meetings. Maybe it's time that everyone just took a deep breath and tried to talk things over.

It sure would be better than a recall election.

~David Angier is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.