Press Editorial: A challenge for 2010

Talk about it

Our challenge to you: Attend one city or county meeting in 2010.

Many of you got your Stark County property tax bill in the mail Saturday and many others will get them Monday as the auditor’s office sent them to the post office Friday.

If you open that envelope and begin to complain about your tax bill then you better have a reason. Did you tell a commissioner what you thought of the county’s taxes and how money was spent last year? If so, then complain away. If not, shh.

County and city commissioners are elected to represent the citizens and without input they will do what they feel is best — which could be far off the mark of what you think is best.

We believe these officials care about their communities and will listen to their constituents. So let them know if you don’t want a multi-million dollar project to move forward. Or even a $1,000 project. It’s our money.

Do you even know your commissioners’ names?

The Press staff covers dozens of meetings each year and often, besides the officials, the reporter is the only one in attendance. This even occurs at public hearings set up specifically for public input.

Residents need to take an active role in government. We have the right to attend government meetings, read documents from these meetings and question decisions to keep our officials in check.

Government works best when reviewed. This is everyone’s responsibility. And it deserves compliments when warranted.

We live in a country where we have these rights, let’s use them.

So make an event of it. Take your children or a date. Stop for supper and then attend a meeting. It will likely be less than two hours of your life and you are guaranteed to learn something about your community. It’s also a great way to get involved and to show your children where decisions are made.

We hope you meet our challenge and maybe even make a habit of it.

See you there.

— The Dickinson Press Editorial Board meets weekly to discuss issues that are important to the community.

Tags: opinion, editorial, tax, property, tax, stark, county