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EDITORIAL: Settle the conflict in South Beloit
Respect, courtesy, cooperation. Too much to ask?
IN SOUTH BELOIT, political differences on the City Council are not new. While the community has scored several remarkable achievements in recent years, the leadership sometimes has allowed itself to become distracted in unproductive ways.
Now it appears the bad blood might come to a boil, leading to the sort of conflicts that can undermine progress at a time when focus and teamwork are crucial to weathering severe economic challenges.
And all over a little bit of salt.
EXCEPT, NOT REALLY. The salt caper has just become the fuse on the powder keg.
Council member Bob Redieske was observed taking salt from the city, allegedly for personal use. Mayor Randy Kirichkow was notified and passed the report on to Police Chief Tom Fearn, who did the right thing to avoid a potential conflict of interest - investigating one of his bosses. The chiefasked the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department to look into the matter. The sheriff did, and deemed it appropriate to arrest Redieske on a relatively minor charge.
Redieske claimed the whole thing was politically motivated. Now other council members have put together a special meeting, to be convened this evening, during which an investigation could be ordered into how city resources are used, and by whom, with the objective of developing a clearer policy.
FIRST, LET'S STATE what ought to be obvious to everyone - city employees, council members and citizens.
City resources are purchased with public dollars to serve public purposes. Personal use of such resources - whether it's salt or computers or a snowplow - should be off limits for any city employee or elected official. City government is no one's personal sandbox.
It's not about the money, either. Whether misuse of public property amounts to a $5 loss or a $500 loss, it's wrong.
Now, having said that, let's add a rejoinder. We have seen no evidence that the good folks representing South Beloit - and we include Bob Redieske in that list - have stepped forward to serve for corrupt purposes. It seems clear all those involved - from employees to commissioners to the mayor - want the best for their community.
SO DECISION-MAKERS may want to think long and hard before escalating the current conflict, beyond taking the smart step of developing a clear policy detailing how public property and resources should be used.
Wars are a lot easier to start than they are to finish.
Keep in mind that national and regional economies are in trouble, and it will take all the focus and teamwork officials can muster to maintain South Beloit on an even course.
Also keep in mind that while South Beloit is a small town accustomed to small town ways of doing things, the robust growth which has taken place will require a more organized and formal set of practices and procedures. In the long run, that's a good thing.
No one elected these council members to be each other's best friends. They were voted in to get things done, which at a minimum requires mutual respect, courtesy and cooperation. Some things have gone awry in South Beloit. Everyone should take a deep breath, and try to set it right.
IN SOUTH BELOIT, political differences on the City Council are not new. While the community has scored several remarkable achievements in recent years, the leadership sometimes has allowed itself to become distracted in unproductive ways.
Now it appears the bad blood might come to a boil, leading to the sort of conflicts that can undermine progress at a time when focus and teamwork are crucial to weathering severe economic challenges.
And all over a little bit of salt.
EXCEPT, NOT REALLY. The salt caper has just become the fuse on the powder keg.
Council member Bob Redieske was observed taking salt from the city, allegedly for personal use. Mayor Randy Kirichkow was notified and passed the report on to Police Chief Tom Fearn, who did the right thing to avoid a potential conflict of interest - investigating one of his bosses. The chiefasked the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department to look into the matter. The sheriff did, and deemed it appropriate to arrest Redieske on a relatively minor charge.
Redieske claimed the whole thing was politically motivated. Now other council members have put together a special meeting, to be convened this evening, during which an investigation could be ordered into how city resources are used, and by whom, with the objective of developing a clearer policy.
FIRST, LET'S STATE what ought to be obvious to everyone - city employees, council members and citizens.
City resources are purchased with public dollars to serve public purposes. Personal use of such resources - whether it's salt or computers or a snowplow - should be off limits for any city employee or elected official. City government is no one's personal sandbox.
It's not about the money, either. Whether misuse of public property amounts to a $5 loss or a $500 loss, it's wrong.
Now, having said that, let's add a rejoinder. We have seen no evidence that the good folks representing South Beloit - and we include Bob Redieske in that list - have stepped forward to serve for corrupt purposes. It seems clear all those involved - from employees to commissioners to the mayor - want the best for their community.
SO DECISION-MAKERS may want to think long and hard before escalating the current conflict, beyond taking the smart step of developing a clear policy detailing how public property and resources should be used.
Wars are a lot easier to start than they are to finish.
Keep in mind that national and regional economies are in trouble, and it will take all the focus and teamwork officials can muster to maintain South Beloit on an even course.
Also keep in mind that while South Beloit is a small town accustomed to small town ways of doing things, the robust growth which has taken place will require a more organized and formal set of practices and procedures. In the long run, that's a good thing.
No one elected these council members to be each other's best friends. They were voted in to get things done, which at a minimum requires mutual respect, courtesy and cooperation. Some things have gone awry in South Beloit. Everyone should take a deep breath, and try to set it right.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of beloitdailynews.com.
askoonz wrote on Dec 10, 2008 7:47 PM:
" This has been going on a long time. There is a power struggle going on between Mr. Redieske and Mayor Kirchkow. Just about any vote that is taken is a 3 -2 vote. There is a great deal on animosity on this board. This all boils down to personalities. I agree these guys have been voted to get things done and they are not doing the job. We have propably lost Target, our roads and sewar system stink, our police have no contract, the city is operating at a deficitl. We have a City Attorney but they contract out for anything of any importance. These guys have no idea how to work together, let alone what mutual respect and courtesy are. "
BUSTER wrote on Dec 12, 2008 1:46 PM:
" SEEMS TO ME, ALL THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE
IN S.B. TODAY SALT NEEDS TO BE WAY DOWN ON THE LIST. HOW DO YOU WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS WHEN YOUR THROWING DAGGERS AT EACH OTHER. SALT SHOULD BE CORRECTED FROM WITH-IN, THE REST OF THE WORLD SHOULDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT. I THINK WE NEED TO START LEARNING HOW TO PRIORITIZ, IN JUST WHATS IMPORTANT IN CITY GOVERNMENT. "
IN S.B. TODAY SALT NEEDS TO BE WAY DOWN ON THE LIST. HOW DO YOU WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS WHEN YOUR THROWING DAGGERS AT EACH OTHER. SALT SHOULD BE CORRECTED FROM WITH-IN, THE REST OF THE WORLD SHOULDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT. I THINK WE NEED TO START LEARNING HOW TO PRIORITIZ, IN JUST WHATS IMPORTANT IN CITY GOVERNMENT. "
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spedtke wrote on Dec 10, 2008 2:17 PM:
This is too simple to have any explanation or editorializing. Mr. Ridieski stole and broke the law. He should be punished......case closed. "