Civility was lacking atcounty board workshop
Watching the county commissioners discuss issues at a Sept. 18 workshop turned out to be rather interesting. They expressed some informed opinions, listened to each other, and aside from some personal rants (that are a politician’s prerogative) and some nonverbal posturing when colleagues spoke, it wasn’t too bad a morning. The people around the table were quite aware of those of us there to observe how they conducted business.
Then Commissioner Dennis Fink, after orating at length with a degree of irrationality about the notion of prioritizing correct environmental purchases for county departments, seemed to lose control when Commissioner Peg Sweeney challenged (with just a look) his statement that the county holds $4.2 million of inventory at this time. He shouted that it was all in the budget publication, launched that bound book across the table in Sweeney’s direction, with Commissioner Steve O’Neil helping to bring it to a stop. When Sweeney spoke next, she chided Fink telling him that was childish behavior. He shot back, “Well, just throw it back at me.” (“Sweeney claims Fink threw book at her,” Sept. 26, and Our View, “Mommmmmmmmmmyyyyy!” Sept. 27.)
I also was mystified by the repeated references to people needing social services coming to St. Louis County from Chicago always directed toward O’Neil, who patiently maintained a pleasant demeanor in spite of what began to look like badgering. Ann Busche, director of Public Health and Human Services, explained that St. Louis County is bound by exactly the same Minnesota state rules as the other 86 counties and that the county does not hand out services lavishly. That did nothing to stop the lamentations of helping folks from Chicago while looking at O’Neil.
I expected to see respectful interaction (both verbal and nonverbal) between commissioners. And I expect commissioners to listen to their employees.
Phyllis Mead
Duluth
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