Letters To The Editor

Sat., Dec. 9, 2000

City the real loser in times of turmoil

The recent elections were characterized by strong personal attacks by candidates on both sides. Except in Spirit Lake. Mayor Bill Moe would not allow us who actively supported him to respond in kind to personal attacks on him. This may have cost him the election, yet the less than 2 percent vote margin showed that the city, like the nation, is split right down the middle as to what issues are important here. A check of the public record showed the charges against him to be based on a faulty understanding of how a city is run and a seeming lack of willingness to find out. A lot of fear was created among our more vulnerable citizens, whether intentionally or not.

Comparing the monster described by the mayor’s opponents and the gentle-spirited and competent man that I have come to know. I must admit I was deeply bewildered, even angered by the bitter rhetoric and the injustice I saw being heaped on our duly elected mayor. There is a hard-won tradition in this country. It’s called the election. Its original intent was a short, rough-and-tumble period followed by a few years of calm to get something done. Here, we seem to have a never-ending power struggle that is sapping the vitality out of what is basically a nice little city and preventing meeting urgent needs. This may provide excitement, but divides a city that needs to unite for the sake of those struggling in one way or another, especially our children.

Anyone who really knows Bill Moe realizes that he is an honorable, strong man, willing to face down and subdue the rampant drug-dealing activity here by obtaining grants to bolster our police force, including an officer who patrols our schools and counsels kids on drug use and other youth problems. He stood up and began the long-neglected completion of the water-meter installation to reduce water use, thus relieving the stress on the waste-water treatment facilities. This also was the key to eventually restoring the city’s grant eligibility. He has encouraged community groups to build a skateboarding facility in the park, to clean up the athletic field on the east side of town and to fix up the old pumphouse for youth activities. These are all positive developments that show a commitment to the city, its youth and their families. He has done all this and much, much more. He was even willing to work full time for $300 a month.

Now a new mayor leads us. Hopefully, he will be given a chance to continue the good work that has been started without undue interference. We all need to step back and reflect on the personal and civic destruction rumor and gossip creates. No matter who thinks he or she is the winner, it’s always the city and its citizens who are the losers in all this endless turmoil. William “Bill” Parsons Spirit Lake

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