There has been a rumbling going on in the Town of Latta among a few people about changing the form of government.
Proponents of the change seem to believe it will solve a problem, but the reality is that changing the form of government will not solve any of the real and important problems that the town is facing.
Unfortunately for the town’s citizens, this is just another episode in the ongoing drama and power struggle that has been surrounding the Latta town government for the past 12-15 years now.
One of the town’s greatest problems seems to be the town government’s need for drama and the constant, rampant rumor mill that is propelled by citizens, who live both in and outside of town limits, and disgruntled current and former employees who thrive on there always being a problem.
No matter who is holding the office of mayor or the town council seats over the past several years, the drama and the monthly battle for power never seems to go away.  Changing the form of government won’t solve that. It seems that the more controversy that can be stirred and the more poor media attention that can be brought to the town, then the happier that some of our town leaders and town citizens are. All the while, the real problems of the town are cast aside as officials try to levy for power at what they think is at the expense of other officials, but is really at the expense of the citizens as nothing gets done that benefits and builds up the town. It’s far past being ridiculous, and it’s giving the town a black eye.
The citizens who elected the council should be able to expect the council to work together as adults to solve the problems that plague the citizens on a daily basis. People who live in town need good water, roads they can ride on without throwing their cars out of line, and  more businesses for a dying Main Street. Instead, the citizens are getting constant infighting and petty power struggles from the people they entrusted to better the town. We need council members who desire to and will work work together with the mayor to solve the town’s problems. Most citizens would rather have clear water coming out of their faucet and some new businesses on Main Street than worry about whether they have a strong mayor or strong council form of government. They want the real problems of the town solved, not new problems created, and there should be a reasonable expectation on the part of the citizens that the group that has been elected will work together to get things done—not constantly bicker. Any member of the town leadership who does not feel that they can work within the system to get things done should offer up their resignation and let the citizens elect someone who feels that he or she can. They should not continue to stand in the way of the town’s progress.
Over the next few months, the town’s citizens will see who the true leaders in our town really are. It won’t necessarily be the ones “in charge” or “with the most power.”  The true leaders will be the ones willing and trying to work with others to solve the town’s problems—the ones willing to roll up their sleeves to get to work putting personalities, egos, and other issues aside to act in the best interest of the town’s citizens. The citizens should watch closely to see who their true leaders are and who they are not and vote accordingly.
The town doesn’t need a change in the form of government—what we need is a change in the attitude of people who we elected to serve our community.