L&T STAFF OPINION

Last year when the Seward County Commission proposed at 25.868 mill increase, it was the beginning of a community division that exists to this day, and it’s time to bring it to an end.

Some believed Seward County needed the major tax hike to deal with the Conestoga tax settlement that is still not yet decided in the Sedgwick County district court.

That was proven false when representatives from Conestoga stated they would not expect immediate payment after a decision.

Still, Seward County pushed through a 17-mill increase despite a massive outcry from the public not to put such a burden on the people.

Left without a mechanism to challenge the tax, the citizens were left with only one option — recall those who supported the tax.

Since that is not allowed, the citizenry found a misstep by two commissioners and used that as grounds for a recall.

Instead of facing a recall effort, the two resigned, along with the third commissioner who supported the tax, and after appointments of three new commissioners, the tax was rescinded.

Still, some expected more changes within the county while others believed using the recall as a weapon against commissioners was a way to enact personal retribution. The result — two more petitions are now in the signature stage, one against Chairman Steve Helm and another against Vice Chair Todd Stanton.

And what would be the outcome if both were to succeed? We would have a commission with five commissioners with less than a year of experience.

Even if both were to succeed, what’s to say the replacement appointed commissioners would be any more in line with the will of those who want more change and those who want less?

Let’s face it, the quest for recalls will continue to divide the community while keeping the focus on the commissioners rather than on those advising them and providing the guidance and information used to make decisions.

But the public can stop the recall carousel by simply not signing a petition.

We call on those circulating petitions to withdraw and let the issue die here.

There is a bigger concern, and that is in the ability to move forward.

Filing the petitions and having them approved makes its own case. Let the commissioners learn from that, and then let’s start working together to take Seward County to the next level.

We cannot unite as long as the opposing groups seek to attack the other through the use of recall.

Instead of statements of refusing to work together, the commission should focus on tomorrow more than yesterday and how all five can bring a variety of ideas to the discussion. Each side will have to be willing to de-escalate and focus on how to improve Seward County by listening to one another rather than seeking to remove the opposition. The cycle ends when we refuse to sign petitions. Don’t sign either one, and demand cooperation rather than confrontation.

We recommend no one sign a recall petition and for the greater good to stop circulating them.