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But two very important things happened this week.
First, City Administrator Barb Hampel did the right thing by paying a fine for what appears to be a momentary lapse in judgment. Hampel was accused of getting into another city employee’s vehicle without the owner’s permission.
It’s good for everyone —Hampel and the rest of the city — that this particular chapter in the city’s recent history has been written. It’s one less point of contention that divides the community.
Maybe even more significant, though, is the reconstitution of a citizen’s group that wants to take a more positive tone, learning more about civic involvement and planning for the next election.
We certainly cannot blame the group for being disappointed by the actions of the city council or the administration at times. And the citizens have been responsible about voicing concerns as well as getting involved in their city at a time when apathy among residents of any community seems to be an all-too-common occurrence.
But it’s also refreshing to see the citizens group work at becoming more proactive. This demonstrates they’re there not just shooting down any idea that passes by, but appear to be dedicated to improving government and improving their community. This may be a textbook lesson in community civics.
We also applaud Winona State University for lending its expertise.
The other important thing this does for the group is continue to establish credibility. As cliche as it may sound, this group is not content just to point out the problems facing the small community — it’s also taking an active role in solving them.
We wish the group a lot of success as it tries to transform a city government that has — at the very minimum — suffered from a serious publicity crisis and hasn’t seemed particularly adept at caring for its image.
These latest events in Lewiston show that both the city administration and the citizens seem like they can set aside the differences of yesterday and get to work today on a brighter tomorrow for Lewiston.
That would truly be the heart of Winona.
The Winona Daily News editorial board also includes publisher Rusty Cunningham and online editor Jerome Christenson. To comment, call (507) 453-3507 or send e-mail to letters@winonadailynews.com.
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