Trending
Too often, elected officials act as if they are walking among uncooked eggs when they're faced with a tough issue.
They are fearful of cracking open the eggs and unleashing a sticky, hard-to-clean-up mess -- when sometimes such a mess already exists.
It was the Blair County commissioners who were faced with that kind of a dilemma early this year in connection with the county Planning Commission but, to their credit, they navigated it appropriately. Recent days confirmed the importance and correctness of what action they felt they needed to take, as well as how problematic procrastination might have been.
Now they can look forward, rather than be tied up with trying to undo a problem that circumstances made bigger.
Every county agency upon which county residents depend needs to carry out its responsibilities fully, even when traveling the proverbial extra mile is necessary.
For a number of reasons, that wasn't happening at the Planning Commission and a commission membership shakeup and a change in staff leadership became necessary.
All of that was uncharacteristic of the commission, which has compiled a commendable record of service and expertise since it was formed in 1964, when countywide and regional planning was kicking into high gear, not only in and for Blair County but across Pennsylvania and beyond.
What didn't help matters were the health issues and medical leave of planning Director Dave McFarland, who subsequently resigned.
The commission staff probably could have dealt with the unfortunate setback of McFarland's health issues temporarily if all members of the governing commission had been up to the task of keeping important work and task completion on the right track.
However, a breakdown in that necessity occurred -- a breakdown that could have resulted in terrible consequences stemming from storms that battered the county on July 5-6.
The county commissioners' decision in February to ask for the resignations of three commission members -- and the subsequent appointment of new members -- set the stage for completion of the county's hazardous mitigation plan update that should have been completed prior to the former plan's expiration in February 2025.
The new, updated version was approved at the county commissioners' June 10 meeting and by other municipal leaders at their meetings.
The updated plan actually took effect on May 26, just over a month before this month's storms and serious flooding affecting Tyrone Borough.
At a meeting on July 16, the commissioners reflected on the possible negative repercussions if the plan work had remained unfinished when this month's storms struck. They indicated that help efforts for victims might have been stymied and might still be in limbo -- or worse.
Instead, the commissioners on July 16 were able to praise the county's emergency management staff and responders for their quick response and efforts put forth to address victims' needs.
Meanwhile, the Altoona Water Authority's pursuit of $500,000 in state and federal grants moved off of on-hold status as a result of the completion of the hazardous mitigation plan update.
A lesson confirmed by what the commissioners' action was able to accomplish is this: It's better to risk "breaking a few eggs" and possibly enduring some criticism along the way than allowing an unwanted and possibly dangerous situation to persist.
Blair County units of government on all levels should keep that lesson in mind, going forward. No one can know when circumstances might change without notice.