Change would make it right

It may not be wrong, but it doesn’t look right.
Jay County Councilman Ted  Champ was on target last week when he urged a greater degree of formality and transparency when it comes to the county getting quotes for services from various providers and businesses.
Champ’s point was that when the business is connected to a local elected official — which could be any member of the council, any commissioner, or any courthouse office-holder — it’s in everyone’s best interest to make sure every effort is made to avoid favoritism.
That may create a tad more paperwork. But a process that requires getting quotes in writing, setting a firm date for accepting quotes, and making sure that all quotes remain sealed then all are opened at once doesn’t create an insurmountable hurdle for anyone.
Instead, it provides some assurance to taxpayers that the best and lowest quotes are accepted and that cronyism is not at work.
Similar procedures have been in place for years when larger expenditures are made and formal bids are sought. A simpler, but equally transparent system makes sense for smaller, non-bid government expenditures.
In the end, it would be in the best interests of those local officeholders who also do business with the county. And it would go a long way toward shoring up trust in local government. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]