If you never attend a county commission meeting you might never see how government in Polk County works.

You might also never understand in what ways it doesn’t work, especially how it doesn’t always work efficiently.

Monday night’s meeting was such an example. The Bulletin’s reporter Leah Justice said the discussion about a board appointment alone felt as if it lasted 45 minutes or more.

Isothermal Community College could play a significant role in Polk County’s future. So, having the right person on ICC’s board is crucial. Who that person should be is not our point to argue here.

What we think citizens of Polk County should understand is that the discussion Monday night regarding Commissioner Ray Gasperson’s January appointment to the board was just another example of how partisan politics perverts the process.

Animosity stirred long ago between political sides – republican and democrats, both to blame – continues to linger and cause the commission to be ineffective.

The past board ignored the minority and now the current board is returning the favor. Who knows how long it has been going on but there is no place for it here.