Conspicuous in their absence

How embarrassing for the City of Sisters.

The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing -- in Sisters -- on Wednesday, January 26. The hearing was about rezoning industrial property that will be brought into the city, probably sooner rather than later.

The city has been a key player in this process, especially relating to issues of transportation and planning. The commissioners had questions that could only be answered by someone from the city.

But no one from the city showed up. Not one elected official, not one employee, thought this meeting was important enough to attend.

City Administrator Barbara Warren said she just didn't think about it, demonstrating a disturbing nonchalance about her responsibilities (City Planner Neil Thompson had previously informed Warren he had an important personal obligation).

But why wasn't a single city councilor or city planning commissioner present? Were they not told of the hearing, or were they told it didn't concern them? The city's absence meant that important issues went unaddressed, at least for the time.

Their absence was conspicuous.

Eric Dolson