Priorities

It is the duty of the City Council to protect the interests of the city, but too often, special interest groups interfere. It seems that fate has befallen Rogers.

Councilman Bob Goodwin (or, in the original Morning News account, Rob Goodman) has broken ranks with his fellow elected officials, a sign of outside influence interfering with his judgment.

The group that has apparently purchased Goodwin's vote is the Rogers taxpayer. There is no other way to explain his concern, expressed during the city's June 9 council meeting, for finding less expensive alternative to maintain and improve the intersections and roadways of downtown Rogers.

The seven other council members understand the value of unity, as a whole in favor of continuing the project. The validity of the project is not in question, rather the speed at which the city's leaders latch on to the first proposal that comes their way. Any delay could cost the downtown business owners days or even weeks of delay as other ideas are considered.

The downtown business owners are also right to back this proposal unquestioningly, as the absence of any meaningful customer traffic is certainly the fault of those historic brick intersections.

Even if drawn out discussion would have resulted in the same conclusion, the undermining of resident confidence by working to ensure their interests are protected would only jeopardize the residents' interests.

But it seems Goodwin is finally coming around. After listening to the merchant's support of the intersection proposal, Goodwin refused to comment to the daily record, which can only mean he is succumbing to the group thinking. It will be a proud day in Rogers when projects like this can be approved and completed without any delay for discussion, no matter how good other ideas may be.