They Did What They Had To Do

It is really easy being critical. In fact, I do it regularly on this commentary when I perceive mistakes made by elected public officials.

That was the case when the Fairfield City Council quickly tabled a proposed ordinance allowing a controlled hunt of the geese that are destroying the city’s golf course. I called it “Goosegate.”

So, when the city council brought the matter up off the table on Tuesday night and voted to make it possible to harvest a few of the geese and possibly discourage  the rest in their occupation of the golf course, I have to hand out plaudits to them for doing the right thing.

It was not a slam dunk. There were aldermen who struggled with the decision. They had questions for Park District leader Jay Fyie, who has been working diligently with his board to make the golf course financially viable.

I have also fielded many calls and e-mails concerning the goose issue. Most of the correspondences were people with heartburn about the proposed solution. They wanted other strategies tried first. I told them I thought the Park District did their due diligence.

It was interesting to read that Mt. Vernon has precisely the same problem. They are also struggling with failed strategies to deal with the nuisance. Soon, I believe, they will follow Fairfield’s lead.

In the end, the Fairfield City Council did what they had to do. They passed an ordinance to solve the problem. They did it despite the fact that it was unpopular in some quarters. 

They did what they had to do.