Our View: Investigations cost is money well spent

Well, it’s not exactly money well spent. But it’s essential to spend it. Our system depends on it. We’re talking about the money it costs the city of Cloquet to continually investigate complaints against city officials, police and councilors.

We understand the frustration of taxpayers, who would prefer their funds be spent on roads, parks, protection and other essential city services. In recent years, the city has spent a significant amount of tax money investigating the former police chief, the current police chief, a council member and city administrators.

When does it all end? Well, it ends when the citizens are assured their tax money is being used correctly by leaders who are foremost acting in the citizens’ best interest. It ends when the voters elect leaders who represent the will of the population. And it ends when the citizens feel confident the leadership is doing its job.

Some people feel the investigations are a sham: political payback and harassment. That’s possible, but irrelevant. There have been enough questions raised in our local government that we need to find the answers.

And investigations don’t necessarily mean something bad has happened. Ask any good cop (or journalist), and they’ll tell you: Many complaints are investigated but result in nothing. But it’s still important to investigate each complaint. And that’s what has been happening here.

It’s true that the investigations cost money. But it’s worth it. Soon, citizens will have their confidence restored in their citizen government. And only then will the investigations stop slowing down the important work of city officials.