Responsibility: Commissioners are making big shift; better be prepared.

There is nothing wrong with making a big change -- as long as it is reasoned, thoughtful and intelligent and done with careful examination of the potential consequences.

It would be easy to insert a sneer here, when it comes to the way the Wayne County commissioners have handled the employment of the county manager, but we are at too critical a point to waste time with satirical subtlety.

So here are the facts.

First, read the column below written by City Councilman Chuck Allen. He is right (and how often do we say that).

Some commissioners decided long ago that they were done with the county manager. Instead of facing that decision head on, making a change and moving forward, they incapacitated the chief executive officer of this county and rendered him useless, deciding instead to usurp the power themselves.

Bad decision, certainly. Not what we elected them for, definitely.

But it is done.

So now we are left with the next step and a critical warning for those who now have created an atmosphere of juggling for position and back-biting in the county government.

The voters, your bosses, do not want the commissioners -- any of them -- running anything that resembles the day-to-day operation of this county.

Translated: You created a leadership vacuum in the county at a critical time. You are not the ones to fill it.

This is a large county with many critical moving parts and an Air Force base within its boundaries, as well as a bright future with lots of potential.

We need a professional county manager with experience as the leader of a county at least this size and a resume to match. And we need him or her quickly.

Anyone currently employed with the county with a resume that lives up to the quality standard that a county of this prestige requires should be considered.

But this is not a political appointment and it should not be some reward. This is too important a post for there to be a learning curve or for the hire to be a "yes" man (or woman) with favors owed.

The hiring process should be open, honest and serious -- and it should move with haste.

And when the new county manager is hired, the commissioners need to remember what they were elected to do -- to set policy, to make decisions that are within their purview, and to work with others to move this county forward.

And what we have said before still is true --none of you are qualified to run a county government. Period. So, unruffle your feathers, sit down and clean up the mess you have made.

That is what the citizenry -- the part that is not telling you what you want to hear -- want you to do now.

They are worried about their county.

They want to see better decisions, more openness and a commission that understands its roles and responsibilities.

And, to your credit, it seems like that is what you want, too, a fresh start, a chance to move forward.

So here is your chance. Show us that a county manager with talent and ideas would be welcome here and that you will get out of his or her way.

That is what true leadership requires.

And when you have a county manager in place, find the money (perhaps in the county's TV budget) to hire a second in command. The fact that there is no one in charge right now is scary. There should be someone who is trained and qualified to step in when there is a problem.

And let your new hire pick that person.

No more politics. No more games. No more behind-the-scenes garbage.

We have work to do. Let's get to it.

Published in Editorials on January 11, 2014 11:16 PM