To the editor:
One of the fundamental principles in a democracy is making decisions based on the Common Good. The FOIA issue currently facing the entire Leelanau County government is a solid case of actions which threaten this greater good. One Commissioner’s demand to see the confidential email exchanges between another Commissioner and county employees exacerbates the already “toxic work environment” currently under review. It creates bad feeling between the Commissioners involved, drags the County Prosecutor into the melee to make sensitive rulings, and elicits fear and anger among the staff respondents on the emails. They were assured that their candid remarks were confidential. Now there is fear that their emails will be opened to scrutiny. This FOIA demand becomes a good example of how one Commissioner’s misplaced sense of self importance shreds the greater good in an entire work community.
Celeste Crouch Glen Arbor
