Whether the Cities of Marion and Hillsboro broke state law regarding open meetings or saw so many dollar signs they were willing to target local farmers by joining a lawsuit against atrazine misses the most important question.

If atrazine is a sufficient threat to public health that the cities needed to join a lawsuit against it, why were discussions of the issue conducted primarily behind closed doors?

All but forgotten are the residents of Marion, Hillsboro and Peabody who everyday drink the water that may or may not pose risks.  Don’t they deserve a full and frank discussion — open to the public, not conducted under a shroud of secrecy?

More and more, local governments in Marion County are conducting public affairs in private. When they emerge from secret sessions, there no longer are two sides to an issue — just one, agreed upon behind closed doors. Well-intentioned as it might be, that’s not democracy. The people paying taxes, drinking the water and voting in elections deserve more.

Democracy never has been neat and tidy. But it’s worth the messiness if no one is left in the dark.