The Storm Lake Times: Opinion

A great show

Storm Lake and Buena Vista County did themselves proud over the weekend as hordes of bicyclists pedaled through The City Beautiful on the second-overnight stop on RAGBRAI Sunday. Traffic moved as smoothly as it could, save for the occasional knucklehead trying to motor down Lakeshore Drive to see the spectacle.

Up to 200 authorized volunteers spent the day helping riders with problems big and small. But everyone actually became a volunteer on Sunday by offering directions, shouting hello, offering water or helping to fix a flat tire.

Congratulations to co-chairs Patti Moore and Buzz Paterson in particular, and the committee of 35 who oversaw work in categories ranging from beer to bandstands.

The reward was hearing a conversation between two riders as they looked at the lake and headed toward Buena Vista University: “What an awesome location.”

That phrase no doubt was repeated all day as visitors streamed into The City Beautiful. People from out of state couldn’t believe it when an Iowan, a perfect stranger, would walk up and start a conversation. They had heard about it before but still could not believe it.

The weather was perfect. The lake looked lovely as ever. The town was clean as a whistle. Security was evident but not overbearing.

The music was downright stunning. High and Mighty, featuring Storm Lake native Jeff Carver on trumpet, started to bring out the dancers with a string of R&B covers. The Twin Cities show band was the perfect opener for RAGBRAI crowd favorite Johnny Holm Band. The music ended at midnight, but the party kept going until the wee hours.

Merchants with whom we spoke were impressed with the traffic and relieved when it all vanished Monday morning.

Tens of thousands saw a modern and accommodating small university, a lake in the midst of restoration, a shimmering resort, a diverse downtown and a community on the build.

Many of them will be back. Some, we hope, will stay.

Thanks to you. The effort was worth it.

Alta and the sheriff

Far as we can tell, the City of Alta will engage the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office in a contract for routine patrol and law enforcement. Despite a pocket veto by the mayor, attorneys involved (city and county) agree that a 3-1 vote by the council in favor of the contract ratifies the proposed agreement. The attorneys believe the mayor does not have the authority to refuse to sign a resolution or contract approved by the council.

We’re not certain why the mayor did not want the sheriff’s office running patrols in the town of 1,800. (He left town for Arkansas immediately after the council vote without much explanation — either to the council or the county.) Sheriff Gary Launderville and at least one deputy already live in Alta, so it’s not as if this was an enforcement-free zone.

Alta is on the line between a town too small for professional full-time law enforcement and too big to rely on someone else. We suspect that Altans will be happy with the services provided by the sheriff’s office.

These are not the best of times for local government. Consolidation of services under one local umbrella makes sense whenever possible. The Alta City Council took the right vote for professional law enforcement by contracting with Buena Vista County. If the venture does not work, the council may reverse course and rebuild its own department. With its ranks already slimmed by resignation and military deployment, this is the right time to make the switch.

Alta will save money. The town’s citizens will receive the same level of service they always have enjoyed. The sheriff’s office will be strengthened. What’s not to like?