Government needs to set an example

New Prague’s City Council apparently violated state law at its Monday, May 5, meeting by selling $10.2 million in general obligation bonds to fund the construction of a new police station.

Illegally selling bonds to fund a police station? That sounds a little ironic, don’t ya’ think?

Before jumping to assuming anything nefarious took place, it could well be this was simply an oversight. City staff said the council went ahead with the sale, despite not holding the public hearing, on the advice of legal counsel. After reviewing the final sale requirements, Kennedy & Graven, who acts as the city attorney for the City of New Prague, informed the city the public hearing requirement was not met to give the city authority to sell those bonds, which voided the sale.

Assuming the city did err, it’s hardly the crime of the century. But it is concerning nonetheless. According to a news account from the meeting, councilors were informed of the lapse by a wellinformed citizen who had done the necessary research. The city’s bond counselor indicated the need to check with the city attorney to verify if the general-obligation bonds could not be sold without a public hearing. OK, that makes sense.

Upon the city attorney’s advice to go ahead with approving the sale, the council voted 3-1 to approve it rather than scheduling a special meeting or rebidding the sale of the bonds. No doubt the city council moved ahead with the sale rather than risking less-favorable, more expensive terms via a rebidding. While that’s understandable, it is seemingly still a questionable rationale.

The city says the city council will be discussing its options for funding the approved police station with the city attorney and financial consultant in an upcoming city council meeting.

There will be plenty if finger-pointing to go around. But citizens have a right to expect government to follow the law, even laws potentially laden with inconvenience. If the city council doesn’t have to follow the law, why should a citizen? We understand the majority of the city council wants to move forward with the sale of the bonds and commence construction of an expansion of the existing fire station to create more space for a suitable police facility, one with enough secure space for evidence and appropriate storage of costly equipment. To seriously suggest the city doesn’t need to update its facilities for police is almost as questionable as suggesting police officers could clean their service weapons at home on their own time at the kitchen table.

Let’s be honest, please. New Prague residents are potentially facing some significant costs for public facilities and operations. We know the schools have potential shortcomings in building security. The public discussion all but demands those shortcomings be addressed. The district has cut about 16% of its general fund budget the past three years because voters won’t OK an increase in the district’s operating levy. Fortunately, no citizens have complained about class sizes during school board public comment sessions.

The update of the police station is long, long overdue. The city is paying for delaying the necessary expansion. Eventually, the existing building’s limitations will cost the department and the city dearly, be it in the form of a conviction lost because of lack of storage space or people potentially injured because of overcrowding. The notion of updating the facility has been studied by people who know the business. Each year, delays lead to higher costs, especially when inflation and tariffs are factored into the equation. We can argue about design and size but not need.

This is a community that rightfully supports its police officers. And at a critical juncture, an oversight threatens to sidetrack the progress years in the making. The cost of an error at a critical juncture should not be justification to thwart progress after years of waiting.

But just as the city would require a homeowner to take out a building permit for a deck project, even after the fact, the city needs to take a step back and rebid the bond sale.Yes, credibility has a cost and the city needs to be ready to cover it.