Cathy in the Wright

Why I Love Living In The Country: Reason 311

A little bit of local real estate wheeling and dealing necessitated my first appearance at the local township board meeting last Tuesday. Having never been to a township meeting before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had visions of imposing board members glaring from behind a polished magohany table while humble petitioners sat mutely waiting to be allowed to raise our eyes to see a row of thumbs-down fists denying our motions.

I should have known better.

The board meeting kicked off right at 7:30p.m. I learned that while one board member was on vacation, that still left a quorum of two members to conduct official business, so let's get going. Everyone stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Seed caps came off, hearts were covered, and everyone said the Pledge. I don't believe I heard anyone omit "under God" - we're not a big bunch of church/state separationists out here. By God.

And then Mike and Dan, our two present board members, got down to business. There is nothing funnier than watching two people run a meeting by Robert's Rules of Order.

Any other questions on last month's minutes, Dan?

Nope. Looks good to me, Mike.

Okay. All in favor to approve the minutes?

Aye

Aye. All those against?

(respectable 2 second pause...just in case)

Approved. Next item.

And so township business was quickly and efficiently handled. Mike and Dan didn't look like board members; they looked like a couple of farmers having coffee and talking about the weather and, oh yeah, should that Camp woman be able to sell off ten acres of swamp to her neighbor? Sure, sure, you bet. Hope we get some more rain. All in favor say Aye.

I was enthralled. I wanted to hear more. Unfortunately, we left after our petition had been granted. But I may go back next month just to listen. Will Paul be back from vacation and throw a Nay in just to keep things lively? Will the hot button issue of paving the gravel roads rear its head once again? Will somebody make a motion to tell Shawn and Heather that the next time they want to publically declare their love, they should take out an ad in the paper instead of using the Crow River bridge and a can of spray paint? Stay tuned.

And some day, I could see myself sitting behind the old wooden table with the drawers that stick in the air-conditioning free township hall and asking my neighbor, "Well, Tiff, any questions on last month's minutes?"

Now where is my seed cap?

Posted by Cathy at August 3, 2006 09:38 AM