Hands-on: Just Another Word for `Afraid to Let Go`

Saying one is 'hands-on' can bring to mind the smooth performance of the expert: economy of movement, selecting just the right tool and just the right material, little touches quietly attended to. All focus is on the job.

Then there is the 'hands-on' seen far more often, a drive to control that is born of fear and need: fear that incompetence will show through, fear of being irrelevant to the job at hand, the desperate need to be seen as making a difference, the need to be the center of attention. All focus is on self.

Surrounded with incompetents and sycophants, the control freak hopes to emerge as the only one capable of doing the job. Encounter a professional? Attack their professionalism, hoping to get one leg up. Encounter a job well done? Take credit. Pathetic, really.

The discussion of the Valley View Avenue drainage issue during the 6/15 continuation of the 6/12 council meeting provides a recent example. Mr. Ahl had to deal with endless questions on the efficacy of debris traps, storm probabilities, and whether just cleaning the drains wasn't good enough instead of solving the problem in accord with industry standards. He - the engineer - finally had to make the policy statement that the reason the city operates a storm water service was to protect the property of residents, and, having made the decision to operate a service, you do what you have to do to meet that commitment.

Instead of posturing as Defender of the Treasury, Ms. Juenemann demonstrated the counter stance, saying, "I believe the engineer because I am not one of those." She listened to the engineering professional for the engineering. Then she attended to the political considerations. During a similar issue (Brand Avenue drainage) moments later, Mr. Hjelle stayed in that vein - "I trust Mr. Ahl to do it the right way".

It could be argued that it is the council's job to play skeptic and not just rubber stamp all staff recommendations. While skepticism is part of stewardship, you cannot do just one thing. Constant public skepticism directed at the work of city staff has the effect, intended or not, of undermining public trust in the professional judgment of the target.

Random audits of city projects to ensure methods and materials used are consistent with industry standards and the practices of comparable cities would serve the stewardship goal far more effectively than ill-informed badgering, and would enhance public trust in the city's professionals.

Might be what the framers of Plan B government had in mind.