An unpleasant event occurred at the Sept. 15 Ketchum City Council meeting that marred the public comment on the Ketchum Hotel and further demeaned any goodwill that was present in the tense, packed hall.
While 29 participants in the predominantly pro-Ketchum audience voiced their unconditional support for the new hotel, about six of the nine Ketchum residents, who also supported the Hotel, raised their continuing concerns regarding specific issues.
Of the three or four residents who spoke in opposition to the hotel, one, a long-time resident, was singled out by a pro-hotel speaker to publicly ridicule and mock as a few snickers emboldened the denigrating remarks. Personal attacks will discourage others from making the effort to attend meetings and let their feelings be known to the council.
I was not alone in feeling deeply offended by the lack of civility the statements implied and the divisiveness they continue to add to our city. They lower the level of quality, thoughtful discourse required to move our city forward. Such denouncements are inappropriate and unwarranted from anyone on either side of any controversial issue in a public meeting.
Because of ongoing, hot-button local issues and previous uncivil remarks by audience members during previous city-conducted meetings, the mayor gave advance warning to those present to maintain civility during the public comments of this meeting or be removed from the audience. Yet his gavel remained quiet.
Each resident who professes to love "his/her" city can see positive change only by making greater efforts to find ways of working together in a united effort. Or see failure through continued negativity and refusal by all sides to listen to one another.
Mary Jane Conger
Ketchum
