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The questions were flying at last week's special county board meeting as were the answers. The meeting was held to put everything about the new county health and human services building on the table. After almost three hours a lot of information was put forward and people who opposed or supported the project, should have been satisfied.

The meeting should also put to rest any idea to suspend or stop the project. While it can be done, it became very apparent that it would be at a cost to the taxpayers of this county. In talking to many opponents of the building that reality seems to have hit home.

As I've learned in this job over the years, there is one thing that will split a community faster than anything else and that's a building project. Whether it's a county building, school or any other type of government project it seems bring everyone out.

I watched the county board supervisors devour each other trying to build the courthouse annex several years ago, observed plans for a new jail go down in flames and now the recent controversy of the health and human services building. New schools in Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Iowa-Grant and Highland also created a divisive public atmosphere.

I've also watched many elected officials struggle to make the right decision, weighing not only what they feel is best for the government entity they sit on, but how much they can put on the backs of the taxpayers. I've yet to see a local politician go into office with the goal to "sock" it to the taxpayer. In the end many elected officials find themselves on the short end of the votes after they make a tough decision. But that's all part of the process too.

One thing I've always found disappointing is that after a controversial issue dies down the crowds at meetings go away and the public discussion wanes. At many meetings it's usually just the board and press. Nothing makes an elected body happier when they need to make a tough decision than a room full of people.

As I heard over and over from many county supervisors on the controversy of this new building, "Where were all these people when we were making the plans and decision." It's a sentence I've heard time and time again from school board members, council members and county board supervisors over the years after they are called on the carpet over a decision they made.

While the newspaper is a conduit to let the public know what a government body is doing, it's up to the public to give their local elected representatives input. It's also up to the elected officials to reach out to their constituents for opinions. In the end it's called democracy and while we might not agree with the decisions, the system works.