Our park board is at it again. During its latest meeting, a motion was made by Commissioner Paul Quist to put the indoor pool and wellness center on the ballot and let the voters choose if they want it. This time, unlike two years ago, it would be on its own merit.

Both Quist and Commissioner John Sagsveen acknowledged that neither of them knew the reason the pool was voted down two years ago. Was it the sales tax increase people didn't want? Was it the numerous other projects associated with it? Or was it the pool itself people didn't want?

Nobody will ever know why they voted it down. But what an opportunity to find out, if only our park board would have allowed it to go to a vote. I commend Quist for making a motion to put it on the ballot, but the motion died for lack of a second.

The message I got out of this is that the park board doesn't care why the project was voted down two years ago, they are just going to do it anyway. What an insult to the voters of Bismarck. This is not the way to start earning voter trust.

I for one, would vote yes for this pool. All they need to show me is that they have a detailed operating budget and that they can afford to do it without raising my taxes. Pretty simple, if you ask me.

Furthermore, I keep hearing from our elected officials that they want to hear the opinions of the voters and encourage them to speak at the meetings.

One citizen did just that during this meeting, and after he did, he was accused of "grandstanding" by Sagsveen. Why would I want to speak at a public meeting if I'm going to be insulted after I speak? Not very professional, if you ask me.

The Tribune hit it right on the nose recently in its editorial: "When in doubt, put it to a vote."

Good job, Tribune. It's just too bad our elected officials don't agree.