The city of Keyser took a big step toward tackling the community's many challenges with Monday's briefing of the four new council members.
Mayor Glen "Bunk" Shumaker brought the councilmen up to speed by detailing a lengthy list of projects that must be addressed, from a leaking water tank to streets in need of paving. The new council members were attentive and engaged, with Councilman Dave Sowers especially offering numerous suggestions for doing things differently, and hopefully better.
More than just listing all the problems the city faces, Mayor Shumaker set a positive, cooperative tone that we hope will carry forward through the entire term. As the group sat informally in the audience chairs of the council chamber, Shumaker pointed to the dais where they will be seated in their official capacity.
We may differ up there, he told the council members, but when the gavel falls to close the meeting, we need to be friends.
"I have a feeling we're all going to work together well," the mayor said. "Things are going to move forward."
If Keyser is indeed to move forward against that long list of challenges, such a spirit of cooperation will be essential. Certainly, the council members will not always agree. The four new members didn't run to be yes-men, and that’s not what the people of Keyser elected them to do.
Still, this group must pull together by always keeping the community's best interests at heart.  We're confident the voters of Keyser have elected leaders who will do just that, and we look forward to bringing you regular reports as to how they're doing.