Editorials: The king is naked

If the king can do no wrong, as Buena Vista County argues, then the Storm Lake City Council might as well throw in the towel and disincorporate. Let the county supervisors deal with a crumbling street and water system, and the sheriff can patrol what was the county seat.

The county submits that argument in court because its officials misplaced at least $5 million in tax increment financing revenue that was supposed to go to the city, but got disbursed to the wrong accounts. The county shrouds itself in an implied immunity under state tort law, which says that no claim can be brought against a county over the “assessment or collection” of taxes.

Storm Lake is asking about the distribution of tax revenues, not their collection.

If the county can throw $5 million to the wind, when it is supposed to go across the street to City Hall, and there is nothing the city can do about it, then the city has no authority and might as well close shop.

That wouldn’t be all bad. People from Storm Lake might pay more attention to the mismanagement going on inside the courthouse. It might reduce government bloat. It certainly would get the county’s attention, as it refuses to pay back the city a penny for all that lost money. If the county is king, does that mean we’re in England?

Which is why a judge should step in and mediate this silly dispute.

The county’s claim that it can burn $5 million with impunity is ridiculous. So is its other assertion: that this negligence has gone on for so long that it is covered by the statute of limitations. Indeed, the city administration had a good nap for several years as the faucet dripped and nobody noticed for the snoring. That should not leave the county off the hook for corroding the pipes.

Only a sober judge can put these clowns into a car and tell them to settle their accounts. The county should pay the city what it is owed. The city should be able to determine it if the county won’t reveal its own public records. A judge should be able to get to the nubbin and force a resolution.

Otherwise, the city must conclude that there is no point in maintaining its municipal status if the county indeed is king and does not have to meet its stated obligations. Let agland pay to help pave Geneseo Street. Watch your tax rates go up in Albert City to mow the parks in Storm Lake. Former Mayor Sandy Madsen suggested disincorporation many years ago over a dispute with the county whose details we cannot remember, because the controversy cleared so fast when the county realized she meant it. Call it the nuclear option. If a court agrees with the county, then the city has no reason to exist without a claim on its own tax base.

Troublesome facts

If facts matter, here they are: Hunter Biden was found guilty by a federal district court jury in Delaware of lying about his cocaine addiction to illegally purchase and possess a gun. Donald Trump was found guilty by a state district court jury in New York of 34 counts of fraud over his hush-money payments to a porn star.

Hunter Biden is not running for president. Donald Trump is.

President Joe Biden said in the wake of his son’s conviction that he respects the rule of law and the jury’s decision. He said he would not pardon his son.

Trump calls his own conviction a sham and says the judge is corrupt. Trump pardoned criminals who worked for him. He calls the mob that attacked the Capitol on his exhortation patriots, warriors and victims, and promised to pardon the people who wanted to hang his own vice president.

The case against Hunter Biden was brought by the Justice Department under President Joe Biden. The case against Trump was brought by an independently elected local Manhattan prosecutor, not Biden’s Justice Department.

It also is a fact that Gov. Kim Reynolds, Attorney General Brenna Bird and Iowa’s entire congressional delegation declared that the Trump trial was a “sham.”

These are all established facts. You be the judge. Beyond a reasonable doubt, you can see who respects law and order, and who rails against it.