Kelly Wassenberg is the Tribune news clerk and lives in Wells with her family. This column reflects her personal opinion.

You learn a lot about yourself while working at a newspaper. Whether it’s from the words within its pages or the people you meet while preparing its content, you are constantly challenged by not only being exposed to different viewpoints, but the responsibility to seek out both sides of any issue — even when you disagree. The only exception is the opinion page. Even then there are challenges; however, this time it’s not fear of exceeding my editor’s recommended word count. This time it’s forcing myself to write angry, despite my preference to do so with a clearer head. I have come to realize that when it comes to this topic, I will always be angry and that’s OK as long as I funnel that anger into a positive. I hope I achieve my goal.

Last month I attended an Albert Lea City Council meeting in support of having a stop sign placed at Eighth Street and Frank Hall Drive, and I thought I was pretty prepared. Prior to coming to the Tribune, I was the only writer for an area newspaper. I covered city council and school board meetings so I was fully aware to the struggles members face to keep balance, to remain fair and to act in the best interest of a community or school even when their opinion was unpopular. Yet I was still left flabbergasted.

Though he voted in favor of a temporary sign to be placed at the location during that meeting, City Councilman George Marin questioned what would happen if everyone came forward with concerns about their neighborhoods.

In the weeks since that meeting I can still say the worst side of me is revealed when I think back upon that remark and the feelings it stirs. It still necessitates a response though — one I would like to offer the City Council.

If other residents come forward expressing concerns about safety in their neighborhoods, you act. It’s that simple. You thank them for coming forward, you collect whatever information you can from them regarding the times and circumstances the problem seems to be most prevalent, you assign someone the job of investigating those complaints and you act accordingly. 

Yes, it’s work. Yes, it’s time and resources. But we have boards that cover topics such as economic development, public health and housing. Why can’t neighborhood safety be added to the list? Why not establish a committee or even designate a point person for residents to go to with concerns? Create a protocol on how concerns are documented and vetted. Some complaints are nothing more than that — a complaint — but you can’t dismiss them all.

Once multiple complaints are made in an area, have someone go door knocking. Are others seeing the same problems in this area? Make sure that information is documented and valid concerns shared with police. Maybe extra patrols in the neighborhood are warranted. Maybe a few tickets need to be issued. Perhaps that’s all that’s needed, but be prepared to do something more if it isn’t.

The moment the City Council is no longer ignorant of a safety concern in this city, they are no longer immune from the liability of being complacent.

The only thing you can do is the first thing you should be compelled to do. You act.

And to those reading this, I encourage you to act as well. Survey your property. Is there an overgrown bush or other obstacle that would make visibility difficult for those on the street? If so, ask yourself what you can do to ease the burden on drivers. Is there a stop along your commute to work that you avoid because it’s an accident waiting to happen or a street you won’t let your kids walk home from school on? Speak up.

You’ve been given a voice — there’s no better reason to use it than to try to bring about change. The consequences of silence on such issues result in burdens no one should have to bear.