The power of people really can work when given a chance. The
city of Jamestown, facing an October flood, called for volunteers and began
making sandbags. That’s when my colleague, Tyler Axness, reminded everyone that
Fargo had sandbags in storage. Pointing out something everyone knew but few had
thought about.
From there it was a whirlwind. Just exactly as it should
have been. Conversations were had with ND State Senator John Grabinger of
Jamestown. Then the Mayor of Fargo was reached out to and he contacted
Mayor Dwaine Heinrich of Jamestown. And the next thing you knew, sandbags were
on their way from Fargo to Jamestown.
It took a lot of good people working together to make this
happen. Not the least of which were the volunteers that made the sandbags in
the first place. But the fact is that Jamestown now has the tools it needs for
a flood fight.
It has to force yourself to ask a big question; what if the
federal government could work that way?
But I still hope you ask the little questions as well.
What if Tyler hadn’t thought of it?
Good riding with you.
(Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on Twitter @JoelKFGO.)
