At more than one request per week, the Moores, who make no bones about their allegiance to a mayor whose relationship with the city manager is strained at best, are pushing that limit.
That's what we thought when they requested copies of two years worth of e-mails between commissioners, a request that was successfully denied. That's what we thought before their most recent request for a copy of a document of more than 1,000 pages.
The city clerk has more to do than stand over a copy machine. Putting the custodian of the public record in that position every week is taking advantage of a privilege and a right, and it's that kind of behavior that leads legislators to rethink the law.
That would be a shame for every person who uses the tool responsibly.
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Elvis Presley had his "Blue Suede Shoes," but he had nothing on the Centre College Interfraternity Council, the members of which now have their own signature footwear: Red High Heels. Spiked, even, and actually kind of pretty - if your gaze stops in the vicinity of the ankle.
OK. So they got our attention. That was the point, after all. The men are participating in "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes," a program that seeks to bring awareness to the problem of rape and sexual assault. Sixty-five brave (?) young men will attempt to walk that mile on Sunday while wearing the heels, starting at Greek Row on West Walnut St. with a loop around Danville. In all, 200 Centre men will be along for the show, in support and in fun.
The public is invited to gawk, and donate to the cause. The proceeds go to the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center, after the cost of the high heels is covered, of course. (Ah. The shoe budget. There's another good lesson for young men to learn.)
Fraternities and sororities often get a bad rap for playing a little too hard. Some criticism is deserved, but that can be said of almost any organization. Many of these organizations recognize the importance of the community as a whole, of civic involvement and of a responsibility to contribute.
This project is just one example of many that don't always get our attention, or yours.
A big Thumbs Up is in order.
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There will surely be some eyebrows raised regarding the cost of the ethics board hearings conducted in August against Danville Mayor Hugh Coomer. Ethics board Chairman Jim Sullivan reports that legal fees amounted to about $18,500, and there were more intangible costs with respect to the time spent by city staff preparing documents.
That sounds like a lot of money, and the question is being asked, "Was it worth it?" To that, we point to another question, one that was submitted but never asked as time waned during a candidate forum two years ago.
The premise of the question was that while Danville has had a city manager form of government for many years, it has operated as if it were a mayor-council, and the writer wondered what the candidates might think about that, what they would do to make sure the city operates according to its legally selected format.
The problem with the question then, besides a lack of time to ask it, was that few would have understood its significance. Not so, now. If the form of government issue has escaped anyone's attention, they just haven't been paying attention.
Ten charges brought against Coomer for overstepping his authority brought the issue to the forefront. He was found to be guilty in three instances.
It was a valuable learning experience for the entire community and, we think, a necessary one. It would not have been necessary had the mayor developed a knowledge of and carried out his duties in proper fashion.
The end result, however, was a broader understanding of how Danville's government is supposed to work. From that perspective, the price was a small one for the community to pay.
