Comity at last?

It was a red-letter day for New Albany if the early returns are accurate. Although the City Council made no progress at filling the Building Commission's vacant seats, creating a real possibility that board won't have a quorum sufficient to organize, progress was made.

Starting Monday, the city's long-vacant economic development position will be filled by Sellersburg's Paul Wheatley. Paul, we wish you the best and encourage you to get out of the courthouse from time to time. There's a lot of energy building in this town for a focused development plan. Welcome to New Albany.

More immediately significant is the news that the mayor and the council came to agreement on the job duties for a codes enforcement officer and in short order, created and funded the position. Waiving the rules, the council approved an ordinance with three quick readings and with the enthusiastic applause of the crowd still fading, the mayor strode to the table and signed the ordinance with a flourish.

There were grins all around, none so broad as that of the mayor, who was heard to remark, "I haven't seen that kind of love for a looong time."