As much as we prefer collaboration between local governments, it’s hard to argue with the city of Warren’s decision against immediately joining the Warren County Council of Governments.

The council has not hidden the fact that it is still trying to figure out exactly what its future holds. The COG is trying to add more member governments and, most importantly, more active members governments. Nearly half of the county’s municipalities have formally agreed to join, along with the Warren County Commissioners, and more are believed to be on the verge of signing on.

COG members are taking the lead to solve the county’s ongoing EMS crisis. That’s a crucial role for the Council of Governments, but the rest of its future and potential agenda is undecided. Warren City Council members see that uncertainty and wonder if their time would be wasted joining the COG.

And, if Warren were to join the Council of Governments as things exist now, Warren would pay the highest dues because of its population but its vote would carry the same weight as smaller, less populated areas of the county. That’s hardly fair. We note, though, that the council shouldn’t go too far the other way and allow itself to be overrun by Warren if the council changes its voting rules. A middle ground is needed between the two, and we’re confident those issues can be worked out.

City Council members took issue with the COG’s past achievements, hinting that the city’s membership should be predicated upon the Council of Governments show specific, measurable results. In our opinion, that’s the wrong question to be asking. A better question for City Council members to ask, and for Council of Government members to answer, is what will we accomplish both with and without the city of Warren.

If the county will find itself in a better place with Warren as part of the Council of Governments, then the city should join. If the COG can achieve its goals without Warren, then the two sides can go their separate ways. In our opinion, the county is better off if Warren and the COG can come to an agreement. As the city goes, so goes the county.