There’s nothing quite like a death threat to attempt to get someone to do what you want.

That was part of the approach that organizers of the Warren County Council of Governments used in an attempt to bully the City of Warren to participate in the COG.

City council has previously tossed cold water on a resolution to join, with Councilman John Wortman raising an argument about representation relative to financial contribution. The COG has historically been funded with a dues structure based on population and the newly-organized COG settled on a “one municipality-one vote” model.

Wortman’s argument lacks much merit because the COG can’t act in a way that would bind a municipality to anything and, frankly, they don’t vote on items more than a time or two a year anyway.

But a comparison to the Articles of Confederation was not the most outlandish statement made during Monday’s council work session.

That distinction fell to the COG’s long-time consultant, Alan Kugler: “If the City of Warren does not participate in this, it will die.”

Now both sides of this issue have some merit. Yes, the COG as constructed doesn’t have much it can identify as accomplishments in the last 5-10 years. Also, yes, there’s value in the COG bringing municipal officials together to share ideas and — ideally — services and equipment.

In addition to Kugler, County Planner – and commissioner candidate – Dan Glotz and COG chair Paul Pascuzzi appeared before council to pitch the COG to the city.

While Kugler predicted the potential demise of the community, Glotz attacked council members for very sporadically attending the COG’s meetings.

Councilwoman Wendy McCain said after their presentation that she felt “a little bit attacked over here.”

She should have. Because she was.

The COG organizers should have let Pascuzzi do all the talking. He was persuasive and, frankly, civil.

If the city jilts the COG the reality is this — the COG will have no one to blame but itself.