By Myrna Trauntvein
Time-News Correspondent

One problem with being on the Mona City Council is that family members of elected officials are sometimes mistreated by townspeople.
That is not right, said Mike Stringer, council member. Those with complaints should at least practice civility.
"People on this council were elected," said Stringer. "It is not right for people to take out their frustrations on family members."
He said he could well understand that some community members might have concerns about some decisions made by council members, however, it was not right for residents to be unkind to the council member's family.
Sometimes, he said, when townspeople could not get hold of a council member they would be impolite to that council member's family.
"We were elected, our family members were not," said Stringer. "Those who need to talk to the council should contact one of us."
It is true that, at times, it is difficult to contact a council member. Some of them work out of town but the mayor and Stringer are usually available.
Though he works out of town, said Gordon Anderson, council member, he is self-employed and runs his own business.
"I am always available," said Anderson. "Any resident who has a concern can call me at work."
He had given that instruction to Michelle Dalton, city secretary.
"I have given his phone number to those who needed it," said Dalton.
Mayor Bill Mills said that he supported Stringer's comments 100 percent. Families of council members should not be rudely treated just because they had a family member who had been elected to the city council.

It was all right to leave a message with the family to be delivered to a council member requesting a return phone call, he said. However, the family member taking the message should be treated with respect.
Marlin Smith, resident, said he had heard a lot of comments from folks in town. Some of them were grumbling comments.
"They need to bring their comments here," he said. "I'm surprised that no one is here."
There is not a lot of civility in today's world and treatment of council member's families is just one of the marks of the lace.
Civility is a conscious awareness of the impact of one's thoughts, actions, words and intentions on others; combined with a continuous acknowledgement of one's responsibility to ease the experience of others through restraint, kindness, non-judgment, respect, and courtesy; and, a consistent effort to adopt and exhibit civil behavior as a non-negotiable point of one's character.
"We can certainly understand people's frustration," said Stringer. "We just don't think they should take out those frustrations on family members."