It has been more than three months since the dispute between the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization and the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District occurred, an issue that remains unresolved and diverts vital time and resources away from the bigger goal: Moving the county forward and keeping it clean.

After what can politely be described as a personality conflict between key members of the leadership of the two organizations, the solid waste district split from the CAO in December, the organization that essentially created the agency and operated it effectively for more than a decade.

A heated dispute over who owns the assets — several vehicles and the equipment used by the solid waste district — remains the key point of contention and looks to be headed to a legal battle.

It isn’t too late to avert this and allow both agencies to do what they do best.

Both sides have legitimate arguments.

The CAO contends it was fulfilling a contract to operate the solid waste district, used its own resources for several years and that how it spent the funds it was paid was up to it.

The solid waste district also has a valid point in its assertion that these assets were bought with tax dollars and that it just seems like the right thing that assets should remain property of the citizens of Lawrence County.

Each side has merit and it will likely take a judge to determine who is right. All the while, time and money is being wasted.

Each should put those arguments aside and get together to find a common ground for the greater good. The two agencies may not be able to work together any longer, but we still believe that it is possible to resolve this quickly.

Legal battles are lengthy and expensive.

In the end, regardless of the outcome, the taxpayers and citizens of Lawrence County will be the ones who lose.