Last week The Tribune published an article concerning the topic of discussion at a recent Ironton City Council meeting.

A local pastor came to the meeting to express concerns that he and other local residents had about a person who they said had been “menacing” the neighborhood.

Whether this unnamed individual has been involved in criminal activity is not a matter for The Tribune’s editorial board to decide.

But we would like to take this opportunity to encourage residents of Ironton and the county to attend their city, commission, village or township trustee meetings to become more involved in local government.

If there are perceived problems in your neighborhood, especially crime-related problems, staying quiet about the issue is not going to resolve anything.

Much of the time, county law enforcement agencies run on minimal staff and rely on the watchful eye of the public to report incidents or suspicious activity.

Likewise, government bodies sometimes rely on citizens to report matters of concern.

Meetings are opened to the public and allot time for public participation, so why not take advantage of the opportunity and get involved?

Everyone has a voice when it comes to local government, but you must stand up and speak out to be heard.