You start to wonder if some people have too much time on their hands when you read about things like two seventh-grade girls from St. Louis who had their lemonade stand shut down by the City Health Department.The girls had sold lemonade for the last three years trying to earn enough to purchase a laptop computer — a noble pursuit.A neighbor complained and a health inspector told them they didn’t have proper licensing and were selling unsafe ice cubes. Then he shut them down. The girls were using powdered lemonade mix and ice cubes purchased at a store.The neighbor apparently complained because she "didn’t want them blocking her walkway." How about asking them to move? The girls said their stand was on the grass behind the neighbor’s property. After the stand was closed down, one of the girl’s mothers called a television station and the family pastor, who informed the mayor of the community.Temporary food and beverage vendors are required to obtain permits in the city, but the law doesn’t apply to children’s lemonade stands. In the end, the city’s health commissioner apologized to the girls and purchased a glass of lemonade from their stand at a steep markup.After the stand reopened, business was brisk for the girls. There is something about beating bureaucracy (and power trips) that spurs people to offer their support. The girls reportedly learned something from their experience. They learned to stand up for themselves — a valuable lesson.Lemonade out of lemons Taxpayers in Rock County should stand up for themselves. If government, whether local, county, state or federal isn’t operating effectively, say so. If there isn’t an ability to work together for the good of the taxpayers … (those paying salaries and footing the bills) something needs to change. Don’t be oblivious and think problems will solve themselves. What I find distressing about the current situation in Rock County is that the ability to work together for the good of everyone living in the county has disappeared.Relations between the city of Luverne and Rock County have broken down into a huge power struggle, and we need to ask ourselves who wins when government has become more and more about power and personalities and less and less about people, the public good and taxpayers. What happens in Luverne with county contracts can affect how people in Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen are charged for services or how they’re taxed. Make your opinions heard! If you are unable to attend a County Board meeting, call County Commissioner Richard Bakken at 507-597-6378 and voice your view.I hope the citizens of Luverne do the same if they are unable to attend a City Council meeting.All the time spent fighting and bickering isn’t free, and in addition to monetary costs, there are hidden costs. The hidden cost is county and city governments that used to work well together, now cannot seem to agree on much of anything anymore.