Alan Cain joins City Council

"It's our responsibility as citizens to participate," Alan Cain said before being sworn into the Grand Coulee City Council on May 15.

Cain, who has up until recently served as the chair of the Civil Services Commission, will have to step down from that position now that he serves on the council. Cain had also in the past chaired the planning commission in Grand Coulee.

Cain has experience working with other governments as well, having been a cartographer for the city of Springfield, Missouri, in the 1980s, and as a housing planner for the Central Oklahoma Council of Governments.

"People who live here need to bring their opinions to council meetings," Cain said. "They would be amazed at how effective that is in getting change, or improvement, or their needs at least addressed. That is the most surprising thing I know about government. ... Let me know how else I can get myself in trouble!"

"I think the most important thing a council member can do is listen carefully and work towards making the community comfortable and the infrastructure invisible because it works," Cain added. "City governments are to keep the sewers running and the streets clear, and to keep idiots from hurting others. It can work to reduce conflict, which is best, but conflict keeps us all honest. We all have legitimate conflicting needs. ... The resolution of our local problems is the purpose of our city council."

Grand Coulee's next council meeting will be on June 19 at 6 p.m. at Grand Coulee City Hall.