Not too many people care about Diking District 3 business, but those who do are enjoying open government for the first time in years.

Commissioners Bonnie Newkirk and Joe Ducken should be commended for holding a public meeting last week and notifying interested parties in advance. Commissioner Bob Lang, their adversary on a number of issues, complained that the notice wasn’t sufficient, but it was an important step in the right direction.

The diking district is responsible for the dike beneath the aptly-named Dike Road at Dugualla Bay. It was created about a century ago to maintain the dike and has carried out its duties on an informal basis for many years. Recently, hunting and fishing have become issues, with people interested in those subjects frustrated by the lack of information about the diking district, including when the commissioners meet.

It took some convincing, and the process was complicated by a lot of turnover and election problems, but the diking district is now starting to function like the public entity it is. The three commissioners are finally known, they’re publicizing their meetings and giving the public a chance to comment on the issues.

This is a small, but significant, bit of progress for open government in Island County. The commissioners will learn that conducting their business in public quells gossip, illuminates the electorate, and can be downright satisfying. Keep up the good work.