Oak Harbor leaders are going overboard in trying to assuage the feelings of downtown merchants and property owners over the upcoming makeover of Pioneer Way.

Mayor Jim Slowik has already authorized paying a public relations firm roughly $30,000 to poll downtown merchants on their opinions. Now he wants the council to authorize another $60,000 for public information efforts.

It appears to be a well-intended effort to make downtown dwellers feel involved in the big construction project coming up next year — to make sure their concerns are heard and, when possible, heeded. But the fact is it’s far too much to spend, especially during hard times.

Downtown business owners were, in general, adamantly against the decision to make Pioneer Way a one-way street, and the mayor and council will never be able to win them over no matter how much public money they spend. The wisdom of adopting the one-way scheme will be weighed by voters at election time.

Meanwhile, follow the traditional public process when a major project that will disrupt business operations is pending: Advertise the project, send out letters, hold public meetings with contractors present, and make the public feel involved. It’s bound to cost a few thousand dollars, but nowhere near the $90,000 the mayor and certain council members want to spend.

The City Council will consider the issue for the second time next Tuesday after failing to come to a decision at their last meeting. Clearly, the majority should say no. If not, then expect more withering criticism from businesses and taxpayers alike.