Bringing back the fold

Is it time for the healing to begin?
Last December, North Mankato government officials pulled out of the Greater Mankato Growth organization citing differences in the operation of the visitors bureau and its various emphases.
Immediately afterwards, a group of business and civic leaders held a press conference to blast the decision by the North Mankato leadership saying it "jeopardizes a long effort to create an efficient regional approach to promoting the area." As one GMG official stated then "the competitive model of city against city isn't viable."
North Mankato officials disagreed saying it still wants to be part of the region but just feels it has a better chance of doing some things separately.
The editorial board of The Free Press asked North Mankato to reconsider its position and see the best approach was a collective one.
Well, not only hasn't North Mankato reconsidered but it appears to be growing further apart.

• It did not participate in the most recent regional leadership summit with attendees from various business and civic groups -- including Taylor Corporation which has offices and outlets in North Mankato. It cited the down economy.
  
• It recently told Mankato residents to stay out of the North Mankato refuse area and dump their lawn clippings elsewhere, posting "guards" at the gate to check for IDs. This time it cited recent changes that allow Mankato residents to accept such refuse for free in its own jurisdiction.
  
• And now sources say North Mankato is looking for a name change on at least one organization to either distance itself further from the regional concept or strengthen its brand, depending on which side of the fence you stand.
• UPDATE: North Mankato is the lone holdout in a Department of Natural Resources plan to have the seven largest users of an area aquifer split the costs of a study to see if it’s being depleted. It is the third largest user of the aquifer but has said the study is an unfunded mandate and will not participate in the study leaving the burden of the cost to the others.
  

At the aforementioned leadership summit, the top priority by all attendees was to find a way to re-engage North Mankato and bring them back to the fold. They were strongly in favor of finding a way to bridge the gap now.
Privately, however, others said to just be patient. The real issue isn't North Mankato, they said, since a number of those businesses and residents actually do partake in regional activities.
This was more of a "personality clash" and therefore isn't that important. It will possibly "correct itself during the next election if North Mankato residents felt strongly enough about it."
North Mankato officials will cite their need to not always be in the shadow of Mankato and feel they will always get the short shrift in any collaborative efforts.
So here's the deal. What do you think? Leave a comment how you see the situation. (I will be moderating before it gets posted so be careful what you say.)
If that takes just a little too much time or you don't want to register, there's a poll on the right side asking your opinion. It's not scientific. Heck it's not even very accurate but it allows you to express your thought with a click of the mouse.
Let us know and the results are almost immediate! Well, at least the poll results are.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I am an executive board member of GMG and I am a resident of North Mankato as well as a member of the North Mankato Parks and Green Spaces Advisory Committee...at least for as long as they'll have me.)