Indianola has a familiar face in the mayor’s chair and five new ones at the board table. Mayor Ken Featherstone has begun his second term, and all five aldermen are serving their first. This mix of experience and fresh energy gives the city a rare chance to reset how local government works.
From the gavel’s first strike Monday night, the tone in the room felt different. The board members were professional. They were courteous to one another and to the public. They asked questions. They listened. They moved through the agenda with care. You could see they were still getting used to the process, but you could also see the effort. They were diligent, and they tried to cooperate rather than grandstand.
This new board has a steep learning curve. They must learn Robert’s Rules of Order so meetings stay fair and clear. They must study the city charter and understand what power belongs to Indianola and what belongs to the state and federal government. They have to grasp the difference between municipal ordinances, state law and federal law, and how all three fit together in everyday decisions that affect streets, utilities, safety and jobs.
They also have to understand money. That means learning how grants work and what rules come with those dollars. It means understanding audits and why clean books matter for trust and transparency. They must know how minutes are kept and why accurate records protect both the city and its citizens. Debt, budgeting and long‑term planning are not simple tasks, especially for first‑term officeholders. None of this can be mastered in a week or even a month. It takes time, training and patience from the public.
It is also true that every alderman has voters back home to answer to. At some point, political pressure will show up. People will want favors, quick fixes and symbolic votes they can applaud on Facebook. That is part of local politics. But if Monday night is any sign, this board is at least starting from a place of cooperation instead of conflict. Right now, they seem to be trying to put the city’s needs ahead of personal agendas. That is worth noticing and encouraging.
One moment during the meeting brought that hope into sharp focus for me. My eyes actually watered when Ward 1 Alderman Alex Deason made the motion to nominate Ward 4 Alderman Johnny Phillips to serve as vice mayor. I watched the board talk the matter through. They did not argue or posture. They communicated with respect. They reached a logical solution that seemed best for the city, not just best for one ward or one person. In that simple exchange, I saw what Indianola’s government can look like when adults act like adults.
Now comes the hard part: what they do with the time they have been given. Four years may sound like a long term, but it will move faster than any of them expect. Every meeting, every vote, every quiet decision in the back office is like a daily quiz. At the end of this term, the voters will grade the paper again. Use this time wisely. Do not take a single month, a single meeting or a single opportunity for granted. Study the issues. Do the homework. Listen to the people, but also lead them. In four years, your constituents will decide whether you pass the course or have to retake it at the ballot box.
No one should pretend this mayor and board will be perfect. They will make mistakes. They will sometimes move too slowly or speak too quickly. There will be nights when tempers flare and patience runs thin. But the first steps matter, and these first steps have been pointed in the right direction. The community can hold them accountable and still be hopeful at the same time.
So let’s give them time. Let’s give them room to learn, to ask questions and even to stumble, as long as they get back up focused on serving Indianola. Let’s also pray for them, speak to them with respect and show up at meetings ready to listen as well as talk. If we want a better city government, we have to help build it, not just criticize it.
A re‑elected mayor and a brand‑new board have taken their seats. Now it is on all of us to help them grow into the leaders Indianola needs.
