Keep scrubbing DeKalb

Finger-pointing is human nature. What should also be expected by DeKalb countians and others in metro Atlanta is that justice run its course – swiftly, fully and well. The Atlanta metro and DeKalb taxpayers need to see the county swept clean of corruption, and honest governance restored. And to fully see through needed reforms, the county should also seriously consider modifying its current form of government.

Reaching that point won’t be easy, considering there’s plenty of questionable fat to chew on in DeKalb besides Ellis’ legal battle. Since the CEO was indicted nearly two years ago, several other county employees and officials have taken turns sweating in corruption’s spotlight. A former county commissioner has been sent off to federal prison for fraud; others have been found guilty of criminal charges and federal and county corruption investigations appear to be ongoing. Others stand accused of misbehavior around official county business.

The dense cloud of mistrust that hangs over this urban county of more than 700,000 people has driven a cityhood movement that continues to roar along, even after new cities materialized in recent years, removing neighborhoods and sizable tax revenue from the county’s grasp.

Voters in November will decide whether to create the new cities of Tucker and LaVista Hills in northern DeKalb. Another, nearby group has studied annexation into the City of Atlanta. And a proposal has been pushed, so far without legislative success, to incorporate part of south DeKalb.

All of the city-raising efforts are a tangible protest against the governmental status quo. It’s not hard to understand why. The way DeKalb County government has run in recent years frankly stinks. And that must change as quickly as processes and systems can clean up the mess and create better ways of running the county.

Anything less should not be tolerated, because DeKalb really is too big to fail. Good, clean and efficient government needs to be the norm in a county that houses the likes of Emory University and sizable operations of the Centers for Disease Control, among other major job centers.

The current investigations are hopeful signs that the necessary uncovering of any other unacceptable activity will occur in due course. And to his considerable credit, Interim County CEO Lee May has hired former Attorney General Mike Bowers and seasoned investigator Richard Hyde to unearth what else may be amiss. Bowers was a lead player in the Atlanta Public Schools’ CRCT test cheating inquiry. That same intensity and level of scrutiny should be forcefully applied in DeKalb.

May and other leaders should do everything they can to ensure all of the inquests proceed without hindrance. For his part, May also did well to contact the FBI about a $4,000 check reportedly bearing his endorsement that surfaced after a county contractor did emergency sewer repairs at May’s home. May says he did not sign the check and didn’t receive any money related to it.

Since DeKalb government has shown far too little ability to adequately police itself in recent years, such outside investigations are necessary.

It’s heartening, though, that DeKalb, aided by the Georgia General Assembly, has taken some steps toward creating more-honest governance going forward. Legislation passed this year to change the county’s ethics board, strengthen purchasing rules and establish an independent county internal auditor. May has supported these efforts.

County officials should also consider abolishing, or at minimum, thoroughly overhauling the county’s CEO form of government, which shows strong signs of having outlived its usefulness.

The effort to clean up — and keep clean — DeKalb County government must continue. That’s the best way to ensure the county remains an unassailable backbone of this metro area in years to come.