The following is an editorial written by KNS owner and General Manager, Kevin Keith.
I generally try to give elected officials and community leaders the benefit of the doubt. If you don’t believe that, then it becomes impossible to trust anyone in public life. Still, there comes a point where skepticism isn’t just healthy—it’s necessary. That point has arrived with the Good family’s recent press release, issued in partnership with the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce.
On its face, the statement was filled with upbeat language and vague assurances. But what it noticeably lacked were specifics. We were told plenty about positive intentions, but very little about actual commitments, timelines, or explanations. If this were simply a matter of soil testing, a zoning hiccup, or a shift in plans for another hotel or retail project, why not just say that months ago? Instead, the community has been left in the dark, watching rumors and jokes fill the vacuum of information.
What makes this more troubling is the timeline. When I reached out to Wyatt Good weeks ago, he seemed open to answering questions. I sent him only two. After that, the line went dead—no response, no clarification, nothing—until suddenly, out of nowhere, this press release appears. That kind of calculated silence doesn’t inspire confidence. It feels less like transparency and more like damage control, especially given that the release only came after a few part-time reporters started poking around.
This is precisely why public trust in private-public partnerships erodes so quickly. If issues were discovered six months ago—or longer—why weren’t residents told then? Why wait until the narrative could no longer be controlled? Development projects of this scale should undergo thorough testing and vetting before they’re announced with fanfare. To claim that fundamental problems are just now surfacing strains credibility.
In the end, the press release feels like a carefully polished piece of public relations, not a genuine attempt at community dialogue. Until real answers are given—backed by documentation, timelines, and accountability—skepticism will remain not just natural, but warranted.