Sometimes even the smartest, brightest, well-intentioned people can be wrong.

Being wrong is nothing to be ashamed of, it is an opportunity to learn something, better understand a topic and then grow from the experience.

I am by no means someone who often offers advice to those in other professions.

There is a long list of things I must first do better in my job, my career of choice, before I can criticize some other profession. Now, that doesn’t stop me from the occasional suggestion or two, but overall, I tend to keep my thoughts to myself.

That being said, there is a something so glaring, a problem so obvious, that I felt something needed to be said.

Mr. Mayor, I hate to say this, but you’re wrong.

When it comes to the recent dealings and interactions with the Warren County 9-1-1 center, its leadership and specifically its dispatchers, sir, you’re just wrong.

Again, to be wrong is not a bad thing, but doubling down on being wrong, is something that needs to be addressed and discussed.

I have long been a fan of Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. I appreciate the way he has used a business-like, numbers driven approach to running government. I think it is a fresh approach that many try to avoid, but is very needed.

I like the way he is analytical of things, sometimes to a fault; analyzing every angle before offering a suggestion or making a decision.

In many ways, that process has worked perfectly in improving the city’s finances, finding efficiencies in operations and helping city government become better stewards of the tax revenues it receives from residents.

But, Mr. Mayor, you’ve stepped over the line when it has come to our first responders.

From day one, The Vicksburg Post has supported the mayor in his efforts to find a solution to the overtime being tallied in the city’s fire department. But, at times, that discussion has become very personal between the mayor and Fire Chief Charles Atkins.

When it comes to these two leaders, calmer heads must prevail in order for any true resolution to be found. Sadly, both appear to be loggerheads in this debate.

From day one, The Vicksburg Post has supported the mayor in his ideas of changing the city charter, moving the way city government is organized to give the mayor more accountability and responsibility on how the city is governed and money managed.

The newspaper, against plenty of criticism to the contrary, has supported the mayor’s call for this change because the newspaper also feels the current government set up is antiquated and sluggish.

But, when it has come to the 9-1-1 center, the mayor is simply wrong when he accused the center’s leadership and dispatchers of staging calls and scripting responses to these staged calls to somehow put on a show for him during his recent visit.

The mayor and the center director, Chuck Tate, have disagreed on the need for more funding for the center and the need for more dispatchers.

While this topic can be debated, accusing one side of being creative liars does nothing to advance the debate and find common ground.

Mayor Flaggs is a polished politician with years of experience in the state legislature and has done a solid job as the city’s mayor, worthy of endorsement for re-election in two years.

But, even the most polished and practical of public servants can let emotion get in the way and it appears such is the case here.

There are needed and necessary changes to the way certain departments run, and real needs for a reallocation of tax dollars within city departments.

But, if our leaders are not able to get past hurt feelings and petty arguments, then really nothing positive can be done.

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Tim Reeves is publisher of The Vicksburg Post. You may reach him at tim.reeves@vicksburgpost.com.