A loaded gun. An unexploded grenade. A closed mind. What do these all have in common?

They can all be extremely dangerous to the safety and future of others.

While we are not as concerned with the first two, the last item on the list worries us.

As Ironton leaders, city employees and its residents continue to look at ways to solve the city's much-publicized financial troubles that include spending far more than it brings in each year, closed-mindedness has started to rear its ugly head.

At a meeting last week, union members were up in arms over the idea that city council members wanted to explore the idea of contracting out garbage service and combining dispatching services with the county's 911 program.

We certainly don't want to see anyone lose their jobs but the refusal to even consider any ideas that could result in a change to the status quo is ludicrous.

Union members vehemently decried why neither plan would work. And they may be absolutely right. The part that concerns us is the refusal to even find out for sure.

No plans have been made, council simply wants to explore the options in order to do what is right for the more than 11,000 people who live in Ironton.

If that means changing some of the services, so be it. If that means hiring more union employees and adding a fee, then let's do that.

Council members need to open their minds as well. Some support a fee while others lean more toward cuts. Whether they admit it or not, the constant bickering and failure to communicate and cooperate is hurting the city.

Right now, it seems that neither side is really listening to the other. Both continue to say the same things over and over again but that is not really communication.

All involved need to open their minds, start really listening to what the other side says - even if they do not agree.

To simply preach from the same songbook every time accomplishes nothing for the city and, more important, does nothing for its residents.

If the majority of council makes a decision with which the others do not agree, the minority should outline its opinion for the record, accept the majority rule and move on.

But to simply make or refuse a decision without gathering all the facts could be far more dangerous to the city's future than any gun or grenade.