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Lee County commissioners have unanimously authorized an investigation into local property investments by Lee County Manager Don Stilwell.

Good.

Preventing us from congratulating them further is the tone of the discussion that led up to the decision at Tuesday’s board meeting. It seems commissioners are hoping for one thing from an investigation and citizens are looking for another.

Commissioners want the media attention — “ink” as Commissioner Frank Mann puts it; “speculation” is Stilwell’s word — to stop. Before commissioners voted, they heard from friends Stilwell has made during his 15 years of service. Mann said he wanted to “wash our hands” of the controversy, which is an issue in his and two colleagues’ re-election campaigns. The findings of an investigator to be hired by the county attorney’s office are expected to be released before primary election day, Aug. 26.

Citizens who ask only for public servants’ undivided attention on the public’s business, and honesty, care most about whether Stilwell’s $300,000 investments with a son-in-law —- since charged with mail fraud — went to properties affected by official county road-building and zoning decisions. The public needs to know what Stilwell knew and when. The crux of the matter seems headed toward defining “involved.”

Commissioners of a county with corruption in its past ought to be able to recognize the importance of getting this job done objectively and properly, as their constituents would prefer. The county manager, who insists he has done nothing wrong, ought to prefer that as well.