"If it will just save a single life ..." is the justification often presented for a new policy.

So, with the chance of saving a single life, and possibly more than one, we suggest

the La Salle County Board find a new way of honoring former La Salle County Board chairmen.

The tradition has been to designate a section of county highway that is named in honor of the retired chairman.

The problem is that sign name becomes one more opportunity for confusion to motorists and more importantly, in bringing help in an accident or other emergency.

That fact was well-recognized by the County Board itself two years ago when it banned the use of street names in favor of the county's long-standing official rural numbering system, a county policy already in effect for several years.

Officials said the use of names can cause confusion and delays for fire, police and ambulance emergency responders.

That makes common sense. But apparently, for a majority of the County Board members, tradition prevails over common sense when honoring one of their own.

At its October meeting, the County Board voted to designate a section of highway in honor of former County Board Chairman Glen Dougherty.

The vote was 15-7, but the opposition was based on politics and not on community safety concerns.

It's not that Dougherty and other past County Board chairmen should not be recognized for their service. But there are other methods for doing it.

Perhaps there could be a gallery of their photos in the lobby of the La Salle County Government Center in Ottawa. Or in some cases, county facilities they were closely associated with could be named after them.

A different system might also be less expensive than having the honorary signs manufactured and maintained at taxpayer expense.

The point is that there are more appropriate ways of showing respect for a public official's service than perpetuating a system that creates a risk for the general public — even if it will just save a single life.