There’s no question that we live in a divided nation.

One only has to talk to their co-workers at the office water cooler to realize this loud and clear.

What’s not needed in this volatile climate is a generous dose of heavy handed government to literally add more fuel to our fires of discontent.

But that’s what one local city has done in response to a problem that in our opinion is not nearly worth the energy being put toward it and the ensuing stress created.

The city of Inkom has decided to sue a family who lives within its boundaries because they won’t remove a Norway spruce tree near North Rapid Creek Road.

The city’s lawsuit is demanding up to $35,000 in damages from the family because of this tree not being removed.

The Montgomery family is refusing to cut down their tree, pointing out that there are numerous other trees located close to roadways in Inkom that the city has not filed lawsuits over.

The family says there are even trees close to the road at the city park that have somehow escaped the city’s attention.

If the Montgomerys’ tree was causing car accidents or presenting some other pressing public safety concern, the city of Inkom would be in a better position to order its removal.

But the city has made an incredibly weak case for suing a local family for a lot of money by claiming the legal action is necessary because the tree could interfere with public utilities in the area.

The Montgomery family has made a better case that they’re being targeted by Inkom Mayor Joel Jolley for writing letters to the editor critical of his leadership.

It does appear the family’s ordeal is a bit due to selective enforcement of Inkom’s city regulations concerning trees.

In talking to former Inkom mayors, we’re left with the feeling that the Montgomery family’s tree is not the problem that Jolley is making it out to be.

Jolley might want to seek some advice from those former mayors who did a good job of keeping Inkom out of messes like this.

Our guess is that those former mayors would for starters drop the city’s ridiculous lawsuit so that everyone involved can as much as possible hit the reset button with this so-called problem.

Next, Jolley and fellow city leaders need to ask themselves if the Montgomery family’s tree is really a problem worthy of their attention. If city officials conclude the tree is truly a problem that must be addressed over other challenges Inkom is facing, how about the city work with the Montgomery family on a solution?

One possible solution is how about in exchange for the city cutting down the tree Inkom officials offer to purchase the family a new spruce that would be planted a further distance from the road? A new tree would likely cost less than $200 and if that’s what it takes to solve this issue without any hard feelings, the city of Inkom should make the investment.

But threatening to financially ruin a family over a tree for reasons that can best be described as suspect is not going to win Jolley or his city government any friends and is about as heavy handed as a small town can get as far as flexing its authority.

Any reasonable person would say the Montgomerys are the victims in this matter and the city of Inkom is besmirching its own solid reputation by casting itself in the villain’s role.

And like we said, considering all the political upheaval in America these days, the last thing we need is a generous dose of government overreach here in Southeast Idaho.

Fortunately de-escalating this incident will take one phone call from the city to the Bannock County Courthouse to nix the lawsuit — a move that will also show Inkom residents that while their local government is not immune to mistakes it has the common sense to own up to them and make things right.

Here’s to hoping Jolley and company make that call.