Thursday night was a great example of government at work. And it was also a great example that government does work.

What's the bottom line you always hear about government? That politicians are supposed to serve the best interests of their constituents.

That's just what the Forks Township Board of Supervisors did Thursday night in the decision to save the controversial "Cottage in the Woods" from a date with doom.

If it was all about taxpayer dollars, then spending $8,000 to demolish the cottage may have been the easy way to go.

But Forks supervisors made a difficult choice, a choice that probably saved all of their political hides as well.

If there was an empty room in the council chambers, then maybe a decision to tear down the cottage could be made. After all, if there's apathy, then what's the point of saving it if no one shows up to care.

But, for the first time in a long time at a supervisors meeting, a crowd of nearly 50 people came out to support saving the Zucksville Road structure.

As Supervisor David Billings said:

"It's great to see everyone here. It's nice to see people getting involved."

Billings thanked the crowd for coming and urged them to continue to come out to supervisors meetings.

He has a good point too. As he stated, "It's usually just the press and a few people."

That's how government works these days.

People cast their votes and hope they elect people who will best serve the constituents.

Those people come out to the polls on Election Day in November and then you might not hear from them again for another few years. They make a choice and then return to their busy daily lives.

Is that apathy? Or is that having faith in your government to do the right thing?

It is nice to know, though, that if an issue gets heated -- like the fate of the cottage -- that the public comes out to show its face and rattle some cages.

The Forks crowd didn't need to carry pitchforks. Most didn't even need to speak.

Ellie Reismeier, who formed the Save the Cottage Committee, rallied the troops and generated enough support and backing that it was hard for the supervisors to make any other decision.

There is something very charming about this cottage.

But besides its history and charm, the "Cottage in the Woods" will now stand for a symbol -- that government really does work and that the people sometimes truly get what they want.