Elections have consequences.

That’s the message that should spread loud and clear around Rowan County and the rest of the country.

When the polls close Tuesday night, the results will ripple through the county and across the nation.

On the national stage, the midterms will probably do little to change the atmosphere in Washington, which at this point seems beyond saving. But at the local level is where we get to see change happen right before our eyes.

No matter what happens, the County Board of Commissioners will have three new members, and the school board has plenty of interesting races.

The winners will inherit great responsibilities, and they should take care to serve the best interests of the people.

Elected officials work closely with the business community to develop avenues for growth. But different government bodies must also work together.

The new County Board of Commissioners that forms after the election should quickly work to solve the issue of the West End Plaza. And Salisbury City Council needs to reach out to the new board so the pair can make amends.

Right now, the West End Plaza is mostly a concrete desert. But if people come together with good intentions and the will to solve problems, the West End Plaza can be revitalized.

The county owns the plaza, and if it needs some of the space to house county employees, that’s fine. But the county should work with the city to also use the plaza as a resource to create jobs, not simply move them.

City Council needs to relax its fears about an exodus from downtown and work with the county to come up with positive ideas for the plaza.

Waiting for the other side to do something gets everyone nowhere. Let’s use the election to wipe the slate clean and start fresh.

Salisbury City Council members shouldn’t sit idle and wait for county commissioners to come to them. After all, City Council elections are next year, and voters are paying attention.

Yes, elections do have consequences.

David Purtell covers business and city government for the Post.