Some of the most distressing local news in Minnesota keeps coming from an unexpected locale: peaceful little Northfield, the charming college town of 19,500 on the Cannon River.

Assertions of widespread heroin use by young people. An investigative report alleging ethical violations by the mayor. At least one probe of a city official by the Goodhue County attorney. Northfield's once spotless image has taken a hit; there's plenty of blame to go around and no easy fix for the dysfunction in city government.

The first stunner came in July, when former Police Chief Gary Smith held a news conference to announce that 150 to 250 young people in the city were using heroin or other narcotics. Residents and other local officials questioned the numbers and criticized Smith for grandstanding. The chief immediately went on medical leave and then resigned last month to take a job in Kansas, saying his departure was not related to the drug bombshell.

Smith may well have exaggerated the prevalence of narcotics in Northfield's schools, but that's no reason to dismiss his concerns. Law enforcement sources say heroin is a growing problem throughout Minnesota, in part because the state has been so effective in fighting methamphetamine. Clearly that's a disturbing trend that Smith's successor will be dealing with for some time.

And there was other troubling news. Before taking the leave, Smith completed a preliminary investigation of Northfield City Administrator Al Roder. It's not clear what Roder is alleged to have done, but Goodhue County Attorney Stephen Betcher is handling that case.

Then just before Christmas, when Northfield typically enjoys the glow of publicity generated by the St. Olaf music program, the City Council asked Mayor Lee Lansing to resign, saying he violated ethics policies when he lobbied to have a municipal liquor store relocate to property owned by his son.

The situation at City Hall has deteriorated into a mess that will not be easy to clean up. Northfield is split into factions with varying degrees of support or condemnation for Roder, Lansing and the City Council. There are so many personality conflicts, political motivations and philosophical disagreements about the state of the growing city and its future that it's a wonder any actual governing gets done.

Given that mess, it's appropriate that Rice County turned over the Roder case to Goodhue County to avoid even the appearance of a conflict. Northfield doesn't need any additional conflicts, real or imagined. We trust Betcher's office will thoroughly investigate any and all allegations of wrongdoing in City Hall, which should give residents some of the objective answers they need.

For now, the council's censure of Lansing appears justified. The mayor and hardware store owner insists he adequately disclosed the conflicts he's accused of by the council's hired investigator, but his ability to provide effective leadership is clearly compromised.

The final say is likely to come from Northfield residents, either in a recall election or in the fall -- presuming Lansing seeks reelection to an increasingly demanding part-time post that pays less than $10,000 a year.

Today Northfield seems caught in the painful transition from small town to Twin Cites exurb. As the city continues to deal with the myriad challenges of growth, its residents deserve stable and effective city leadership. Right now they're not getting it.