They say time heals all wounds.

That might be true for the most part, but the second half of that saying often goes unsaid – The scar tissue sometimes can get itchy and cause considerable irritation.

We were speculating at the office a few days prior to Saturday’s big 20th anniversary of incorporation how exactly certain issues and personnel were going to be handled.

Given the fact that all six of our mayors were going to give a speech and review the highlights of their terms, the most obvious 800-pound gorilla in the grand ballroom was going to be former Mayor Jon Beydler, who was recalled from office.

While there was a lot of contention during campaigns between John Cutillo and Jerry Miles, and then Sharon Morgan’s surprising defeat of Mr. Miles, all those individuals have more or less kissed and made up over the years.

But the end of Sharon Morgan’s last term (highlighted by the controversial dissolution of the Fire District in 2001), the frenzied year of Beydler’s reign and the beginning of Wally Nichols’ soothing tenure had to be the darkest hour in the Town of Fountain Hills’ brief 20-year history.

The incorporation celebration was supposed to focus on the positive stuff, of course, but how to handle our own dark ages without revising history?

Lawsuits, major financial issues, interim management team at Town Hall, a feud between the Marshal’s Department and the Sheriff’s Office – it was indeed a time when 1989 annexation or status quo backers could point to and say, “I told you so!”

But I have to say, Beydler handled himself with class and even attempted some humor during his talk. Although he brought much of his own troubles upon himself at the time, it is clear in hindsight that Beydler inherited a few issues (and his successor, Wally Nichols, would attest to that fact).

Not to say it was all Sharon Morgan’s fault, of course, but a “perfect storm” kind of hit at the time to wreak financial and political havoc in the Hills.

Beydler’s shortened term gave us Town Manager Tim Pickering, of course, who had to lay off a bunch of town staff members, including then Town Clerk Cassie Hansen, which spurred yet one more lawsuit.

So there was plenty of background drama to see Councilwoman Cassie Hansen up there singing on Saturday knowing that Pickering was in the back of the room. And that Beydler was in the front of the room with Morgan and Nichols.

Despite the scar tissue, however, they all focused on the big picture and were able to toot the town’s horn. And that’s a good thing, because they and many others made sacrifices and put in countless hours of service to get Fountain Hills to where it is today.

“Incorporate: Control Your Fate.” Yep, the scar tissue was worth it.