With the Albert Lea city manager leaving, it gives local officials an opportunity to restructure their local government.

We hope the discussion to combine the positions of city manager and county administrators isn’t dead. Because even if local leaders decide against that idea, there should be serious consideration given to combining some of the administration of the city and county, and there ought to be a good look at other areas where the city and county can combine services.

The sharing of services looks to be the best solution for local governments when facing steep cuts. If not now, sharing will see a spike across the state in 10 or 20 years if Minnesota continues on its current trend. Albert Lea and Freeborn County could set examples for other cities and counties in the state. Indeed, they should set examples.

Don’t only lobby for state aid to return to former levels. Find solutions, too.

Many areas of the city and county aren’t compatible. For instance, the city runs a library; the county runs public health. However, both have administrations and human resources that do much of the same tasks. Both deal with roads and streets. Both have law enforcement. Both have parks.

And even though the debate often comes down to borders and what Albert Leans pay city taxes for on top of their county taxes, perhaps working with legislators on finding ways to resolve those issues might be the solution. It will take finding new ideas, just like locals did in the 1940s when they created the first community-owned industrial park.