Once a government agency strikes a tentative agreement with a labor union, that agreement become a public document, even before the final vote of the governing body.

This happens all across the state of Minnesota. It’s common.

Yet officials at Albert Lea City Hall were slow to share the tentative concessions agreement they struck Jan. 26 with the union for police officers. In fact, the human resources director calls it a “proposal,” even though just last week city manager was calling it a “tentative agreement.” But as long as it is some sort of accord on collective bargaining that will require the City Council to vote, that document is public record.

Familiar with open records laws, the Albert Lea Tribune made the request on Thursday of last week. It is now Wednesday, and it took until after regular work hours on Tuesday night for the city officials to provide this newspaper with its request. Last Friday, the human resources director told us he had to check with the city attorney. That’s a pretty slow check, not truly a brisk effort to comply with state law.

The Tribune wanted the details because we wish to share them with you — the readers, the voters, the concerned citizens — before City Council members discuss the tentative agreement, proposal or whatever they call it now at the Thursday preagenda meeting and before they vote on it at the Monday regular meeting. You will see a story in the Thursday edition.

You would think the city officials and the council members who govern them would appreciate the feedback the public gives prior to decisions being made. The more time, the more feedback.

It is this sort insular behavior that has citizens of Albert Lea perennially frustrated with the city government.

When the Albert Lea Tribune made a similar request of the officials with the Albert Lea School District a few weeks ago, they complied with the request the very same day.

What do city officials have to fear? Perhaps they don’t think the public is on their side. It’s like Albert Lea City Hall always has the wagons circled.

A good city government is open. A good city government embraces its people. A good city government errs on the side of accessibility. It welcomes feedback and finds ways to invite greater participation in city decision-making.