We know the closing of the second ice rink at City Arena for next summer is a touchy issue. There’s no doubt about that. Albert Lea hockey players, parents and coaches are accustomed having access to a sheet of ice year-round.

But what needs emphasizing is that no one can really place the blame on city officials for the closing of it. Sure, the ice needs maintenance next year anyway, but the real blame for closing possibly every summer falls on the cuts the state Legislature makes each session in funding for cities.

These cuts demand that cities find ways to save money, and as a result people will get less services, such as a sheet of ice in the summertime on which to practice winter sports.

This newspaper is as big of a hockey fan as anyone. We love the sport.

But as an Editorial Board we also have fought for local government aid, which is really your tax dollars coming back to Albert Lea. Cuts to LGA are cuts to your services. Cuts to LGA result in reductions to the quality of life around here.

Fighting to keep LGA fully funding, in essence, is fighting for things such as ice time in the summer.

We urge anyone upset over the loss of the second ice rink to take up the issue of cuts to city funding with state legislators. Today, cuts take away ice. Tomorrow, the same cuts could hinder more critical services, such as police and fire protection.

There are foes in the Legislature who would love to get rid of LGA altogether. By speaking out to state leaders, you can help in the fight to prevent that from happening.