With Jean Eaton’s decision to step down from her mayoral duties, the council and residents have a responsibility to step up to the plate of progress and ensure the positive initiatives she started continue and new ones are implemented.

As a community, we must put this period of history to rest and move on with the business of making this city a beacon of economic growth, retail trade and quality of life for all. Such a move will require a change in attitude.

Given the council’s deplorable action designed to force Eaton’s resignation, it is now charged with proving to city residents it can lead this community into the future.

That will mean working together for the good of the whole community.

The council has some tough choices to make, no doubt about it. The Bridge Avenue corridor, improving city roads, ensuring new businesses will find Albert Lea attractive while sustaining and encouraging growth for existing businesses and protecting the safety through law enforcement efforts &045; to name only a few &045; continue to be challenges.

Throw in funding reductions to further complicate the decision-making process and the council has a lot of work to do to restore the community’s faith in its

ability to make tough, realistic and logical decisions.

While the council’s path toward progress is clear, it is far less tangible for residents, yet they have a fair measure of work to do as well. Everyone must pull together for the success of Albert Lea. Giving a little extra across many venues will be required to see the city become that beacon of success across the state. Let’s show our neighbors we can move on and up.