We’d like to say congratulations to the City of Georgetown for its work on making government run more smoothly. A recent two-day workshop with the mayor, members of City Council and a facilitator focused on finding common ground and setting out ways to get along.

If it works out that way, we’ll be thrilled.

But, even as an earlier draft of this editorial was being put together, there were cautionary notes to the hopefulness.

We’ll remain optimistic, though.

Many observers have considered that Council members have spent too much time and energy not getting along.

The City has lost seven department heads or assistants since the first of the year.

We know people will look for career advancement, but with that many leadership slots empty, it’s worthwhile for City Council to take a look at itself and city government.

Now, with the recent workshop, Council members have talked with Dr. Lyle Sumek of Lyle Sumek Associates, Inc., a nationally known firm specializing in team building, strategic planning and goal setting for local governments. He interviewed the members individually, and then met with them as a group for two days. Also present was interim city administrator Carey Smith.

The nine-person group looked at 34 areas or issues facing the city in the coming year. They worked to come to agreements in setting priorities for five major goals.

In addition, the group looked ahead for five years to help the local economy, beautify the city and ensure financial responsibility.

All of those things are important, but they are in a sense only parts of something even more important — setting themselves up to work well together for the betterment of this historic city on the banks of the Sampit River.

After review, the discussion points will be put together into a “Governance” agreement between and among the Mayor and City Council.

We hope it works.

And if it does, the members will certainly deserve heartfelt “atta-boys” and “atta-girls” for helping the city do what’s right because it’s right.