During last week’s Village Board meeting, Trustee Jon Espersen talked about staffing challenges in the Fredonia Police Department. He briefly mentioned he spoke with Chief David Price on those issues.

Not to sound like an echo chamber, but it sounds as though the village needs to revisit a shared police facility with Dunkirk. The current site — for both locations — are archaic and would better serve the officers of the 1940s and ’50s.

We know previous considerations at these types of projects, in 2005 and 2016, are something that makes residents dig in their heels. But our first responders deserve a better location and a team of individuals who can work together.

Mutual aid is common in times of need. How about in times when there are staffing challenges?

Having both departments under one roof — in a modern facility — would serve our communities best. The big question for this region — and always is: can we get past the pride of differing communities and work together as one?