News staff writer Steve Schulwitz reported this week that Alpena and Alpena Township may be close to a deal that could end the decade-long dispute between the two governments over how much the township should pay the city for water and sewer services.

We’re thrilled by the prospect of an end to the costly and damaging dispute, and we urge negotiators to continue their work and come to a deal soon.

The background: Alpena Township has for decades bought water and sewer services from Alpena to resell to many township residents.

Years ago, the city raised rates and the township refused to pay the hike, saying the city ought to treat the township as a wholesale customer because of the volume of water the township purchases.

The fight ended up in court, with numerous rounds of court-ordered mediation failing to secure a deal. The case made it all the way through the Michigan Court of Appeals, which ordered the case back to 26th Circuit Court for further proceedings.

In April, circuit court Judge Ed Black issued a number of rulings following a multi-day trial in Alpena, including ruling that the rates the city charged the township between 2014 and 2017 were excessive, and ordered the two sides back to negotiations.

The two sides were back in court this week to provide Black a progress update. They had nothing to report, so Black — much to his credit — ordered the two sides to keep talking at the courthouse.

After daylong talks, the two sides said they were close to determining a methodology for setting rates. The two sides are due back before Black on Sept. 12 to outline an agreement for Black.

We’re glad to see such significant progress.

The dispute has cost taxpayers millions of dollars in attorney and consultant fees and strained relationships between two neighboring governments.

We have for years written that it’s time for the two sides to reach some kind of agreement — we like the idea of a water and sewer authority that would oversee operations and set rates for both governments — and we continue to urge a resolution.

Thanks go to Black for his oversight of the talks and to the negotiators for both the city and the township for the work they put in this week toward finally being able to put this ugly chapter behind us.