In the span of two days, the wheels of government in Sheffield ground to a screeching halt.

On Dec. 23, supervisor Nate Lindberg resigned his position. That was followed by the Dec. 30 resignation of supervisor Jeff Labesky, leaving only newcomer Matt Bell on the township Board of Supervisors.

It’s a problem for Sheffield residents. Basic bills can’t be paid because there aren’t enough town supervisors to approve their payment. Basic functions of town government can’t be fulfilled. And, if there is something serious brought by a township resident to the board, nothing can be done because the board can’t meet with only one member.

Give credit to Labesky for rescinding his resignation for one day so that a budget could be passed. We can’t imagine Labesky or Lindberg will rescind their resignations every month, however.

It’s time for a couple of Sheffield’s 960 or so residents to step into leadership positions. It’s a difficult position, but surely there are two people in the township who want to have a say in how the township is run and have the capability to make difficult decisions.

Whether they do is worth watching, because there are a lot of townships and boroughs in Warren County that could find themselves in similar situations in the future. The county’s population is shrinking, and it’s wishful thinking to foresee a time when we have booming populations in many of our rural areas. If a shortage of elected officials becomes a trend, then one answer that should be considered is fewer townships and boroughs.