It is encouraging to see Pell City slowing action on a critical step for the city. A week ago, it looked like full steam ahead on a move to privatize management of the city’s water system.

With little discussion, the council was set to vote on a single company to award a contract to manage the water system — a move some say would save the city $120,000 a year.

This week, the council is saying it would be better to bid the contract to compare services. And they are talking more about fully discussing the city’s options.

And that is the right course of action.

We understand the need to look at other options when the department’s expenses exceed its revenues, but there were other considerations that received only cursory attention — like how many employees might be in jeopardy of losing their jobs.

A contract of this magnitude needed scrutiny, not a no-bid route. And the mayor and council are right to rethink their approach.

As Mayor Bill Hereford said, officials need to decide what is best for the future of the city — a private company running the water system or a professional manager on the city’s payroll.

While Councilman Donnie Todd may think “private businesses are more efficient than government,” as he has said, a professional manager might be just as efficient.

And the mayor and council need to fully examine that issue.

This is not a matter that is easily decided nor should it be quickly decided for speed’s sake. It needs comprehensive study.

And we are glad to see officials recognizing the need to give it some more thought.

If privatizing is the best route, we suspect that it will be quite evident as what should be a very public process runs its course. If not, that will be evident, too.