City sharing

Several years ago, the mayors of Cape Girardeau and Jackson -- Al Spradling and Paul Sander at the time -- agreed that having elected officials and staff members from both cities meet about common goals and concerns would benefit both communities. Over the years, the Cape Girardeau City Council and Jackson Board of Aldermen have had formal meetings, and officials from both cities have had many other opportunities to share and plan together. Indeed, both communities have benefited from that arrangement.

This month, Cape Girardeau officials took that same concept another direction: to Paducah. Both cities are on a major river, have similar populations and are dealing with many of the same economic development, transportation and infrastructure issues. By sharing their ideas, both towns hope to benefit from the successes of the other.

Down the road, Cape Girardeau might want to consider yet another partner. One that comes to mind is Jonesboro, Ark., which has a state university, is similarly situated as a regional hub and has experienced growth both in population and new jobs.

The ability of public officials to work together for a common good is a hallmark of good leadership and a desire to generate the best ideas by involving as many knowledgeable participants as possible. Cities involved in these cooperative activities deserve the support of their citizens.