CITIES FORGE PARTNERSHIP

The new sense of cooperation symbolized by the Jan. 26 joint meeting of the Cape Girardeau City Council and Jackson Board of Aldermen should continue no matter who is leading the cities the mayors who instigated the rapprochement say.

"Once we've shown that both of us can coexist and cooperate, there's no reason why it shouldn't," says Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III.

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander is a bit more cautious. "All I can do is hope it does (continue)," he said. "I hope he and I stick around awhile ... and I hope a precedent has been set for future councils and mayors in the years to come."

At the meeting, the first anyone can remember occurring between the two neighboring cities, both passed ordinances which allow them to share the cable access channel currently used only by Cape Girardeau. They also allocated money toward developing the proposed east-west interstate highway between Paducah, Ky., and Van Buren.

Also approved was a joint resolution that supports developing an I-55 interchange to accommodate Jackson's extension of East Main Street, and a Route K-Highway 74 link to the interstate.

They also agreed to begin studying whether the two cities' water systems can be linked for use in an emergency situation.

Finally, the cities set up a joint committee to study annexation issues.

Many of these are long-range projects that could take many years for the cities to work out. But the mayors said there are other areas where cooperation could be mutually beneficial.

Spradling said joint planning is one area that could be explored along with annexation issues. "We could make use of each of the planning coordinators, and in addition to looking at where the cities are going to go, also anticipate the type of development that might surround these areas."

Making sure that industrial and residential growth occur in compatible areas is one example of how joint planning could be useful, Spradling said.

Sander said joint planning is a possibility. "Now that we have activated both planning departments to work together on a couple of projects, they'll get used to being associated and working together.

"If a project comes up in the future it will be much easier to do," he said.

Sander thinks cooperation might even extend someday to a joint construction project. "It would be something to think about," he said.

But both mayors acknowledged that the location of any such project would surely provoke an argument, as the situating of the Cape Girardeau County Jail did two decades ago.

"There are always people who want it on their side of the street," Sander said.

Said Spradling, "It's a shame that we probably couldn't agree on a centralized facility for performing arts or a major activities building like the Osage Building."

Both mayors said the cities will remain competitors in some areas, especially in trying to attract retail business and industry.

"That's not bad if seen in a positive light, and it has become much more positive," Sander said.

"A little competition channeled in the right direction is healthy for both communities."

Both cities benefit along with Cape Girardeau County when an industry decides to locate locally, the mayors said. The chosen city or county gets the additional tax base, but everyone shares in the additional jobs.

And everyone still competes.

"Jackson has its own industrial development and so does Cape," Spradling said.

"Though they benefit both communities, I want it in my community if I can have it."

Said Sander, "We just have to use common sense in where we cooperate."