ANNEXATION PLAN WOULD AID GROWTH

Unlike some of the counties in Southeast Missouri, Cape Girardeau County is enjoying vigorous growth, both in development and in population.

The primary population centers in the county, Cape Girardeau and Jackson, are beginning to see significant growth not only within city boundaries but on their fringes. There are advantages for the cities and the property owners just outside the boundaries to bring property into the city through annexation.

Annexation benefits property owners by ensuring city services -- police and fire protection, sewers and streets -- in developing areas. Annexation benefits the city primarily by giving officials a measure of control in the orderly development of their fringes. There are ancillary benefits that derive from a city's population growth as well.

In terms of economic development, a growing population helps attract new industry and business. The additional property taxes and students also help local school districts. Less tangible but as important is the general feeling of progress over stagnation that population growth imparts.

But when city limits abut, as they do between Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City, annexation becomes a trickier proposition. Recently, the Cape Girardeau County League of Women Voters sponsored a forum with officials from those cities to discuss annexation.

The forum was a good way to get the cities thinking cooperatively on this potentially vexing issue.

There are two types of annexations. Friendly annexation involves a property owner or group of property owners who petition the city for annexation. If city officials want the area, it can proceed with the annexation. Simple and clean. Everyone wins.

The other type of annexation involves elections and the courts. It can be quite unfriendly. If there is less than unanimous support in an area targeted for annexation, elections are held in the area being annexed and in the city. If the measure passes in both, the annexation can go forward. But if it fails in the area to be annexed, another election is held in which votes are combined and a two-thirds majority is required for the annexation to pass. It's not difficult to imagine resentment from some property owners being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the city limits.

Thus friendly annexation is the best way to go. By thinking cooperatively, Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City likely can avoid much of the potential controversy of forced annexations.

Cape Girardeau city planners are developing an annexation master plan. Jackson and Scott City should considering doing the same so officials can iron out conflicts if they arise. It is also important that officials from the cities study the costs involved in any annexation so there aren't surprises when the bills for providing city services come due.

There are areas of the region that should appropriately be considered for annexation in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City. By working together, officials can avoid squabbles over the same tracts of land.