The first rewards of an unprecedented joint meeting between the Cape Girardeau City Council and Jackson Board of Aldermen in January occurred last week when a committee of officials from both cities met to discuss future annexations.

Committee members came away from the meeting with a desire to develop 5-, 10- and 20-year annexation plans to accommodate growth of both cities. It was the first meeting of the committee, which wants to develop a map that outlines possible future boundaries for Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Those boundaries will be discussed at future meetings.

The committee agreed that Interstate 55 serves as a boundary between the two cities from Highway 61 to the north. To the south of the I-55-Highway 61 interchange, where their city limits meet, the boundaries are less clear. The committee will be most beneficial in helping define how best to proceed with annexations to the south of the interchange.

Annexation is by far the most important issue to be taken up under the new spirit of cooperation between Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Now that the two cities join each other, growth of both become even more critical to assure that municipal services can be provided in those areas that ultimately are annexed.

Both cities' involvement should assure orderly municipal growth in Cape Girardeau County.