Aldermen from both cities met last Wednesday during a work session hosted by the city of Warrenton. Officials agreed to hold off from making more annexation requests until locating mapping lines used by telephone companies and Warrenton and Wright City fire departments. The boundaries are expected to be approximately halfway between Stracks Church and Franklin roads. Last week's meeting was seen as a positive step after officials from both cities disputed annexation plans last April. In that instance, Wright City wanted to voluntarily annex a parcel of land, but it strayed from an earlier agreement where Stracks Church Road was supposed to serve as the dividing line. Warrenton Mayor Greg Costello said he left last week's meeting with a favorable impression of a working relationship between the two cities. "We are off to a really good start in terms of working with Wright City," he said. "I think something is going to make sense for Wright City and Warrenton. It's going to save taxpayers a lot of money that we otherwise would spend on legal fees and litigation." Both cities agreed last week to meet in a month to further address a boundary agreement. They also plan on meeting at some point with the county commissioners and officials from Truesdale and Innsbrook to discuss possible future annexations. "It was real positive," Warrenton Board President Fred Flake added about last week's meeting. "We had a lot of sensible discussion. I thought it went real well." On Tuesday, June 2, Warrenton officials are seeking voter approval for an involuntary annexation. Voters will decide whether the city limits should be extended 300 feet east of Franklin Road and 600 feet west of Pendleton Cut-off Road. The city of Warrenton is spending a significant amount of money to hold the special election and on legal fees since the annexation couldn't be completed voluntarily. The annexation completes a previous agreement reached between Warrenton and Truesdale, according to city officials. Wright City Mayor Roy White offered support in seeing the neighboring cities reopen dialogue. He told The Record he would rather see each city hold off on attempting to annex more land. He said future requests shouldn't be made until the land is needed for development. Last Thursday during the Wright City aldermanic meeting, a public hearing was held regarding Wright City annexing 6,685 feet of right of way along Interstate 70 west of the city limits. Aldermen, however, tabled any action on the issue until they meet with Warrenton officials in the future. "I thought it went well," White said. "We should have done this months ago. The best way we will work out anything is to sit down and talk." Once the cities settle on a boundary line, a written agreement would be recorded. Wright City Alderman Jamey Abercrombie recommended the cities then notify one another on future annexation requests. Also at last week's work session, officials from both cities said they should meet with the county commissioners about the benefit of adding access ramps to the Interstate 70 overpass at Stracks Church Road. ð ð