Glenwood Springs and Garfield County planning commissions took the first steps out of a rut and toward a good “groove” in a rare joint meeting between the two entities recently.

City and county governments are known more for butting heads than working in unison, so it’s understandable that the meeting took some time to gain steam. The goal of the meeting was to discuss planning issues where the jurisdictions come together.

This being the planners’ first meeting in some time, the first steps were, understandably, tentative.

The members steered clear of some of the more inflammatory issues like the controversial Red Feather Ridge development.

But co-organizer and Glenwood Springs City Council member Dan Richardson said the members two groups did get their “groove on” late in the meeting.

And the respective planning and zoning commissions plan to keep working together after the success of the first get-together – which only makes sense.

Glenwood Springs residents are also residents of Garfield County. Likewise, the decisions made by the city have an effect on those living in the greater Glenwood Springs area, but who are not technically considered residents.

It’s a win-win situation when the county looks at the city as a friendly neighbor instead of an entity encroaching on its territory, and vice versa.

Richardson, Garfield County Commissioner Tresi Houpt and Glenwood Springs City Councilman and Planning Commission member Dave Merritt should be lauded for their efforts to bring the city and county together, and encouraged to build on the relationship seeded in the first meeting.

Regardless of our physical addresses, we’re all part of the same community.