PALISADE, Colo. -- One of Grand Junction's city planners will soon be heading to Palisade. It's all an effort to bring together resources and make the town stronger.

After the only planner for Palisade left, the town decided, instead of hiring someone new, it may be better to come together.

"This is a continuation of a historic valuable relationship we've had with the city of Grand Junction," Palisade Town Administrator Tim Sarmo said.

Sarmo says for one thing, it's a matter of saving money.

"The dollars would be general fund expenditures and we would have some salary savings in the planning department."

Another benefit is combining knowledge and municipalities.

Grand Junction's principle planner Dave Thornton will be taking on the position.

"It is a new challenge, I love planning," Thornton said.

Grand Junction's public works and planning director says the City of Grand Junction won't suffer.

"We've eliminated 33% of the department already," Tim Moore said. "We're pretty short staffed in terms of what's even going on today. We have a pretty decent work load so it would be a matter of just juggling things around and picking up some more slack for somebody else."

Sarmo says Thornton will spend about eight hours a week doing work for Palisade. Thornton's pay will not change.

But it's not only planning, some engineering departments will also be consolidated with the two entities.

"We're looking at just two things: the possibility of the town utilizing some of Grand Junction's resources for our planning position and possibly some engineering assistance," Sarmo said.

So far, the contracts haven't been finalized. But along with palisade saving money, Grand Junction will get some too.

"Actually Palisade will be supporting our general fund a little bit because they'll be making a payment for some of Dave's time here in Grand Junction," Moore said. "So we keep our people busy and we do a better job I think of planning valley wide and then we generate a little bit of revenue for Grand Junction."

Both Palisade and Grand Junction say if this merger works out, it may last for a few years.