Business notebook: State-funded highway, bridge projects to become scarce

Most of the Missouri Department of Transportation road and bridge work -- estimated to employ hundreds of people every year in Southeast Missouri through contracts -- will disappear during the next few years as the agency turns to a maintenance-only plan for major routes.

By 2017, the state agency will work with a $325 million construction budget -- well below the $596 million for this fiscal year. The number of projects statewide will decrease by more than 250, from 574, according to recent newsletters from the agency.

MoDOT already has cut its budget several years in a row, and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission recently approved the 2016-2020 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, that lays out plans for expanding and improving the state's routes. For the first time in program history, no expansion projects -- such as widening roads or building new highways and bridges -- were included in the five-year plan.

Missouri voters did not pass a ballot measure in 2014 that would have raised hundreds of millions of dollars each year for transportation maintenance and new projects by raising fuel taxes. The agency also is expected to be unable to match federal funds for transportation projects.

While expansion projects are a no-go, rehabilitation and reconstruction project lists also are lighter than in previous plans, as the agency is looking to perform only absolutely necessary projects, said Matt Seiler, MoDOT'S assistant district engineer based in Sikeston, Missouri.

In local counties, the number of projects per county in the new five-year plan is fewer than in previous plans, and though the numbers fluctuate as the agency completes projects, most areas will see less work in general as the agency will no longer contract construction work on most lettered routes, which are considered supplementary routes.

An economic impact study on the agency's 2013-2017 STIP by MoDOT and the Missouri Department of Economic Development showed employment related to the construction phase of MoDOT projects in the southern half of the Southeast District, which includes 25 counties and employs more than 800 people per year on average; projects in the northern half employ between 500 and 800 people per year. An operations phase of projects employs additional people.

Seiler said contractors who normally work on the agency's projects already are working or looking for jobs in neighboring states.

Cape Girardeau doctors move offices

Cape Medical Group and Cape Primary Care, medical partners of Saint Francis Medical Center with primary-care physicians, now are seeing patients at the same clinic at 1702 N. Kingshighway.

The clinic was built with expanding primary care services in mind and has space to house 10 physicians and other providers, a news release from Saint Francis stated.

Cape Medical Group primary care physicians Drs. Philip E. Tippen and Sandra Zakroff are seeing patients at the clinic after a move from their former office on Mount Auburn Road.

Cape Primary Care's physicians also continue to see patients at the North Kingshighway clinic.

No interruptions in care or changes or gaps in insurance coverage for patients are anticipated with the move, the release stated.

The clinic offers these on-site resources, according to the release: X-ray and laboratory services; immediate Convenient Care walk-in access (from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends); availability of additional providers when prompt care is required; a licensed clinical social worker who provides counseling services; a weekly podiatry clinic conducted by an outside provider; and convenient parking.

Questions about the move can be directed to the Saint Francis Consumer Call Center at 331-3996.

Environmental quality panel plans meeting

During a meeting later this month, the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission's Environmental Quality Committee plans to hear updates on ozone and air regulation issues, along with reports from commission staff and others on the Clean Water Act, hazard mitigation planning, a meeting with the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce and projects related to the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, according to an agenda.

The committee's quarterly meeting, which is open to the public, will be at 11 a.m. July 24 at the American Legion Hall at 98 Grand Ave. in Perryville, Missouri.

The committee consists of local government representatives and business leaders and examines how environmental rules and regulations affect government operations and commerce. The committee also corresponds with enforcing agencies.

More information is available at 573-547-8357.

Indian restaurant opening in Cape

Namaskar, an Indian restaurant, soon will open at 1001 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, according to signs posted at the location and recent business license application documents submitted to the city. The restaurant is owned by Sonjay Fonn. The building at the location formerly was a restaurant called Asian Express and a Blimpie restaurant.

Thrift/consignment shop opens in Fruitland

Class & Sass Resale, a thrift/consignment store at 5943 U.S. 61 in Fruitland, opened last week.

Carol Voelker of Cape Girardeau County owns the shop, which offers home decorating items, housewares, furniture, clothing, antiques and collectibles.

Hours open are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

More information about the shop can be found on its Facebook page under Class & Sass Resale.

Perryville businesses plan ribbon cuttings

Beef O'Bradys, a new restaurant and bar at 1418 W. St. Joseph St. in Perryville, will hold a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. July 24, according to the Perryville Chamber of Commerce's newsletter.

Jus Teasin, a beauty salon at 10 S. Main St. in Perryville, will hold a ribbon-cutting event at 11:30 a.m. July 31.

New childcare center holds ribbon cutting

A Child's Journey Learning Academy, a child-care center at 3037 Lexington Ave. in Cape Girardeau, held a ribbon cutting Thursday, according to local chamber of commerce notices. The center accepts children from birth to 13 years old.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632