Scott Co. officials hope voters extend tax

BENTON, Mo. -- When Scott County Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger talks about his proposal to extend the county's half-cent law enforcement sales tax, a few terms always pop up: "voters," "choice" and "taxes."

Burger says he doesn't like taxes any more than the other guy, so he could understand any reluctance on the part of the public to extend the tax, which is currently authorized through 2008 by public vote. But he's proud of the work the county has done expanding and renovating its facilities thanks to the tax, and he wants to know what the voters think of how it's been used.

The tax isn't absolutely necessary to run the county government, but it sure helps, bringing in about $1.6 million per year for law enforcement. Without that money, more dollars would have to be transferred to the law enforcement fund out of the county's general revenue fund, leaving little breathing room or money for improvements, Burger said.

"To keep arresting lawbreakers and to put them in jail and keep them in jail, it doesn't come without a cost," he said. "The money has to come from somewhere, "

This April voters will send their message to Burger and the county's two other commission members, Dennis Ziegenhorn of Sikeston and Ron McCormick of rural Scott City. If they vote yes, it could mean a new record/emergency supply storage center could be purchased or constructed through the breathing room the tax provides the county budget. If they vote no, the public has told Burger and company to find another way to fund an expansion and another way to fund law enforcement.

DON FRAZIER ~ dfrazier@semissourian.comScott County Courthouse in Benton, Mo. after renovations and remodeling.Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006.

"I don't want everybody to think we're looking for a pie in the sky," Burger said. "Our main focus is law enforcement, but if we don't have to transfer the money out of the general revenue, that allows us to do things to benefit the citizens of the county."

Helped renovation

Burger said the half-cent sales tax has allowed the county to attain one of its biggest achievements of the past few years: completing the renovation of the county courthouse. But on the heels of that renovation, Burger said, space is already becoming tight.

Some court documents are being stored in file cabinets in the hallway, similar to the situation that existed before renovations opened up extra office and storage space.

During the renovation the county spent about $1.3 million on improvements, a process capped last year with the dedication of a revamped memorial to the county's 20th-century war dead. Commissioners were only able to free up that money thanks to the half-cent sales tax that benefits law enforcement, Burger said.

Much-needed renovations to the Scott County Courthouse in Benton, Mo., created more room for county employees and visitors, but space in the building is already becoming an issue again. (Southeast Missourian)

Another challenge facing the county: The new jail that was finished in 2003 is too small. Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter spent $111,750 to contract out prisoner boarding in Scott City and Chaffee in 2006. The jail expansion was funded by the same half-cent sales tax that freed up money for the renovations, the same tax that Burger has put before the voters in April.

These are the growing pains of a county in which leaders say many positive things are developing.

Burger points to ethanol plants poised to start construction in both Sikeston and at the SEMO Port near Scott City as proof that the future looks bright in Scott County. The process of construction alone stands to have great benefits for Scott County's economics, not to mention the effect the county will see when those plants actually begin operations.

"Any time you talk about building a $200 million plant you would realize just the impact the construction is going to have," Burger said. "That impact's going to be great. There's no telling how many times that money will turn over."

The plant in Sikeston is closer to becoming a reality than the one at the SEMO Port, which crosses the boundaries of Cape Girardeau and Scott counties. Plans for construction have been drawn up and state tax credits secured for the plant to be built by Bootheel Agri-Energy that will produce 100 million gallons of ethanol per year.

The SEMO Milling LLC corn mill is the newest addition to the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority. (Fred Lynch)

The plant at the SEMO Port, to be built by Kansas-based Ethanex Energy North America Inc., is a joint venture with SEMO Milling, a corn mill that will begin construction at the port soon.

The ethanol plant and SEMO Milling represent growth at the port, which shipped more than 1 million tons of goods for the third straight year in 2006, said port executive director Dan Overbey.

Bigger warehouse

Girardeau Stevedores, the company that operates the port's public river dock, recently expanded by constructing a 45,000-square-foot warehouse for dry goods, Overbey said. Meanwhile the port continues to court other industrial prospects, Overbey said.

At the same time Scott City anticipates its own development and a move up the local economic ladder. The city recently acquired a new industry in wire fabricators Mid-South Wire Co., which plans to add 25 new jobs in the city in 2007. Scott City Mayor Tim Porch said the city is also seeing more new housing under construction, another sign pointing to growth.

The last year also saw key developments in the city's prospects for future growth. City leaders and the Missouri Department of Transportation are beginning to embark on the long process toward the construction of the Ramsey Creek Bridge. Funds to match $5 million in federal money were secured in 2006, meaning the planning phase of the project can proceed this year.

Scott City officials hope the bridge will open up the city's northern reaches to development by connecting the residential area with the industrial area along Nash Road. "It's definitely going to happen," Porch said.

MoDOT has also committed to the idea of replacing the Interstate 55 interchange in Scott City if funds are available. That project, however, is still several years down the road, MoDOT said.

If the interchange is put on MoDOT's actual construction schedule, Porch said, the funds can be procured."If we get down to all that's holding that project up is a little bit of money, we'll find it," he said.

Burger said he hopes the coming year will see even more improvements for county residents, including putting asphalt on some county roads that are currently blacktop. He also points to progress on the county Public Water Supply District No. 4. The district is set to begin construction on phase one, which will serve the county's southern sections. When the district is finished it will provide water to all rural areas of the county that aren't currently served by a public water supply.

Consolidation of three of the county's rural fire protection districts could also be on the horizon, a move Burger and other officials say could improve fire services to rural areas of the county.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182