1ST CLASS BRINGS FEW COUNTY CHANGES; ONLY ONE ORDINANCE ENACTED FIRST YEAR

JACKSON -- When Cape Girardeau County made the switch to a 1st class county a year ago, county commissioners pledged not to overwhelm citizens with a lot of new ordinances.

True to their word, commissioners approved a grand total of only one law during 1997, the first year the commission had the power to enact county ordinances. The authority to make laws was among changes brought to the county by the switch to 1st class status in 1997.

"Most of the changes were internal," said Gerald Jones, presiding commissioner. "And we got ready for it before it ever happened."

As a result, few people in the county noticed any change. A handful of county officials had title changes, and with that some realignment in duties and responsibilities. Most of those changes had been complete before the switch occurred.

It was the power to enact ordinances like other local governments that provided opportunity for big changes -- changes that didn't occur.

"I don't think we overwhelmed anyone with ordinances," Jones said. "It's been our attitude that we aren't trying to over-regulate anything."

Larry Bock, associate county commissioner, said, "If the need for an ordinance is there, we want to solve the problem."

The one and only ordinance approved by the commission dealt with the Procter & Gamble expansion. The commission authorized and approved $550 million in bonds at no cost to taxpayers for industrial development.

At the start of 1997, commissioners predicted that a nuisance abatement ordinance, and specifically an animal control ordinance, would be the first order of business. Discussion about that proposal is ongoing. "We are still discussing what's the best way to do this," Jones said.

The shift to 1st class was mandatory under state statutes after the county maintained a total assessed valuation of $450 million or more for five consecutive years.

In addition to the one ordinance, the commission approved three commission orders and 10 resolutions. A commission order addresses internal policies; a resolution lends commission support to a project.