Annexations would enlarge Wards 4, 6 in Cape

Wards 4 and 6 could become a bit larger, depending on action taken by the Cape Girardeau City Council on Monday night.

Two public hearings will be held to consider the voluntary annexation of two pieces of land into the city limits -- one on LaSalle Avenue and another on Bloomfield Road.

After the hearings, the council will hold a vote to approve the annexation, followed by a separate vote to extend the boundaries of Wards 4 and 6 to take in the newly included properties. The 16.311-acre property on LaSalle is contiguous to the city limits and is undeveloped, though it would be zoned R-1 single family suburban residential district with the vote to approve annexation. The 12.86 acres on Bloomfield Road also is undeveloped and would be zoned R-1.

Both the Planning and Zoning Commission and city staff recommend the annexation, according to city documents.

Another item on the agenda asks the council to accept a 2014 Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security FireACT grant. The total grant amount is $45,000, with a federal share of $40,910 and a local share of $4,090.

The grant will allow the fire department to replace its breathing air compressor, fill station and cascade system. In his staff report to the council, fire chief Rick Ennis called the maintenance of these systems "paramount" to providing breathable air in the firefighting breathing apparatus and underwater breathing apparatus. The department's current air compressor and related equipment is 20 years old and needs to be replaced, he said.

Finally, the council will vote on an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement for professional and construction services between the city, Midamerica Hotels Corp. and Penzel Construction Co. regarding a new sports complex.

Midamerica was selected by the council in June as the development team to partner with the city on a site and structure for the facility, which has been selected as the next project to be funded by the city's 1 percent restaurant tax.

As part of the agreement, Midamerica donated 10.27 acres to the city for the facility at the northeast corner of Interstate 55 and U.S. 61 in the area known as Center Junction. It also estimated design, building and site work to cost $11,996,201. The restaurant tax is estimated to generate more than $22.5 million through 2030, according to the city. Of that amount, $17.5 million will go toward the indoor sports facility, and $5 million will be allocated to the new police station.

Finance director John Richbourg has recommended the city finance no more than $12.5 million for project construction, leaving $5 million for initial staffing, equipment, operations and reserve funds "until revenue neutral or a positive revenue stream can be achieved" by the sports complex. Consultants expect that to take three to five years.

As part of the agreement for professional and construction services, Penzel must provide a guaranteed maximum price to the city and Midamerica for review and acceptance.

Documents Penzel gave the city estimate construction of the facility will be finished in December 2016.

srinehart@semissorian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.