Area projects getting $39 million

Congress has authorized spending nearly $39 million on some 34 projects and programs in Southeast Missouri in fiscal 2005, including extension of Fountain Street and development of the River Campus arts school in Cape Girardeau, federal lawmakers said Monday.

The new federal budget includes $500,000 for the Fountain Street project and $200,000 for construction and renovation work to turn a former Catholic seminary into Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus arts school.

Southeast also will receive $650,000 for a mobile health unit and $550,000 for the Workforce Development job training program.

School officials said the mobile health unit will be housed in a vehicle similar to the school's mobile museum. "It will travel throughout Southeast Missouri offering screenings," said university spokeswoman Ann Hayes. The unit will be staffed by the school's nursing faculty and students.

The Fountain Street project will extend the road from Morgan Oak Street to William Street, providing an entrance to Cape Girar-deau's downtown that connects to the new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.

City planner Kent Bratton said the federal money would help pay for a project whose total price tag could be about $1.5 million. City transportation sales tax money would fund the city's share and the largest part of the cost, Bratton said.

Congress has budgeted $750,000 for design and study of possible repairs to Cape Girardeau's concrete floodwall. The repairs may include replacement of antiquated equipment in the two pumping stations, federal officials said.

Future improvements could include stabilizing retaining walls and making repairs to the floodwall foundation, said Corps of Engineers spokesman Alan Dooley of St. Louis.

Dooley said the mechanical and electrical systems at the pump stations are obsolete.

The flood control system has been in place since the mid-1960s. "It's like a car. There is some preventative maintenance from time to time," he said.

Congress included $1 million for extension of Nash Road to the junction of highways 77 and 25.

The biggest single expense is $8.3 million for construction of the St. John's levee in New Madrid County. Another $3 million is budgeted for widening U.S. 60 to four lanes in Howell County. Another $2.4 million is earmarked for Clearwater Lake operations and repairs to the dam.

"These programs are vital to jobs, growth and public programs in our congressional district," said U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson. "This is how southern Missourians get a return on our investment of federal taxes."

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

FEDERAL FUNDING

Congress has approved a spending plan that includes millions of dollars for projects and programs in Southeast Missouri.

The list includes:

$8.3 million for the St. Johns levee.

$5 million for Wappapello Lake maintenance.

$3 million for widening U.S. 60 to four lanes in Howell County.

$2.4 million for Clearwater Lake operations and dam improvements.

$1.5 million for Bois Brule levee in Perry County.

$1 million for extension of Nash Road.

$750,000 for Cape Girardeau floodwall repairs and renovations to pump stations.

$650,000 for Southeast Missouri State University mobile health unit.

$550,000 for the Workforce Development job training program at Southeast

$500,000 for Fountain Street extension project.

$200,000 for construction and renovation work at the River Campus.

$200,000 for Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force.

$188,000 for Southeast Missouri Regional Port for harbor dredging.

SOURCE: U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's office