Cape council expected to OK transfer papers for new police-station site

Action taken by the Cape Girardeau City Council on Monday night will give final approval to two projects council members have discussed with enthusiasm.

The council is expected to approve the final reading of an ordinance accepting transfer documents for a facility near Arena Park that could be the future home of the police department.

Negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ended with an agreement that the city assume ownership of a building at 2530 Maria Louise Lane at no cost. The facility originally was a Navy Reserve Center, until it was transferred to the Army in 2007. It vacated the building last year.

The current Cape Girardeau Police Department at 40 S. Sprigg St. (Southeast Missourian file)

The property consists of 4.85 acres and two structures, a 22,526-square-foot administration/training building and a 96-square-foot storage building.

Final council approval means the city can begin drawing up plans for the new station and weighing the cost of renovation or rebuilding. FGM Architects of Illinois has been contracted to evaluate needs and options for the police department's future home. The evaluation is expected to take several months.

An $11 million budget is available for the project.

Council members also will take the final vote on an ordinance that would allow the city to join and participate in a clean-energy district.

The Missouri Energy Initiative and PACE Equity have requested the city sponsor a new PACE Clean Energy Development District Board that would help commercial property owners with funding clean and renewable energy projects and energy-efficiency improvements. Bel-Nor, Missouri, a northwestern suburban village of St. Louis, passed an ordinance June 15 creating the Show Me PACE district and has invited the city of Cape Girardeau to join.

The Missouri General Assembly enacted the Property Assessment Clean Energy Act (PACE) in 2011 that allows for the funding of clean and renewable energy and energy-efficiency improvements through a property assessment. PACE covers the improvement costs up to 20 percent of a building's value, repaid through a tax assessment on the property for up to 20 years.

Funding comes through private capital sources rather than government funding or taxes and is attached to the property, not the owner, according to Missouri Energy Initiative. Involvement is voluntary.

Mayor Harry Rediger said at the July 6 city council meeting he believes participation "will be beneficial to our citizenry and particularly to our developers."

Among the new items to be considered by the council is an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for placing way-finding signage on Missouri Department of Transportation right of way. The city plans to place "Welcome to Cape Girardeau" signs at each of the city's major entrances.

This includes U.S. 61/North Kingshighway, Route 74/Shawnee Parkway near the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, Route K/William Street and U.S. 61/South Kingshighway near the South Silver Springs Road intersection.

Isle Casino Cape Girardeau is participating in making the 120-by-60-inch signs; the city will fund the installation and maintenance, according to city reports.

Monday's city council meeting will be run by Councilwoman Loretta Schneider. She was chosen at the last meeting to serve as acting mayor pro tem because Mayor Harry Rediger and Councilman Mark Lanzotti, the current pro tem, both will be out of town.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3461

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.