Cape council finalizes quarter-cent fire sales tax vote

Cape Girardeau voters will go to the polls on June 8 to decide the fate of a quarter-cent fire sales tax.

The city council, with little comment, gave final approval Monday night to an ordinance putting the tax issue on the ballot.

The measure will include a sunset clause that would automatically terminate half of the sales tax or one-eighth of a cent on Dec. 31, 2014.

Councilwoman Evelyn Boardman suggested the council consider promising voters that it will restore the spring cleanup trash pickup -- scheduled to be axed next year -- if the fire sales tax passes.

"I think we might make some friends," she said, adding that she has heard from many residents who want the city to retain the spring cleanup.

"Everybody I have talked to says it is one of their favorite city programs," Boardman said.

But other council members rejected the idea, saying the council can't make such a promise because of uncertainty over city finances.

Councilman Jay Purcell said part of the reason the city is financially strapped in its main operating fund is that past councils didn't make the "hard" decisions needed to cut costs.

Councilwoman Marcia Ritter said if the fire sales tax passes and the economy improves, boosting overall sales tax revenue, then maybe the council can consider the "nice things" that residents want in city services.

Cleanup cutback

The spring cleanup was one of a number of items that the council recently voted to cut out of the budget for the new fiscal year that begins July 1 in an effort to cut expenses. Cutting out the spring cleanup would save about $52,000, officials said.

The proposed fire sales tax would generate an estimated $2 million annually for the fire department and indirectly for the police department which, city officials said, is plagued by staffing shortages because of low salaries.

Half of the money would be spent on operating expenses for public safety. The other half would be spent on capital improvements. The city wants to construct a new fire station to replace its aging Emerald Street station and make major renovations to the police station.

"It's up to us to earn the trust of the citizens to get them to support it," Mayor Jay Knudtson said.

If voters approve the new sales tax, it would take affect in October. The city would start receiving the new tax dollars in December, Knudtson said.

In other business, city manager Doug Leslie announced that Tim Gramling has been promoted from interim public works director to permanent public works director. Gramling has served as interim director since October. He stepped into the vacancy created by the promotion of Leslie to city manager.

In other action, Cape Girardeau lawyer Rick Kuntze said his client, local trucking company operator Jerry Lipps, wants to build corporate hangars and possibly establish an air-freight business at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Kuntze said Lipps has purchased about 70 acres of land bordering the airport -- part of a 120-acre tract -- and wants to build corporate hangars and possibly set up an air freight business.

Kuntze said the city needs to enter into an agreement for the project to proceed.

City officials said they have yet to see a written proposal from Lipps and won't take any action without such a document.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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