Cape council OKs agreement for sports complex

Another step for moving forward with a new indoor sports complex was approved by the Cape Girardeau City Council on Tuesday, when members authorized the city manager to execute a development agreement with Midamerica Hotels Corp. for the building's design and construction.

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.

The agreement says the city will work with the Midamerica and Penzel Construction teams to design the facility for "maximum opportunity for usage," then lists the facility's features, including basketball and volleyball courts, soccer fields, baseball/softball training fields and batting cages.

As part of the agreement, Midamerica will donate 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.

An adjoining 19.12 acres could be acquired by the city by purchase or exchange for property owned by the city.

The agreement stipulates Midamerica shall provide the cost of the additional land, which could be used for possible future expansion, to the city no later than Sept. 15. The city must make a final determination on the additional acreage transaction no later than Oct. 19.

If the city decides it is interested in additional land, it will enter into another agreement with Midamerica.

After the approval of Tuesday's agreement, Mayor Harry Rediger praised the sport complex's committee, city staff and others involved for their work on the project.

Other business

At the beginning of Tuesday's meeting, the City Council recognized Capt. Ray Warner, who has retired from the Cape Girardeau Fire Department after more than 30 years of service.

The mayor listed Warner's accomplishments from his years with the department and thanked him for his service. Warner will serve as a volunteer firefighter at the Millersville Rural Fire Department.

At a study session before the meeting, the council heard a presentation from city staff on Cape Girardeau's fence regulations.

Councilman Mark Lanzotti had asked staff to take a closer look at the regulations to determine whether there was a need for updates or clarifications after residents in his ward came to him with concerns about the appearance of a neighbor's fence made of wooden framework and wire mesh.

During the session, staff outlined current regulations for fences, including height and material requirements.

While city staff say the fence in question meets the city's requirements, Lanzotti said there's no process for an "atypical fence" to be evaluated. Staff was asked to do more research and present findings at a later council meeting.

klamb@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.