Cape council OKs annexing land for two wards

With first-round approval to an ordinance accepting annexation of two pieces of land into city limits, the Cape Girardeau City Council took the first step Monday night toward growing Wards 4 and 6.

The council voted on the measures after two public hearings were held to consider voluntary annexation of property on LaSalle Avenue and Bloomfield Road.

No one appeared to speak at either hearing, although staff read a comment from a resident who was unable to attend Monday night. The resident felt the Bloomfield property should be zoned agriculture rather than R-1 residential. The initial approval of the annexation by the council -- minus the votes of absent members Victor Gunn and Mark Lanzotti -- included approval of R-1 zoning for both properties.

The council also approved the acceptance of a 2014 Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security FireACT grant. The grant is $45,000, with a federal share of $40,910 and a local share of $4,090.

City manager Scott Meyer said the grant, which will allow the fire department to replace its breathing air compressor, fill station and cascade system, would help save "considerable money." These systems provide breathable air in the firefighting breathing apparatus and underwater breathing apparatus.

"We definitely needed this equipment," Councilman Wayne Bowen said. He said "we've seen recent examples" of firefighters using the equipment to battle fires and conduct water rescues.

The department's current air compressor and related equipment are 20 years old.

Council wrapped its regular session by approving an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement for professional and construction services among the city, Midamerica Hotels Corp. and Penzel Construction Co. for a new sports complex.

The council selected

Midamerica in June as the development team to partner with the city on a site and structure for the facility, funded by the city's 1 percent restaurant tax. Penzel is part of the Midamerica project team.

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 an area known as Center Junction. It also estimated design, building and site work to cost $11,996,201, just under the $12 million budget set by the city.

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 substantial construction of the facility will be finished in December 2016.

"This moves us ahead to the first part of construction, and what a process it has been," Mayor Harry Rediger said.

Before the adjournment of the Monday night meeting, parks and recreation director Julia Thompson spoke and recognized Cape Splash employees involved in a Labor Day rescue effort. A teenager who was unable to swim sank to the bottom of a 9-foot pool. After sounding an alert with her whistle, a lifeguard jumped in and pulled her out with the help of a second guard and a bystander. It was determined the girl had a pulse but was not breathing.

Aquatics supervisor Patrick Wilson said a staff member went into "rescue breathing protocol" immediately, while others worked on crowd control and brought emergency equipment. After three rounds of rescue breathing, he said the girl began to show signs of consciousness. An ambulance arrived moments later and took over care of the girl, he said.

Thompson said a bystander who identified himself as a paramedic jumped in to help with the efforts to resuscitate the girl with CPR, adding it is the park's procedure to "acquiesce to those who have higher training."

She expressed thanks to bystanders who provided assistance that day.

This isn't the only incident that has happened at Cape Splash, Thompson pointed out, although it was the most severe.

"These kids are out there every single day, all summer long, and winter at Central [Pool], assisting people when they happen to get in a little bit of trouble in the pool," she said.

The day of the near-drowning, Thompson said the defibrillator device, known as an AED, was retrieved and brought on scene as a precaution. She said the park likely will begin placing AEDs on the pool deck to be more immediately accessible in future emergencies.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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