Cape council to discuss better radios for police, fire departments

Radio interoperability for Cape Girardeau's police and fire departments will be among the first issues discussed at the Cape Girardeau City Council meeting today.

Fire chief Rick Ennis has shared many stories with the council about the current radio system's unreliability. He and police chief Wes Blair say the radios can produce a lot of static that makes communication difficult, or the connection can be diminished or cut off when a public-safety official enters a building.

As Ennis has explained, the spectrum on which his teams operate is becoming crowded. He equated it to condensing eight lanes of traffic to four lanes.

That's why the council discussed in a special planning session nearly a year ago using casino revenue to buy new equipment.

Council members came to a consensus at the time to use money from the casino-revenue-funded innovation fund for the one-time cost to upgrade the system, although they did not hold a formal vote.

Costs for new radios, walkie-talkies and antennas that provide better "in-building penetration" were estimated last year at between $1.5 million and $3 million.

An exact cost has not yet been determined because public-safety officials have spent the last year analyzing options to determine what system best would meet their needs.

While a status update will be delivered to the council tonight, no vote will be held on the issue.

Another issue that has sparked discussions among city officials is building a new bridge on South Sprigg Street over LaCroix Creek.

It has been closed since 2013 after a large sinkhole collapsed part of the nearby street, and another sinkhole formed near the base of the bridge.

The city received federal funding last year to perform an investigative study, design a solution for the sinkhole issue and determine whether the street could be reopened. Horner & Shifrin was awarded the contract last year and has finished its investigation, determining a new bridge could be built near the existing structure.

To build a sound bridge that would not be threatened by any existing or new sinkholes, assistant public works director Stan Polivick said crews will dig to the bedrock and begin building from there.

Horner & Shifrin is ready to move to the design and construction phases, with the council's approval.

The cost for that work is not to exceed $571,264.74. The emergency relief program agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission will provide 80 percent reimbursement for the project.

The city also has been approved for a low-interest loan of $3,965,100 from the Missouri Transportation Finance Corp. for design and construction, according to city documents.

The final issue up for vote at tonight's council meeting would appropriate funds from the city's solid waste fund to cover costs of a one-day household hazardous waste collection event.

The city periodically offers an event where residents can drop off household hazardous waste items not accepted in the weekly trash for free.

The event is dependent on grant assistance, and one has not been held since 2011.

The ordinance up for council approval would appropriate $39,626.00 to cover the estimated cost of the hazardous waste collection event.

A grant from the Southeast Missouri Solid Waste Management District will fund 75 percent of the costs, with a maximum grant amount of $29,719.50.

Remaining costs would be covered by unencumbered balances of the Solid Waste Fund, according to the city.

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.