Cape council to discuss capital improvements

The Cape Girardeau City Council's study session will begin earlier than usual this afternoon.

The meeting typically begins at 5 p.m., but the start time was moved up to 4:30 p.m. to allow time to discuss the city's Capital Improvements Program.

Through the program, the city evaluates infrastructure projects that need renovation, repairs or construction. The program includes funded and contingent, or unfunded, projects.

The five-year, fiscally conservative plan is created with the help of city departments, said city manager Scott Meyer. Public input also remains a key part of forming each year's Capital Improvements Program.

"It's there for people to see and comment on, or if there are capital improvements that aren't there, they can suggest them," he said.

In 2014, two of the highest-priority projects were a new police station and transfer station. Revenue streams have been identified for both projects, bringing them a step closer to becoming a reality.

The transfer station will be built without increasing user fees, thanks to an agreement with Republic Services. The company that hauls trash from homes and businesses in Cape Girardeau County will close its Fruitland facility and bring its trash to the city's transfer station. The additional revenue from this arrangement will pay for the new station, which has an initial estimate of about $3.9 million.

Finding revenue for a new police station was more difficult. The existing facility is too small and outdated to fit the growing police department's needs, officials have said. Funding was secured piecemeal, with a restaurant tax, fire tax and casino funds chipping in $11 million.

Meyer called the city's ability to get creative in securing funds for the projects "a tribute to the process."

"It points out that public input and public discussion and planning is critical and this is kind of celebrating the fact that, by planning things and identifying priorities ... staff was able to find ways to fund some of the top priorities of the project list," he said.

While the city sticks to a traditional process of proposing and reviewing the Capital Improvements Program, Meyer said there will be a difference this year. Projects that cost of $50,000 or less have been removed from the program. The smaller projects could be funded through other ways, he said.

The council will not take any action regarding the Capital Improvements Program during its regular session meeting, which will begin at its normal time at 7 p.m.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641