Cape council will discuss police station options

Cape Girardeau's city council will give feedback on future police station options Monday during a discussion of a design study recently presented by hired consultants.

The discussion is set for the council's 5 p.m. Monday study session at city hall. On Nov. 4, representatives of FGM Architects Inc. presented three options to the council, public and several members of the city's police department, which included two plans for renovations and additions and one plan to build a new police station.

City officials, backed by the architect's findings, say the 38-year-old station needs more space, more security and other upgrades. All of the options presented to the council would likely cost more than the $11 million budget city officials have in mind for fixing the station's problems, which pushes the need for further discussion on how to proceed.

Several city council members, including Mayor Harry Rediger, have said they want to see other options than the ones presented by the firm, including alternative locations. Two of the options would put new or renovated facilities at 40 S. Sprigg St. where the current station is. The other option would renovate the old federal building at 339 Broadway into a police station.

The council also may begin preliminary discussions of how to fund a new or renovated station, Rediger has said.

The council also is scheduled to hold a final vote on a new ordinance that would establish rules for abatement of nuisances such as unlicensed vehicles, open storage of junk and graffiti. The council unanimously approved the ordinance during a first-round vote Nov. 18. The final vote is set for the 7 p.m. regular meeting Monday.

The city's move to create the rules came after a city staff committee came up with related recommendations earlier this year.

Under the proposed ordinance, violators would be issued a ticket and could face fines, the amount of which would be determined by the municipal court system. Property owners could receive special tax bills for nuisance abatements if cleanup does not happen by the city's deadlines, which would be 15 days for removal of graffiti and seven days for removing unlicensed vehicle or junk.

The city sought public input on the changes to nuisance rules through an online survey and a public meeting held in August.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

40 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO