Cape County hires representation in Sunshine suit

The Cape Girardeau County Commission has hired Tom Ludwig to represent the board in a lawsuit filed by Second District Commissioner Jay Purcell.

The announcement was made by Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle following a closed session of the commission today in which the lawsuit was discussed. 

In today's open commission meeting that preceded the closed meeting, commissioners approved the purchase of Internet filtering software. Innovative Idea's $2,344.70 package complements the county's existing e-mail spam filter software.

The decision is one way county officials are setting limits after discovering Auditor David Ludwig had repeatedly violated the county's computer use policy. The county's employee handbook is also being revised.

The commissioners also approved ads for grading bids for county roads 405 and 501 and set June 21 as the date for the county's next scrap tire collection drive. The meeting ended at 10:30 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m., Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones and First District Commissioner Larry Bock entered a closed meeting to discuss the Sunshine Law suit filed earlier this month by Second District Commissioner Jay Purcell.

Check back for details at www.semissourian.com or read Friday's print edition of the Southeast Missourian.