Cape Girardeau City Council approves easements

The Cape Girardeau City Council approved two easements that will move forward two of the city's biggest upcoming public projects -- the new wastewater treatment plant and the Broadway corridor project.

The unanimous yes vote on the $3.85 million Broadway project authorizes the acquisition of temporary construction easements from about 15 property owners along the length of the project between Pacific and Water streets. The project is slated to start in February and be finished by the end of 2012.

The council also gave first-round approval to a bill regarding the city's new wastewater treatment plant to allow the city to acquire permanent sanitary sewer easements from the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway. Voters approved $72 million in bonds for the plant, which city officials hope will be under construction by June.