Cape Girardeau County Commission discusses city-county federal building partnership

The Cape Girardeau County Commission continues to work with Cape Girardeau city officials on the idea of co-ownership and consolidation of some county and city services in the former federal building.

City officials Monday approved a $33,000 engineering study of the building, but commissioners said at this point they are still evaluating the idea.

"We are working with them to try to see if it's feasible for them, and if it's feasible for us," said Paul Koeper, 1st District commissioner. "We've all said all along that the building is a big building, and it's just something that I'm not sure that we want it on our own."

The official costs of the building and renovations have yet to be announced, but Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy said the county still has questions regarding costs for the General Services Administration.

"Our question to GSA is how many times the taxpayers need to pay for that building," he said.

Jay Purcell, 2nd District commissioner, said the commission will continue to investigate and consider all options.

"I'm receptive, and I think the rest of us are, to at least do an analysis in investigating if this will really work," he said.

Other action

In other business, commissioners gave the recorder of deeds office authority to sell online subscription access to various local and out-of-state businesses and individuals.

"It's not that we're obligating ourselves financially, but we're obligating a service we are selling," said Scott R. Clark, Cape Girardeau County recorder of deeds.

Clark said the subscriptions are primarily used by local banks and lawyers to access filings with the recorder's office, and the new system will save them time and travel by enabling them to log on online. He said there will be a change with the subscription fee from the current and only option of $400 unlimited-use access to a tiered system, which will offer more options and be more affordable to those who use a smaller number of minutes.

In other business

* Approved in routine business, a DWI Enforcement grant of $8,041.70 through the Missouri Department of Transportation Highway Safety Division established 5 percent of the total expended funding will be used toward fuel purchased for working with DWI OT, a DWI enforcement program.

* A Missouri Department of Economic Development Community Development Block Grant for the public water supply district five project remains open and makes the community ineligible for further CDBG water and waste funding in 2011 until the project is completed.

rrolwing@semissourian.com

388-3654

Pertinent address:

1 Barton Square, Jackson, MO

339 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO