CAPE GIRARDEAU SEWER ISSUES APPROVED BY VOTERS

Cape Girardeau voters Tuesday overwhelmingly approved two ballot issues that will alleviate ongoing sewer problems in older parts of the city.

The first issue, an extension of the city's quarter-cent sales tax for capital improvements, passed by a vote of 6,612-2,798, or a 70-30 margin. The second measure, issuance of $25 million in sewer revenue bonds, passed 6,343-2,871.

Passage of the measures will enable the city to separate combined sanitary and storm sewers in the city. By extending for 20 years the capital improvements tax the city can fund the sewer work before the improvements are mandated by state and federal regulators.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said he was pleased with the voters' endorsement of the issues.

"I think that's great," Fischer said. "It is a tax, but a sales tax is paid by many people other than residents of Cape.

"People who work and shop in Cape benefit from city services, and some of those services are the sewer system. This is a way of getting some return from those people."

Fischer said the city was facing federal and state mandates to separate the sewers in the near future. By passing the bonds Tuesday, the city will be able to finance the work at an interest rate that will be 70 percent subsidized by the state.

"The endorsement by voters really is a positive step for the future of Cape, putting us in a position of growth," Fischer added. "I don't think people realize how positive this vote is for the future of Cape and its growth."