Cape officials may force issue of Commercial Street repairs

The Cape Girardeau City Council took the first step toward approving repairs of 1,200 feet of Commercial Street between Walnut and Hickory streets, despite expected opposition from property owners along Commercial Street.

City manager Doug Leslie called the street improvement plan an "on and off again project" that began in 1995, when the majority of the property owners along Commercial petitioned the council to improve that section of Commercial Street. The council initially rejected the petition but in 2000 put the project in its Capital Improvements Program. By that time, most of the property owners either lost interest or moved away. Only about half the property owners supported the project, which was put on hold.

The city is now interested in finishing the street improvements, but property owners are reluctant to see it through because of the cost. The project is estimated to cost about $340,000, according to assistant city engineer Melanie Gertis. If the city approves the project, then the property owners will be assessed the repair costs on a per-foot basis.

With the passage of the first reading of the ordinance, the city is now taking the first step toward forcing the issue.

"It's the only way we could find to keep the project moving without a consensus of the property owners," Leslie said at the council's study session.

The city can force the issue, he said, if it can demonstrate compelling public interest in repairing the road and if there is a proven need for the repair.

Councilwoman Marcia Ritter called that portion of Commercial Street one of the worst in the city, and urged others on the council to see for themselves how bad it is.

If at least 51 percent of the property owners file a remonstrance petition in protest, then the city will have to split the cost with the property owners, each side paying about $170,000, Leslie said.

Dillard Dale, who owns property at Commercial and Locust streets, appeared before the council to ask how to go about submitting the petition for remonstrance and was told that the period to file the petition is Sept. 8 to 29. Dale said he would return with such a petition.

A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for Sept. 20.

Spanish Court project

The council also approved on first reading a record plat of a proposed two-lot subdivision, Spanish Court to be located at 231 N. Main St. One lot of Spanish Court is the site of the Red Letter Communications Building and is zoned commercial. Lot 2 is split to be incorporated into the Spanish Court condominium project.

The next step for the project, once it has council approval, will be to vacate that section of Spanish Street needed for the project and to relocate the storm sewer line.

Lexington Trace

The council also approved a resolution accepting a bid of $398,527.68 from Lappe Cement Finishing Inc. to build Phase 1 and Phase II of Lexington Trace pedestrian walkway. The walkway will extend along Lexington Avenue from Perryville Road east to Sprigg Street, and south on Sprigg Street, just past Bertling Street.

Tax rates set

In other action, the council approved a tax rate of 77 cents per $100 assessed valuation for the fiscal year 2004-2005 for the Special Business District No. 2. The tax is expected to generate $16,400 in real estate taxes for the city.

For the city, the council approved a property tax rate of 64 cents per $100 assessed valuation. Of that, 31 cents is for general fund, a half-cent is for the health fund, 16 cents is for the library. The taxes are expected to bring in a total of $2,292,780 for those three funds in real estate tax.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160