Cape touts amenities, solicits 'All American City' status

The Cape Girardeau City Council made several moves meant to increase the city's profile at Monday's city council meeting.

Cape Girardeau will soon make its pitch to become an "All American City," as voted on by the National Civic Board. The city last received this designation, which is given to 10 cities annually, in 1967. The award is handed out to communities of all sizes that can prove their residents, government, businesses and voluntary organizations work together to address critical local issues.

The application process for this award asks candidates to identify two major challenges the city has endured, two initiatives the community has used to combat these challenges and one project the city has supported to help children.

Cape Girardeau's Vision 2020 will highlight Old Town Cape efforts to revitalize the historic district, the Community Caring Council's work pairing business and not-for-profit organizations toward achieving community goals and the collaboration of Southeast Missouri State and the police department to combat sexual violence.

Applications for the contest must be submitted by March 9.

The city also moved forward in plans to expand Cape LaCroix recreational trail. The city will retain the services of an engineering firm to provide an engineering report and do preliminary survey work on the possible route. The plan calls for an eight-foot-wide walking trail to connect Cape LaCroix to the Missouri Department of Conservation nature trail located in North Cape Girardeau County park complex. This 1.5-mile extension will allow a direct biking or walking route from Lexington Avenue across Cape LaCroix Creek to the county park. City hall hopes to get eight percent enhancement funds from the Missouri Department of Transportation for the project.

The police department will be part of the region's first-ever bomb team. Along with Poplar Bluff, Sikeston and Jackson, the police department will appoint one officer to undergo special training to be first responders to an incident involving explosives.

"The closest team was in Jefferson City, so if there was a suspicious package at the airport we could be forced to shut down for a long period of time," said city manager Doug Leslie.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

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