Cape veterans home receives funding for backup generator

The Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau will receive funding for an emergency backup generator, Gov. Jay Nixon announced Tuesday.

Scheduled to be complete by April, the $800,000 project consists of an emergency generator as well as fire hydrants, exterior lighting and a fire lane. Work on the project should begin in the next few weeks. Zoellner Construction of Perryville, Mo., is the project contractor.

Tim Norton, director of facilities operations of the Missouri Veterans Commission, said the home's current generator can only power certain areas of the building. If a power outage occurs in the future, the new generator will allow the home to operate as if no outage occurred.

"We're really excited because of the improvement we'll have for our facility," Norton said. "If our power goes out in the middle of winter and it's zero degrees outside, that could present a major problem using our current generator. Now, with the new generator we'll be able to handle those type of problems."

Approved by Nixon, the project is part of $16.1 million in renovations at the state's seven veterans homes.

Missouri lawmakers included money for the construction projects in the state budget that took effect July 1. But Nixon, a Democrat, blocked the ability to spend it out of concern it could bankrupt a state fund that helps pay for the facilities.

Nixon's office said Tuesday it now is allowing the money to be spent because the federal government has increased the reimbursement being paid to states for running the facilities.

"I am very happy to move these projects forward that serve and honor Missouri's veterans, who have earned and deserve our support and respect," Nixon said in a written statement.

The spending restriction for the veterans home projects was among numerous cuts made by Nixon. In all, he vetoed or delayed $430 million of spending. That included $105 million in line-item vetoes.

The Missouri Veterans Commission operates homes in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mount Vernon, St. James, St. Louis and Warrensburg. The facilities have a total of 1,350 beds and provide skilled nursing care. Residents must have lived in Missouri for at least 180 days and be military veterans.

Construction projects that are to be funded are:

• $4.9 million to install emergency backup generators at all seven facilities.
• $2.8 million to build a columbarium wall to hold cremation urns at the Higginsville Veterans Cemetery.
• $2 million to replace the fire sprinkler system in St. James.
• $1.9 million to build a chapel in Cameron and Warrensburg.
• $1.6 million for a columbarium wall at the Springfield Veterans Cemetery.
• $1.4 million to replace the roof in St. James.
• $846,580 to replace the roof in Mexico, Mo.
• $656,338 to building a sitting room and sun room in Cameron and Warrensburg.

Staff writer Brian Blackwell contributed to this report.

Pertinent address:

2400 Veterans Memorial Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO