CITY APPLIES FOR GRANT TO HELP BUILD TRAIL

A proposed hiking and biking trail along Bloomfield Road annexation property could cost the city of Cape Girardeau $25,000 annually in maintenance if approval is granted by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department (MHTD).

Property owners requesting the annexation have proposed the trail, which would extend for a mile from Siemers Drive to County Road 206 or Benton Hill Road.

Under terms of the Federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, one section provides for funding of transportation enhancement projects.

Thus the city council was asked to consider an application for grant funding through the MHTD for the project. After a brief discussiion, the council approved sending the application to the MHTD.

"The project, and the application, as conceived by the city staff at this point, would involve the acquisition of rights-of-ways and easements along Bloomfield Road at sites along an alignment yet to be determined," said City Planner Kent Bratton.

If approved, the project would require a 20 percent match from parties involved in the friendly Bloomfield Road annexation.

The total cost of the project is $180,000. Those involved in the Bloomfield Road annexation would need to raise $36,000 for their share. "The 20 percent local match would be provided by the parties through acquisition or donation of rights-of-way and easements and cash donations," said Bratton.

Since the deadline for submitting the project to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department is July 1, the Parks and Recreation Board did not have an opportunity to take it under consideration. The next Parks and Recreation meeting is scheduled for July 11.

"This project could end up costing the city," said City Manager J. Ronald Fischer when asked by city council members who would be responsible for matching funds if parties for the friendly annexation would fail to raise the necessary amount.

At this point, there is no guarantee that the match money will be raised by the parties involved in the annexation. Since the city is sending the project to the MHTD and is annexing property along Bloomfield Road, it could also be responsible for paying the $36,000 matching fund.

"I question whether or not we should be getting involved in a project like this when we've got a park that was donated to the city in 1900 and needs work done to it," said City Councilman Richard Eggimann, who was referring to the Washington Park improvement project.

With dirt coming from the Lexington Street Project, which will be used to begin seeding and leveling off areas of Washington Park, the remaining improvements are scheduled to begin in the 1995-96 fiscal year. The Washington Park improvement project is projected to cost $45,000, the same figure given for the projected construction of the hiking and biking trail.

City council members suggested the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board likely will have to consider whether or not the hiking and biking trail project could be included in the capital improvements program.

If the hiking and biking trail project is approved by the MHTD, the city would also be responsible for maintenance of the trail when it is completed. "It should be stressed that the city's rough estimates do not include any trail-side amenities such as drinking fountains, restrooms, shelters and the like," said Bratton.

Added Bratton, "Time constraints will not allow for inclusion of such facilities in this application, but they might be included in a follow-up application at a later date."

There is another friendly annexation under way in Cape. This involves property east of Cape Rock Drive and west of Old Sprigg Street Road. A hearing for the Sprigg Street annexation was held June 6. The matter will come before the city council at its July 5 meeting.