CITY APPROVES HISTORIC-RECORDS MICROFILMING

Most people don't like to think about losing important papers, family photographs or records in a flood, fire or other disaster. Neither does the city.

Cape Girardeau officials applied for a state grant in April to help the city preserve historic city records. At Monday night's City Council meeting, the city set aside $2,147 in matching funds to preserve the records on microfilm.

A local records-preservation grant from Secretary of State Bekki Cook's office will pay $4,085 toward the preservation project.

City council minutes, ordinances and blueprints for commercial buildings from the 1840s to 1998 will be recorded on microfilm.

City Clerk Gayle Conrad said there has not been any previous attempts to transfer the documents to microfilm or any other method of storage. "We've still got them on paper," she said. "That's why we're getting them filmed."

Several council members were surprised that the city records went as far back as the 1800s. Cape Girardeau was incorporated in 1808.

"That's just amazing," said Councilman Richard "Butch" Eggimann.

Council ordinances date back to 1843, and council minutes go back to 1875. City records are now housed at City Hall.

Any resident seeking information about city deeds, the articles of incorporation or other documents could go to City Hall and find them, but now they have been shipped off for copying onto microfilm.

Fifteen boxes filled with records and 22 books of documents were sent to ARS Micrographics Inc. of West Plains. The company was selected by the city to do the microfilming, which will likely be complete by May.

Eleven companies were solicited to bid on the project. Only four of them submitted bids. ARS Micrographics will complete the project for $5,500.

Councilman Tom Neumeyer said the city is spending a minuscule amount on the project compared to the investment being made. "The funding was available," he said.

In another effort to track down historic buildings in the city, the Historic Preservation Commission is working on a survey with students from Southeast Missouri State University. The commission presented its outline of the area to be surveyed to the council Monday.

The survey area includes Morgan Oak Street on the south, Pacific Street on the west, Sprigg Street on the east and Bellevue on the north. Another area bounded by Fountain Street on the east, William Street on the south, Independence to the north and Sprigg to the west will be included.

The cost of the survey, which will include copies, film and other expenses shouldn't exceed $470. The commission has budgeted for the costs and approved the survey area outline in January.

University students will take an architectural survey and pictures of the buildings in the area. The information they collect will then be forwarded to the commission.

"It's a great relationship," Neumeyer said. Students donate their services, and the city benefits from their efforts.

"It pays to help identify buildings of historic significance," he said.

Previous surveys have been conducted to help establish other historic districts. The city has applied for a National Register of Historic Places designation for two areas -- the 100 block of Broadway and 100 block of North Main Street -- that were chosen after a survey by Philip Thomason, a consultant who helped develop the city's historic preservation plan.

OTHER CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday night also:

* Approved the request of Robert A. Drury, owner of RAD Investments, for annexation of 24 acres west of Kell Farm Drive.

* Rezoned a 24-acre tract west of Cape West Business Park and north of Bloomfield Road from R-1, single-family residential, to MH-1, mobile home park district.

* Established a 45 mph speed limit on William Street from Interstate 55 west to County Road 317; 55 mph speed limit on William Street from County Road 317 west to city limits.

* Prohibited parking on William Street except for emergency stopping on the north and south shoulders from Kingshighway west to the city limits.

* Amended an existing ordinance related to funeral processions so that it would comply with state statute. The ordinance requires a rotating purple light or flashing headlights on the lead vehicle in a funeral procession and allows for flashing hazard lights as identification for other vehicles in the procession.