CITY AWARDS CONTRACT ON RECREATION TRAIL

A $66,674.57 contract for construction of phase IV of the city's recreation trail was approved by the Cape Girardeau City Council Monday.

Nip Kelley Equipment Co. Inc. submitted the low bid for construction of 1,810 linear feet of the trail, which will stretch from North Kingshighway to Lexington along Cape La Croix Creek.

Phases III and IV of the trail should be completed this summer, said city engineer Mark Lester.

The entire recreation trail, which will stretch from Shawnee Park to Osage Park, should be completed by summer 1999, Lester said.

Phase III, which stretches from Arena Park to Osage Park, is under construction.

Wet weather has delayed the work somewhat, Lester said.

City staff hopes to let bids for Phase I of the trail, which stretches from Brink Street south to Shawnee Park, this summer, with work completed next year.

The recreation trail was originally proposed as part of the Cape La Croix-Walker Branch flood-control project, said Ken Eftink, the city's planning coordinator.

The trail was originally slated to follow both Cape La Croix Creek and Walker Branch, Eftink said.

But after concerns about difficult street crossings and neighborhood opposition, city officials removed the Walker Branch portion of the project.

That funding is instead being used to pay for underpasses and bridges along the Cape La Croix Creek stretch, Eftink said.

The segment from Bloomfield Road north to Arena Park is open for use, said Mark Sullivan, the city's parks supervisor.

But the segment south of Arena Park to Brink street, though complete, is closed while crews work on sewer construction in the area, he said.

The trail is a popular attraction for bicyclists, walkers and joggers, he said.

"It's hard for us to get a count because you see so many people at different times of the day," Sullivan said. "At any one point in time, there's always somebody going up or down it."

The project is funded through $202,000 from the quarter-cent sales tax voters approved to pay for the flood-control project and another $449,600 awarded through the ISTEA Enhancement funds by the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Cape Girardeau City Council

Monday, May 18

Appearances

-- Presentation of Proclamation for Public Works Week

Consent ordinances

-- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code relating to qualifications of the Municipal Judge.

-- Approved an ordinance establishing the effective date of the recently approved amendments to the hotel-motel-restaurant license tax.

-- Approved an ordinance accepting deeds from various property owners for a fire department training site.

-- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code relating to truck traffic.

New ordinances

-- Approved an ordinance establishing the boundaries of Lateral Sewer District No. 14-1-F-10.

-- Approved on three readings an ordinance approving the record plat of Sherwood Acres subdivision.

Resolutions

-- Approved a resolution authorizing the City Manger to execute an agreement with Nip Kelley Equipment Co., Inc., for the ISTEA Recreation Trail Phase IV, contingent on approval of award by the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Appointments

-- Appointed Barry Robinson to the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Other

-- Approved a motion adopting a mission statement for the city of Cape Girardeau.

-- Approved a motion accepting improvement plans for construction of street, storm sewers, sanitary sewers and detention basin improvements contingent upon payment of the estimated inspection fees.

-- Approved a motion accepting the sanitary lateral sewers in Sewer District 14-1-C-2 and authorizing final payment to PR Developers, Inc., and waived payment of $300 in liquidated damages by the contractor.

-- Met in closed session to discuss personnel and litigation items.