CITY COUNCIL SLATED TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE BIDDING OF TRASH COLLECTION SERVICE

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday will again consider whether to put the city's residential trash collection service out for bids.

The council will also consider giving final approval to a law that would require licensing of all construction trades contractors who operate in the city.

The council plans to discuss the pros and cons of bidding the trash hauling service. BFI Inc., a private trash hauler that handles about a third of the city's commercial accounts, urged the council at its May 6 meeting to bid the service.

A representative from BFI said the trash company could provide the city's residents with increased service, including the pick-up of recyclables, at a lower cost.

Councilman Doug Richards requested that bidding the service be considered before adopting a waste-management plan for the city. The waste management plan would bring the city into compliance with a new state landfill law.

Initial approval to the law requiring licensing of construction trades contractors was given May 6. The law would require that all building contractors, electricians and mechanical installers have at least four years of practical experience and take a written exam to test their skill. Only plumbers and gas fitters are now required to be licensed with the city.

The law would also require that contractors carry at least $500,000 of liability insurance.

If the council gives final approval to the law on Monday, contractors would have six months to meet the licensing requirement in order to continue to operate in the city.

The law is part of a four-to-five year study that culminated this year following adoption of the 1990 national Building Officials and Code Administrators building codes.

According to Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink, many electricians and home builders in the city have requested the licensing requirements to safeguard against "shoddy" work by unqualified contractors.

The law would establish a board of examiners consisting of five regular members and three alternate members. Four of the five regular members will be required to have at least six years of practical experience in a construction trade and be licensed. The three alternate members will be a plumber, electrician and mechanical installer.

The board will be required to meet at least once a month to review the qualifications of license applicants. The board would also advise the city council as to the licensing of trades in the city.

In other business, a public hearing will be held to consider approving a special use permit that would allow a resident to operate a computer software business on property zoned as single family residential.

The request was made by Richard J. Comeau of 2879 Hopper Road. The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended denial of the permit, saying the business would "adversely affect the character of the neighborhood."