CITY GETS GRANT FOR RECYCLING CENTER UPGRADE

Recycling might not be a money-making venture, but it's a popular concept in Cape Girardeau.

Congestion along the drop-off area at the city's public recycling facility, 120 N. Broadview St., is so great that renovations are needed.

Plans call for building a drive-through collection site that makes it safer and more convenient for residents to recycle their paper, cardboard, steel cans and other materials.

Officials learned last week the city had been approved for an $80,000 state grant to fund the renovation project. The city must provide a 20 percent match to participate in the grant. In all, the project will cost $100,000 to complete.

Members of the City Council are expected to discuss the grant match tonight and approve local funding. The council meets at 7:30 at City Hall, 401 Independence. A study session begins at 5 o'clock.

City officials had applied for the grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources earlier this year because of congestion problems at the site.

The drop-off recycling site is also near the driveways for the city's water and public works crews, so traffic is often congested.

Each week some 750 residents use the site and drop off 40 pounds of materials each. That amounts to 30,000 pounds of recyclable material each week.

The proposed clear-span building would be open to the west so residents could drive up to the bins and separate their recycling materials. The area would be fenced so residents are out of traffic.

Cape Girardeau began its recycling program in 1991, and participation has grown each year. In its first eight years, the city has diverted nearly 20,000 tons of trash from landfills.

Much of the recycling efforts in the state began after a Missouri law passed suggesting a goal for waste reduction by January 1998. Cities were expected to work toward that goal without any mandates. Cape Girardeau chose to introduce a recycling program.

Once the city set its two-container limit on residential trash pickup, residents began recycling. The program actually saves them money because the city charges $1 for every container over the limit.

Cape Girardeau City Council

Monday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Council chambers, 401 Independence

Study session at 5 p.m.

Public hearings

-- A public hearing regarding the request of Columbia Construction Corp. and Southwestern Bell Wireless for special-use permit for 150-foot monopole communication tower and 12-foot-by-20-foot equipment building for period of 20 years at 3630 Exchange Drive.

-- Public hearing regarding request of Sandy McLane to vacate recorded subdivision plat of McLane Outlot No. 1 at southwest corner of William and Broadview.

Consent ordinances (Second and third readings)

-- Ordinance amending boundaries of lateral sewer district No. 14-J, subdivision of trunk sewer district No. 14, approving plans and construction of sanitary lateral sewers.

-- Ordinance approving record plat of Kings-Corner Subdivision.

-- Ordinance approving record plat of Albert Place Second Subdivision.

-- Ordinance approving record plat of Vernon Rhodes Subdivision.

New ordinances (First reading)

-- Ordinance granting special-use permit to Columbia Construction Corp. and Southwestern Bell Wireless for constructing, maintaining and operating a communication tower and equipment building at 3630 Exchange Drive.

-- Ordinance vacating city's interest in a gas and water line easement in Woodhaven Subdivision.

-- Ordinance vacating the city's interest in McLane Outlot No. 1 Subdivision.

-- Ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for bridge construction over Little Ramsey Creek.

Resolutions (Reading and passage)

-- Resolution authorizing city manager to execute an agreement with Huffman Inc. for Cape Rock Water Treatment Plant expansion and alluvial well field construction.

-- Resolution stating intent to seek funding through Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Monies, Iowa, for affordable housing funds and authorizing city manager to attempt to secure funding to supplement a neighborhood rehabilitation project.

-- Resolution authorizing city manager to execute a release of lien for Community Development Block Grant program.

-- Resolution authorizing city manager to execute grant agreement with Missouri Department of Natural Resources for Cape Girardeau recycling drop-off facility.

-- Resolution consenting to city of Scott City annexing a portion of U.S. 61 in Scott County.

Liquor licenses

-- Approval of a temporary picnic license for Louis K. Juden Post 63 American Legion for event Friday and Saturday on the Main Street parking lot.

Other

-- Motion accepting into the city's system the street improvements to Koch Street from Brink Street south for a distance of 100 feet.

-- Discussion regarding Sanitary Sewer Improvement Program.