CITY IN LINE FOR NEW STATE MONEY; AMENDMENT 7 FUNDS AVAILABLE

The city of Cape Girardeau hopes to benefit financially from the recent statewide voter approval of Amendment 7.

Cape Girardeau County is eligible for up to $368,000 in state funds under the amendment for stormwater control, according to Cape Girardeau estimates.

The city would like to see at least a portion of that money allocated for its stormwater control efforts.

"We are very pleased about the program being established," said Doug Leslie, the city's public works director. "We have a backlog of projects, and this could certainly provide a means of funding."

Among the projects on the city's wish list are the Cape Meadows drainage way, drainage improvements at Arena Park and improvements on Scivally Branch from Walker Creek north.

Amendment 7 allows the General Assembly to authorize up to $200 million statewide for stormwater control projects in 1st class counties. The funds will be allocated on a county by county basis.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources still has to finalize the process through which counties can apply for the funds. A system is expected to be in place within 30 days.

Leslie said it will be at least six months before it is known if the city will benefit from the program.

Separate from the stormwater funds, Amendment 7 also provides grants and loans to small communities for the water and sewer projects.

Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said the County Commission hasn't yet discussed the potential Amendment 7 windfall. He said some of the money could possibly be used to help develop a sewer district in the northern part of the county, including the Pocahontas and Fruitland areas.