CITY MEETING ON SEWER BOND ELECTION TONIGHT

Is a discussion on proposed sewer projects enough to draw a crowd?

Probably not, but city officials are still hopeful. They have planned an informational meeting tonight at 6:30 at the Osage Community Centre about an $8.5 million sewer bond election. The meeting conflicts with a public meeting at Barbara Blanchard Elementary School designed to answer questions about a new public high school.

Another city meeting on the sewer bond election is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.

Both meetings will offer the same presentation, which explains the city's need for added revenue and projects designed to alleviate problems, said City Manager Michael Miller.

City staff already have presented a slide program to civic clubs and advisory boards. "We've gotten good reaction to the presentation and the issue itself," said Miller. "We've had good questions and have been able to answer them."

Since the bond issue does not call for any tax increase or extension of the existing quarter-cent capital improvements sales tax, most people are receptive, he said. The tax is set to expire in 2020.

"The general impression is that the needs are there," Miller said.

Two public meetings are planned so anyone who might have questions about the proposal has an opportunity to ask them.

The bond is needed because the city doesn't have enough revenue to finish all the projects necessary to improve sewer flow and drainage. Since not enough money remains in the fund to finish the work, the city needs the authority to issue more bonds.

Since 1994, when the original $25 million bond was approved, nine of the 12 projects have been completed. The city also finished all six of its projects to separate the combined sewer and stormwater drainage systems in the older part of town.

The bond issue will take care of the critical problems in the city, Miller said, but it doesn't mean no other problems exist or that new problems won't arise.

The sales tax would create enough revenue to complete other projects like equipment replacement and new sanitary sewer trunks in an area plagued by problems.

If the bond issue fails, the city likely will pay for the projects as money is available. But gathering that type of revenue at one time could take up to 10 years, city officials said.

The city hopes to secure a State Revolving Loan Fund bond to fund the projects. The SRF bonds offer lower interest and a $5.1 million cost savings to the city.

FUNDING THE FINAL WORK

Voters will decide Feb. 8 whether or not to continue with sanitary sewer improvements in Cape Girardeau.

BOND REVENUE NEEDED: $8.5 million

The $8.5 million needed to finish the work will NOT:

* Increase the current quarter-cent capital improvement sales tax.

* Require any tax extension. The sales tax will expire in 2020.

The money will be used to finish these projects:

* Replace Mississippi River life stations and force mains, $6 million

* Replace Sloan Creek relief trunk sewer, $2.8 million

* Construct South Ramsey Branch lift station, force main, $1.4 million

* Rehabilitation of Trickling filter at Wastewater treatment plant, $1.5 million

* Sanitary trunk sewers in Ranchito/Arena watershed, $500,000

COST OF SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENTS

Original projects (9 of 12 are completed), $10.2 million

Added projects, $2 million

Bond costs, $250,000

Remaining bond revenue, $3.95 million

Bond revenue needed, $8.5 million

The project could be funded by several methods:

Conventional bonds, $20.6 million

"Pay as you go" method, $16.6 million

State Revolving loan bond, $15.5 million