CITY OKs NEW YEAR'S FIREWORKS

Want to start the new millennium with a bang?

The Cape Girardeau City Council passed a resolution Monday night making it a little easier to celebrate the new year with an explosion of fireworks.

The council unanimously approved a resolution that allows fireworks to be discharged for one hour on New Year's Eve. Fireworks can be discharged from 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1.

Although Missouri law does allow the sale of fireworks from Dec. 20 through Jan. 2, city ordinances prohibited sales in the past.

The request for discharging fireworks came from a vendor during an earlier council meeting. Jackson city officials have received a similar request from Rick and Mary Ann Hoffman of Hoffman Family Fireworks.

Rick Hoffman told the council Monday he wasn't requesting fireworks be sold during December, just that residents be allowed to shoot them off to celebrate the new year.

When the council first discussed the issue, the resolution included selling fireworks during the New Year's holiday. Because weather conditions had been incredibly dry last summer and fall, the potential for fire was a concern, but recent rains have eliminated that problem, though that could change before Dec. 31, said Fire Chief Dan White. Some council members worried about fire hazards and accidents, as well as increased calls for police officers who might already be busy with the mayhem of the millennium celebration.

White and Police Chief Rick Hetzel expressed some concern about the increased number of parties and celebrations for the millennium that could add to their workload.

Once fireworks sales start in late June, the police department begins getting complaints about fireworks, and with "some uncertainties about the new year, it is a complicating factor," White said.

However, people will shoot fireworks whether legally or illegally, said Mayor Al Spradling III.

"I'd rather they shoot firecrackers than firearms," said Councilman Frank Stoffregen.

Councilman Melvin Gateley amended the resolution to allow for discharging fireworks only for this New Year's holiday. It passed unanimously as amended.

In other business:

* The council approved by a 6-0 vote, with one abstention, a rezoning request of St. Andrew Lutheran Church to change zoning from R-1 single-family residential district, to C-2, general commercial district. Councilman Melvin Kasten abstained because he is a charter member of the St. Andrew Lutheran congregation.

* The council rejected a rezoning request from Peter J. Gordon to rezone property at 1104, 1108 and 1110 William St. and 131 S. Hanover St. from C-1, local commercial district, to R-3, two-family residential district.

CAPE GIRARDEAU CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

Monday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Council chambers, 401 Independence Study session at 5 p.m.

Public hearings n Held hearing on annexation of 10.76-acre tract at end of Frank's Lane from Ervin Frank Jr. and Lucille Frank.

* Held hearing on annexation of 190.58-acre tract extending from the city limits west along Route K to near County Road 206 (Benton Hill Road) from the Missouri State Highway and Transportation Commission and others.

* Held hearing on annexation of 34.73-acre tract at Hopper and Lampe roads (County Road 313 by Michael P. Drury and others.

* Held hearing on zoning 804 N. Cape Rock Drive from R-1, single-family residential district to C-2, general commercial district requested by St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

* Held hearing on rezoning 1104, 1108 and 1110 William St. and 131 S. Hanover St. from C-1, local commercial district to R-3, two-family residential district requested by Peter J. Gordon.

Consent ordinances (Second and third readings.)

* Accepted warranty deeds and temporary construction easements from the Community Counseling Center and Scot W. LeGrand for intersection of Bloomfield and Silver Springs roads.

* Accepted easements from North Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and Earl H. Norman, trustee, for maintenance of a water main extension.

* Approved plat of Gammon Subdivision.

* Approved plat of Thomas Drive Subdivision No. 2 n Approved plat of Chalet Trace Second Subdivision.

* Appropriated funds for Public Works.

* Levied special assessment for Hopper Road from Kage to Oak Ridge roads, and authorized special tax bills.

New ordinances (First reading.)

* Accepted deeds and easements from property owners for the Broadway Improvements Transportation Trust Fund Project between Clark and Perry avenues.

* Established boundaries of Lateral Sewer District No. 16-E, approved plans and authorized construction of a system of sanitary lateral sewers.

* Accepted sewer easement from Paul A. and Sarah Schermann to serve properties along Perryville Road and Evergreen Drive.

* Rejected amendment to City Code that would have removed stop signs on Lexington Avenue at Old Sprigg Street Road.

* Amended City Code to place stop sign on Kent Drive at Lexington Avenue.

* Amended Code of Ordinances to rezone 804 N. Cape Rock Drive from R-1 to C-2.

* Rejected amendment to Code of Ordinances to rezone 1104, 1108 and 1110 William St. and 131 S. Hanover St. from C-1 to R-3.

* Accepted warranty deed from Emil W. Dewrock and collector's deeds for the fire department training facility site.

* Authorized acquisition of property for the extension of Hopper Road between Mount Auburn and Kage roads.

* Amended City Code relating to fireworks, allowing discharge for one hour on New Years' Eve 1999.

* Levied special assessment for Delwin Street from Janet to Leroy drives and authorize special tax bills.

* Accepted easements for water main extension north of North Cape County Park.

Resolutions (Reading and passage.)

* Authorized city manager to contract with Fronabarger Concreters Inc. to improve Walnut Street from U.S. 61 to Commercial Street.

* Endorsed Main Street Program concept and the submittal of an application to the Department of Economic Development to become an official Missouri Main Street Town.

* Authorized city manager to lease hangar space to David Johnson and Rick Griffith, dba D &R Pilots at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

* Supported placing a juvenile justice center in the city limits.

* Authorized city manager to contract engineering services with Bowen Engineering and Surveying Inc. for the Hopper Road, Mount Auburn Road west to Kage Road project.

* Authorized city manager to contract with Bowen Engineering and Surveying Inc. for the Rodney Street bridge and reconstruction.

* Authorized city manager to release a lien for the Community Block Grant Program (McGee).

* Authorized city manager to release a lien for the Community Block Grant Program (Ponder).

* Acknowledged receipt of an annexation petition and set public hearing regarding the proposed annexation (RAD Investments.) n Authorized city manager to lease with Web Aero Inc. for a hangar and land at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Other

* Abandoned original improvement plans for a sanitary sewer extension to serve Cape Tractor Supply Co., and approved new plans for a sanitary sewer extension to serve Cape Tractor Supply and Mobile Home World.