CITY PLEDGES MONEY TO HELP BUILD RAIL SPUR

The Cape Girardeau City Council has pledged to spend up to $25,500 to bring in as much as $85 million in economic development.

In a unanimous vote Monday, the council pledged that amount toward the construction of a 0.9-mile extension of a railroad spur in the Nash Road industrial park.

D. Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Industrial Recruitment Association, asked the council and the Cape Girardeau County Commission each to pledge half of $51,000 as the local match to $496,000 in Community Development Block Grant money. He said the Missouri Department of Economic Development wants local governments to demonstrate a willingness to invest in their communities before committing grant money to them.

State governments administer the federally-funded block grant program.

The spur would serve the BioKyowa plant that makes additives for animal feeds. The Japanese-based company employs about 100 people here and is considering adding another product line. Depending on which product it chooses and whether it goes to the Cape Girardeau plant, the expansion could add up to another 100 employees, Robinson said.

The company has two other plants -- one in Japan and one in Mexico.

"These new employees will work for one of the top three paying companies in our area," Robinson wrote in a letter to the council. "The rail spur is critical to their expansion plans."

The county commission has agreed to put up the other half, said Mayor Al Spradling III.

The city would spend the money only if BioKyowa decides to expand, Robinson said in a telephone interview after the meeting. However, the rail spur would serve other sites and could help bring other industry to the industrial park as well, he said.

In other business, the council:

-- Approved without discussion a special use permit for Walter Lee Jones and Kathleen Woods to erect a double-wide mobile home at 810 College Street, between Ellis and Pacific streets in a neighborhood of frame and brick houses adjacent to new Highway 74.

Unlike previous requests for mobile homes in similar neighborhoods, no city residents came to any government meetings to raise any objections to the mobile home.

-- Took no action on a proposal from the city engineer to refuse to accept the stormwater retention basin in the Red Oaks subdivision from developer Larry McCulley. McCulley asked for the council to delay action.

-- Delayed a discussion of an ordinance creating zoning requirements for halfway houses until the city's planning department could study it further.

-- Held a hearing about bringing city water service to the Twin Lakes subdivision. City Engineer Mark Lester told residents he hopes to advertise bid specifications by Oct. 19, have construction start in December and have it completed in May.

-- Held a hearing about extending sewer service to a commercial area near the intersection of Kingshighway and Boulder Crest. Three businesses were in the area proposed for the sewer district. Representatives from Ford's Motorcycle Sales and Service and the Academy of Scuba Training, along with Ish Patel, owner of a Super 8 Motel under construction, asked the council to expand the district to include other nearby businesses so they could share the expenses. Ford's and the Academy already use septic tanks. The council asked Lester to meet with the businesses and work something out.

CAPE GIRARDEAU CITY COUNCIL

Cape Girardeau City Council

Monday Sept. 15, 1997

Presented a proclamation to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for its Back to School, Stay in School Family Summit.

Consent ordinances, adopted after second and third readings:

-- Accepted a general warranty deed for right of way for the detention reservoir portion of the Cape La Croix Creek/Walker Branch flood control project.

-- Accepted a permanent easement and a temporary construction easement for a sanitary sewer lateral from Roger E. and Joannie B. Skinner.

-- Amended the city code relating to adoption of a comprehensive plan.

-- Changed the zoning of 2751 Thomas Drive from R-1 and C-2 to C-2.

-- Granted a special use permit to Roman Catholic Diocese, Springfield-Cape Girardeau and St. Vincent de Paul Parish for a meeting building with shop and storage use at 1911 Woodlawn Ave. in an R-2 residential district.

-- Granted a special use permit for a warehouse at 1134 N. Sprigg in an R-4 multiple family district.

-- Granted a special use permit for a double-wide manufactured home at 810 College St. in an R-3 two-family residential district.

-- Levied the annual city revenue tax and Special Business District No. 2 tax for fiscal 1998 and reduced each by 1 cent.

-- Authorized the city manager to execute a transportation enhancement funds agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for lighting on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.

-- Annexed land to the city upon the request of the Cape Girardeau County Commission and Bruce S. Watkins.

-- Established the boundaries of the Twin Lakes special assessment water district.

-- Enacted section 29-102 of the city code relating to general sewer use requirements.

-- Established a no parking zone on New Madrid Street.

-- Accepted sewer easements for construction of a sanitary sewer trunk extension to serve Twin Lakes subdivision and the proposed Notre Dame High School.

New ordinances, first readings:

-- Granting a special use permit for a church and day care playground at 3114 Dogwood Drive in an R-1 district, tabled at the request of the church.

-- Annexing land to the city upon the request of P.David and Jerri Lyn Gerlach and Summit Enterprises, L.L.C.

-- Authorizing the mayor to execute a quit claim deed to E&R Leasing Company for property in the southwest trunk sewer project, Phase 2, Section 2.

Establishing times for filing nominating petitions for the April 7, 1998, municipal general election.

Resolutions, read and passed:

-- Authorizing the city manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to an agreement with Black and Veatch for transportation improvement program.

Liquor License:

-- Approved of a temporary 5 percent beer by the drink for Paul A. Hendrix, d/b/a Cape Girardeau Aircraft Owners and Pilots Club for an event to be held Oct. 18, 1997, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Approved a temporary 5 percent beer by the drink license for James D. Maurer, d/b/a St. Vincent DePaul Home and School Association for an event to be held Nov. 6 to 9, 1997, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building.

-- Approved of a temporary 5 percent beer by the drink license for John Stotz, d/b/a Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation for an event to be held Nov. 13, 1997, at the Show Me Center.

-- Conditionally approved a retail liquor-by-the-drink and Sunday-sales license for N. Louise Kazzee, d/b/a Pockets, 2103 Independence.

Postponed action on the following motions at the request of the developers:

-- Releasing the remainder of the escrow held to assure completion of the detention basin of Red Oaks Subdivision and to close the project without accepting the detention basing into the city's system.