CITY REVISITS LICENSE REQUEST BY TAVERN ON SPRIGG

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday will for the third time in two years consider a liquor license application for the old Sprigg Street Tap at 325 South Sprigg.

The council will discuss Phillip McClellan's liquor license application at Monday's study session. The tavern license has twice been rejected by the council, the last time on Nov. 5, 1990.

Both previous times the council has considered the license request, members of the True Christian Pentecostal Witnesses Church objected to the closed tavern being reopened. The church is near the tavern site.

At the November meeting, the council voted 5-1 to deny a liquor license to John and Jerrianne Malone Wyman, who wanted to reopen the former Sprigg Street Tap.

The matter also was hotly debated in 1989 when residents of the neighborhood packed the council chambers to oppose the Wymans' request, before the council voted to deny the license.

At the November meeting, only four members of the church, along with a business owner adjacent to the tavern site, objected to the request.

At the meeting, John Wyman said he and his wife resubmitted the request because of rumors the church had been sold and was moving out of town.

But members of the church said the building was for sale, but because there were no adequate offers, the congregation decided to remain at the Sprigg Street site.

Wyman contended he thought it was "unreasonable" for the council to deny a legitimate business from operating because of the objections of such a small group of people.

But Councilmen Al Spradling, David Barklage and Hugh White and Mayor Gene Rhodes defended the neighborhood residents' right to protest the liquor license.

Spradling, Barklage, White and Councilmen Doug Richards joined Rhodes in voting to deny the liquor license Nov. 5, while Councilwoman Mary Wulfers voted in favor of the license.

McClellan's application apparently has no connection with the Wymans'.

In other business Monday, the council will consider increasing the fee for appeals to the Board of Adjustment from $10 to $25.

According to a council letter signed by City Planner Kent Bratton and City Manager J. Ronald Fischer, the increase is needed to cover the cost of publishing the public hearing announcement required when appeals to the board are filed.

"The existing fee does not cover current publication costs," the letter said.

The city staff recommended the council adopt the $25 fee.

The council Monday also will consider:

A law accepting property transfers from five land owners for rights-of-way along the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Cape LaCroix Creek/Walker Branch flood-control project.

The rights-of-way are needed to construct channel improvements on Cape LaCroix Creek.

The property owners who have signed the transfers include: Charles Blattner and Jerry Erlbacher for vacant land they own south of Brink Ave.; First Exchange Bank, for a vacant lot north of the bank; Drury Development Corporation for St. Francis Auxiliary property along William Street; and Joe David James Jr. for property near James Auto Glass on Bloomfield.

The re-appointment of F. R. "Rock" Wilferth to the Cape Special Road District. Wilferth's term on the district expires Feb. 1 and the district's two other members have asked that Wilferth be re-appointed.

Cape Special Road District members are appointed jointly by the Cape Girardeau City Council and the Cape Girardeau County Commission.

Endorsement of an application by the Easter Seal Society for participation in the state's Neighborhood Assistance Program.

The program allows businesses to take income tax credits for donations to the society.

The Cape Girardeau Nutrition Center and Safe House for Women Inc. last year received city endorsements of their applications to the program. Each group hoped the program could be used to encourage businesses to donate toward a new building.

The city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board also will meet Monday at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

Included on the agenda is information concerning the fitness trail portion of the Cape LaCroix flood control project; an admission fee proposal for recreation programs at the Arena building; and the city's Adopt-A-Park program.