City, transportation department will share cost of replacing 13 stoplights

Thirteen city intersections on state routes will get stoplights with non-interruptible power following approval by the Cape Girardeau City Council of a cost-sharing agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation DOT to pay for installation and maintenance.

The project will cost about $40,000 and will install non-interruptible power supplies at 13 major intersections along Route K and Kingshighway. MoDOT will pay 50 percent of the cost, with the other 50 percent coming from federal urban transportation funds at the city's disposal. The cost of maintenance after installation will be shared by MoDOT and the city on a 50/50 basis.

Installation of the power supplies is part of the city's campaign to install non-interruptible power at all stoplights in the city, said Cape Girardeau Public Works Department director Tim Gramling. Lights without such power go out during power outages, requiring police to man the intersections and control traffic.

The 13 lights slated for the improvements are all along state routes. Gramling said the city has been installing the lights at intersections along city routes as it has improved those intersections over the past year. Following the completion of improvements at Broadway and Clark Avenue the lights will be in place at seven of 19 intersections with traffic lights along city routes, Gramling said.

In other business, the council directed the city staff to ask the Cape Girardeau County Health Department to assess the safety of septic systems on Lakeshore Drive between Perryville Road and Lakewood Drive on the city's northern end.

The information gathered from the health department assessment will assist the city in determining whether to install sewer lines in the area for residents along Lakeshore Drive. If many of the septic systems in the area are unsafe the city may begin exploring the installation of sewer lines in the area, which would then be paid for by residents.

Council member Loretta Schneider said she's heard from a few residents in the area who are concerned that faulty septic tanks are overflowing and effluent is running downhill.

City manager Doug Leslie said he has contacted the county health department -- the agency responsible for monitoring faulty septic systems -- but the department has no records of septic system tests done in the area. The health department only conducts tests, Leslie said, if someone complains about problems with a system.

A group of 15 to 20 Cape Girardeau firefighters, families and supporters were present during much of the meeting to protest the reduction in time off firefighters can accrue. Most stood silently at the rear of the council chamber, but two Cape Girardeau residents spoke before the council, questioning the change in rules.

msanders@semissourian.com

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