CITY WILL PURSUE GRANT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSES

Cape Girardeau wants to help families find affordable housing or rehabilitate older homes with funding from a $225,000 grant.

The City Council approved a resolution Monday night that allows city staff to seek the grant funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Iowa. The money would supplement the current Jefferson-Shawnee Neighborhood Block Grant.

Thirty homes in the city, including 10 in the general target area, would get improvements. "We'll help with the basic things like furnaces," said Ken Eftink, city planning coordinator.

During the course of the Jefferson-Shawnee project, city officials found that many of the larger homes require more extensive work. "This will let us do more than what we could have done" under state programs, Eftink said.

It also extends the project area to include some homes where owners had asked for help but weren't in the target area.

The grant, if awarded, would supplement the current project by giving each of the 30 houses an additional $7,500 for rehabilitation work.

The council tabled an ordinance creating a lease-purchase agreement with the First National Bank of the Mid-South for improvements to the A.C. Brase Arena Building. City staff recommended tabling the ordinance until state grant awards are announced.

The city is seeking money to make improvements to the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport for the Zenair Co. Inc. If the grant is not approved, financing for the Arena Building might be increased to cover the additional costs of the airport project.

Now that the recreation trail project in the city is complete, more people have been using the trial. And with added use comes some added problems and regulations.

Although there isn't a widespread problem, there have been complaints about people driving vehicles on the recreation path, said Dan Muser, parks superintendent.

Council members approved an ordinance on first reading that would give the park superintendent and police authority to issue traffic summonses along the trail.

In other business, the council held a public hearing to let residents comment on the city's performance during the 1994 flood-buyout program.

City Planner Kent Bratton explained the flood-buyout program and how the costs were divided. In all, the city spent $2,656,000 to relocate or buy flooded properties. About $80,000 was spent for demolition while another $603,000 was used for relocation assistance.

In the city, 151 homes were affected by the flood of 1993. Thirty-three homes were demolished as part of a South Sprigg elevation project; 94 were bought by the city and another 24 homes still remain.

All of the cost for the buyout was split by federal and state emergency management service agencies.

Cape Girardeau City Council

7:30 p.m. Monday, April 5

City Hall

Public Hearings

-- Held a public hearing regarding past performance in the 1994 Flood Buyout Program under the Community Development Block Grant program.

-- Held a public hearing regarding the request of Bob and Ron Clark to rezone 1705 N. Kingshighway from local commercial and general commercial to general commercial.

Consent Ordinances

(Second and third readings)

-- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code to change speed limit on a portion of Morgan Oak Street from 40 mph to 25 mph.

-- Approved an ordinance reaffirming the action of the city council and asking the city manager to enter into contract for work to extend pavement along Kent Street.

-- Approved an ordinance reaffirming the action of the city council and asking the city manager to enter into contract for work along Timberland Drive from Kage Road to the dead end; Capaha Trail from the end of the existing pavement to Garden Lane; Hill Street from Johnson Street to the dead end; Beaudean Lane from College Street to south of Elm Street; Beaudean Lane from Linden Street to Hickory Street; Engram Street from Highland Drive to the dead end; Terry Lane from Kingsway Drive to Joanne Street; and Johnson Street from Rand Street to Riverview Drive.

-- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code by placing stop signs on Golden Street.

-- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code by placing a stop sign on Wintergreen Drive.

-- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code by establishing a speed limit of 35 mph on Perryville Road.

-- Tabled an ordinance authorizing and approving a lease purchase between the city and First National Bank of the Mid-South for financing cost of improvements to A.C. Brase Arena Building.

-- Approved an ordinance approving the record plat of Landspec Subdivision.

New Ordinances

(First reading)

-- Approved an ordinance amending Chapter 30 of the Code of Ordinances by changing the zoning of 1705 North Kingshighway, from local commercial and general commercial to general commercial.

-- Approved an ordinance amending Chapter 18 and Chapter 26 of the City Code relating to certain activities in city parks.

-- Approved an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute an air traffic control tower operating assistance grant agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.

-- Approved an ordinance establishing the boundaries of Lateral Sewer District No. 14-1-G-1, along Kingsway Drive.

-- Approved an ordinance declaring it necessary to make certain sewer improvements in Lateral Sewer District No. 14-1-G-1.

Resolutions

-- Approved a resolution stating intent to seek funds through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Iowa, for affordable housing program funds to supplement a neighborhood rehabilitation project.

-- Approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute agreement with Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc. for water treatment system.

-- Approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an Historic Fund Contract and Grant Agreement with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Appointments

-- Appointed Lawrence Kasten, David Rutherford and Marjorie Thompson to the Historic Preservation Commission.

Other

-- Accepted into the city's system the water main extension to serve the Brown/Patterson properties along Franks Lane, off Limbaugh Lane.

-- Accepted into the city's system the stormwater basin, as shown on the plans approved for Wyandotte Acres Subdivision and authorized the release of escrow covering these improvements.

-- Accepted motion to reject all bids submitted for Delwin Street improvements and authorize project to be rebid later.

-- Accepted a motion granting out-of-district sewer permit to Gary Arnold for connection on Dixie Boulevard.