CITY'S 'REPORT CARD' READY; PAST PROGRESS, PROBLEM OUTLINED

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has released an updated report card on the quality of life in the community.

The report, Qualities Of Life, shows community progress as well as problems that need attention, said John Mehner, chamber president.

A chamber committee spent a year gathering information on over 80 factors affecting the city.

The report is "a snapshot of data at a particular point in time," said Jim Buindo, committee member. The community may investigate the findings, identify trends and take action as a result of their conclusions, he explained.

In each area, the community has been graded on skills, much like a child's report card, explained Kim McDowell, co-chairman of the committee.

"It's a way to track how we're doing," she said. "In some areas, we need to keep up the good work. In other areas we need to step up our work."

In education, for example, the report shows that high school graduation rates hover around 90 percent. Teachers with advanced academic degrees dropped significantly after the district offered two incentives for teacher retirement.

Sales tax receipts throughout the county are on the rise. Airport boardings are rebounding after six years of decline. Crimes against people are on the decline. Recycling is on the rise. Births to teenage mothers are increasing.

"We talk about the good and the bad," McDowell explained. "What we have are quantifiable items. And when you put it all together, the quality of life in Cape Girardeau is very good."

But citizen groups or other organizations and entities may see room for improvement.

Kim Swartz, co-chairman of the committee, said, "By having this information available, concerned citizens will have an opportunity to investigate our community's progress, compare our indicators to other communities and have a basis for informed, open dialogue."

For example, the city's Vision 2000, as it moves to Vision 2020, will be using the report in planning activities.

The progress report was first published in May 1997. The follow-up investigation took a year to compile and updated information provides a comparison to the benchmark indicators of two years ago.

The report contains a collection of data in eight categories:

-- Education

-- Economy

-- Public safety

-- Natural environment

-- Health

-- Social environment

-- Government/politics

-- Culture/recreation

The original report was patterned after a 1994 project from Jacksonville, Fla.

New indicators will be considered for the 1999 report, already under consideration.

A copy of the report is available from the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

It is used by the chamber primarily in industrial and business recruitment.

"The chamber will and has been sharing this information with potential businesses," McDowell said. "These are quantifiable measures of the quality of life in our community.

"It's one thing to say Cape Girardeau is a great place to live. Now we can prove it."