Citywide upgrades before council

Several steps related to general improvements, the expansion of facilities and adding amenities will be considered by the Cape Girardeau City Council during Monday's meeting.

Up for final consideration by the council is a round of projects that will be funded from revenue to be gathered from Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

Projects include new playground equipment, equipping baseball fields in Arena Park with safety fencing, installing more emergency sirens throughout the city, lighting improvements along Main Street, sidewalk improvements from Kingshighway to Janet Drive, demolition of the old Convention and Visitors Bureau building at the corner of Main Street and Broadway for use as a parking lot and a space-design survey of the police station.

The total amount appropriated would be $906,000.

At the last regular council meeting Jan. 22 -- and during a study session Jan. 24 -- council members requested a revised projects list to show the public that projects are being completed with casino revenue. Others will be delayed to allow more time for planning.

Councilman John Voss said city staff has provided an updated list.

"I think we're ready to converge on a decision on Monday night," he said.

Other projects will be considered at future meetings.

The council, as part of the city's plan to look at updating or building a new police station, will consider authorizing a resolution to begin a space-design study. According to meeting documents prepared by city staff, the study will result in an inventory of existing space and a proposal of space needs and recommendations about whether to remain in the existing station -- and build an addition -- or to build a new station. Constructed in 1975, the station is overcrowded and needs updates, according to city staff.

The study will cost about $100,000.

A section of the city's proposed capital-improvements plan includes starting a savings fund for a new $7.3 million police station.

City staff selected FGM Architects Inc. from a field of 10 firms submitting proposals to conduct the study.

Design of a new feature for Cape Splash, the city's water recreation park, could receive the go-ahead from council members.

The success of the water park the last three seasons is pushing a need to add amenities, according to city staff. Proposed is a plan to work with Markey and Associates, the designers of the park, to create plans for an amenity "that would appeal to older youth along with helping build capacity at the facility by introducing more shallow water and deck space," according to a council report prepared by parks and recreation director Julia Thompson. The design phase would cost around $8,500 and would be complete by the end of summer.

The first phase of renovation for an air-traffic-control tower at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport also will receive consideration. Renovation would include replacement of a heating and air conditioning unit, replacement of roofing and windows and resealing around fasteners and connections on the roof. The work would cost approximately $45,000. The money would come from airport funds.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO-