COMMISSIONERS NAME COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP COUNTY ROAD PLAN

JACKSON - The county commission appointed a committee Monday to design a five-year capital improvements plan for roads and bridges in Cape Girardeau County.

The 11-member group was recommended by new First District Associate Commissioner Larry Bock as a way of getting more input about maintenance and replacement of bridges and nearly 600 miles of roads under the county's responsibility.

Bock, who oversees roads and bridges for the commission, will serve as liaison to the citizens group for the full county commission.

Bock said he was pleased with the quality of the individuals who agreed to serve on the committee and stressed that there is representation from all parts of Cape Girardeau County.

Glen Birk of Jackson was appointed to chair the group.

Other members are: Carl L. Penzel, Lawrence McBryde Jr., and Marty Schuessler, all of Jackson; Dr. John Holcomb and George Hathhorn, from Cape Girardeau; Charles Peters of Burfordville; Jim Wallis of Millersville; Ken Friese from north Cape County; Eugene Eftink of Delta; and Larry Quade from south Cape County.

Serving as ex-officio members will be: Ken Eftink, representing the city of Cape Girardeau; Jackson City Administrator Carl Talley; and Ralph Phillips from Cape Special Road District.

Bock said he hopes the committee will have its full capital improvements plan ready for the commission to consider in August, in plenty of time to be included in the 1994 county budget process.

The committee's first meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday in the County Administration Building in Jackson. As part of its work, the group will schedule public hearings to seek additional public input; tour the county's roads and bridges; and hear presentations from Cape Girardeau County communities and the Cape Special Road District.

Bock pointed out that all meetings of the committee will be open to the public.

He noted that the committee will not only consider capital improvement needs, but also revenue sources that are available to meet those needs.

"This five-year plan will include any recommendations for replacement, repair or improvement of existing county roads and bridges; any ongoing overlay or repair programs, acquisition of right of way and engineering," explained Bock.

"The plan will show projected revenues from federal, state and local sources by year, and assign or earmark those funds to the projects that are recommended. Further, the committee will have the authority to make recommendations as to additional funding sources or new road and bridge programs."

Once the plan is adopted by the commission, Bock said it would be revised annually.

Bock announced shortly after taking office in January that he planned to appoint an advisory committee to assist him with long-range planning.