COMMITTEE ENDORSES FIVE-YEAR STREETS TAX

Cape Girardeau's Planning and Zoning Commission wants voters to approve a five-year, half-cent transportation tax that would raise $17 million for road and bridge projects.

Coupled with other funding, $26.4 million would be spent on transportation projects over the next five years.

The planning commission wants all the transportation revenue put into a trust fund to assure that the money will be spent for what it would be intended.

At a special meeting Wednesday night at City Hall, the commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council place the sales tax issue on the Aug. 8 ballot. The official recommendation will come at the June 5 council meeting. The council must decide by June 13 to get a tax issue on the Aug. 8 ballot.

All seven council members attended the meeting. Several voiced support for the tax plan.

Mayor Al Spradling III said: "I am pleased that we are going forward with it. I can support it."

Spradling has pushed for a transportation sales tax for months. Earlier this year the council, on a tie vote, refused to place a seven-year, half-cent sales tax measure before voters. One councilman was absent from that meeting, which brought about the tie vote.

The sales tax favored by P&Z would raise $17 million over the next five years, assuming 3 percent annual growth.

Commission Chairman Harry Rediger believes voters can be sold on the plan.

The plan was fashioned with input from Cape Girardeau citizens who attended public meetings sponsored by the Vision 2000 civic group, as well as the thoughts of P&Z members and the Chamber of Commerce's Surface Transportation Committee.

The plan spells out 20 road and bridge projects, including paving of gravel streets and sidewalk repair and reconstruction that would be funded. Those 20 projects would cost almost $17 million, excluding contingency costs.

With 20 percent contingency costs added in to account for inflation and any other added expenses, the 20 projects would cost almost $20 million.

Another $5.25 million of road and bridge projects are already included in the city's five-year capital improvements plan. In addition, the city plans to spend $1.15 million on the taxi coupon program, with much of that being paid by coupon fees and state grant money.

Funding sources total about $25.6 million, slightly less than the $26.4 million in estimated expenses. The funding includes $17 million from the proposed sales tax. Other sources include state and federal grants and motor fuel tax money.

Rediger said the funding estimates don't take into account income from special assessments charged for some street work. When that is considered projected revenue and expenses should just about balance, he said.

Planning commission members insisted that expanding the street overlay program and paving remaining gravel streets should be top priorities. Several councilmen agreed.

Commission member Charles Haubold said the public wants those projects, which could help sell the tax measure.

Rediger said all of the projects won't be completed within five years, but the city should be able to show it is working toward that goal.

Projects on the funding list include widening and reconstruction of Broadway from Clark to Perry and new pavement and widening of Perryville Road from near Meyer Drive to the city limits.

STREETS GLANCE

Street improvement with estimated cost

Expand paving overlay program

$2 million

Pave remaining gravel streets

$2.1 million

Street, curb and gutter repair

$1.875 million

Sidewalk repair and reconstruction

$625,000

Perryville Road from near Meyer Drive to the city limits

$1.25 million

Hopper Road, new alignment from Mt. Auburn to Kage Road $817,000

Silver Springs Road from William to Independence

$581,000

Bloomfield Road, widening nad reconstruction from Clark to Perry

$943,000

Mt. Auburn Road widening to four lanes William to Independence and traffic signals at Independence

$196,000

New Route 74 connections at Lorimier, Mt. Auburn, Siemers Drive and Silver Springs

$1.78 million

Bloomfield Road from Kingshighway to I-55

$943,000

Hopper Road from Kage to I-55

$344,000

William Street, general improvements or widening from Sprigg to Main

$446,000

Perryville Road from city limits north to Route W and Cypress Drive

$904,000

Kage from Mt. Auburn to Hopper Road

$79,000

Mt. Auburn extension to Southern Expressway

$700,000

Southern Expressway extension to Silver Springs

$433,000

Independence Street reconstruction from Pacific to Sprigg

$541,000

New Madrid Street reconstruction from Perry Avenue to Show Me Center, including realignment of Henderson intersection

$714,000

Rodney Street, new Cape La Croix Creek bridge and reconstruction from National Guard Armory to Hawthorne Road

$726,000

total $18 million