COUNCIL: CITY REVISIONS ARE LIKELY FOR LICENSING LAW

Cape Girardeau officials are recommending changes in a construction trades licensing law that was adopted nine months ago.

The city council tonight will consider the changes, which were ironed out in the months subsequent to the council's adoption of the licensing regulations last October.

The law was adopted following more than five months of debate on the issue, which included objections from various construction trades contractors. Council members and other city officials said at the time that the city likely would have to work out "kinks" in the ordinance once it was in effect.

The city's Board of Examiners, which was formed as part of the licensing law, has reviewed the measure during the past nine months and hopes tonight's measure will address confusion with the law.

Rick Murray, inspection supervisor, said in a letter to council members that an objective of the changes is to reintroduce trades omitted in the simplified law adopted last year. The ordinance also takes into account contractors from other cities who conduct business in Cape Girardeau.

"The new ordinance would also establish a provision for a temporary trades license for out-of-area craftsmen, with specific qualifications," Murray said.

The measure also would "re-establish" the classifications of master and journeyman plumber and master drainlayer, and introduce the classification of plumbing fixture installer in the licensing regulations. And apprenticeship workers in the various trades would be registered with the city under the new law.

Murray said the need for the changes became evident when the city learned some trade professionals weren't covered by the existing law.

The current ordinance also "would not permit many of the professionals to accomplish a simple installation project without hiring different tradesmen to accomplish the many different facets of the project," he said.

The master plumber classification was needed because local contractors often are required to be licensed "master plumbers" to bid on projects in other cities, Murray said.

Similarly, because the master drainlayer classification was omitted from the current ordinance, those contractors were unable to "practice their trade because there is not a license," he added.

"Therefore, only plumbers can do this type of work. This same situation applies to the plumber fixture installer, as the present ordinance mandates only plumbers can install any plumbing facilities."

With the additional classifications will come changes in testing criteria, which also are included in the new ordinance.

Murray said the revisions will allow contractors not included in the current law to continue working in Cape Girardeau.

In other business, the council will consider the appointment of one of its members to the newly formed Region R Solid Waste Management District.

The solid waste district is being formed in response to a law passed two years ago to improve methods for disposing of solid waste in Missouri. In particular, the law is aimed at reducing reliance on landfills by city and county governments.

Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep is spearheading the effort to form the regional district, which will consist of seven counties.

Counties in the district are Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Perry, Madison, Iron, St. Francois, and Ste. Genevieve.

A $45,000 operating grant was sent to Cape Girardeau County by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for the district, and another grant for the same amount likely will be available in the fall or early next year.

Huckstep has said the district might hire the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission in Perryville to develop its solid-waste plan.

The district's board will consist of one elected official from each of the 19 cities within the district that have a population of 500 or more and two members of each participating county's government.

The board also will have the authority to hire an executive director. The new district will conduct an organizational meeting Wednesday at the Fredericktown Nutrition Center.