COUNCIL CONSIDERS BID SPECS FOR TRASH HAULING, DISPOSAL CONTRACT

The Cape Girardeau City Council tonight will review bid specifications for a five-year solid waste services contract.

The specifications were prepared by Sverdrup Corporation of St. Louis and include a statement of bidder qualifications.

Public Works Director Doug Leslie said the statement will be a "key part" of consideration of any proposal by a prospective landfill operator.

In a letter to council members, Leslie said, "The bid specifications provide for identification of the backup landfill facility, hauling equipment, and extra services for special events," he said.

Leslie said the specifications also require that the landfill facility be approved to operate after October, when new federal landfill regulations take effect.

A representative of Sverdrup will attend tonight's city council meeting to answer questions about the proposal. Once approved, the hauling and disposal service contract will be ready to be placed for bids.

The city's present contract with Lemon's Landfill in Dexter expires at the end of December.

In February, the council agreed to bid out a contract to haul the city's solid waste rather than extend the existing agreement with Lemon's.

Last January, the city staff had completed negotiations with the landfill operator to extend the trash-disposal contract five years at little cost increase.

But in February, representatives of Continental Waste Industries of Three Oaks, Mich., asked that the council bid out the service.

Lemon's Landfill subsequently was sold to Allied Solid Waste Company, which also purchased landfills at New Madrid and Poplar Bluff.

At the time, Leslie said that between buyouts by Allied and Continental, it appeared "that the large, national solid waste concerns have gained control of all available facilities in our region."

Sverdrup was hired in June to thoroughly and objectively analyze the situation and prepare the bid specifications.

The five-year contract is expected to cost about $500,000 annually.

In other business, the council will consider acceptance of a quit claim deed for a road project that will connect to the site of a proposed detention reservoir north of Cape Girardeau.

The dry detention reservoir is part of the city's flood control project with the Corps of Engineers. The reservoir site is in an undeveloped area with no public access.

Ken Eftink, the city's planning coordinator, said in a letter to council members that the Corps has prepared plans to build a roadway from Route W through the LaCroix Industrial Park, across vacant farm land, and to the reservoir.

"This plan will utilize an existing gravel drive through the LaCroix Industrial Park Subdivision," Eftink said. "The gravel drive will be upgraded to a 20-foot-wide blacktop street."

The detention site is situated at one end of a proposed recreational trail along the flood control project. When developed, it's expected to include picnic and park facilities.

"We anticipate that this area will annex into the city in the near future," Eftink said. "The improvements to the street will encourage further commercial development and provide us with access to the detention reservoir."

The council also will consider acceptance of a warranty deed from C. Donald and Lavonna Sue Priest for right-of-way along the proposed extension of Sprigg Street to the Lexington Avenue arterial.

Also included in tonight's meeting is consideration of an application to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Historic Preservation Program for a matching state grant for development of a preservation plan for Cape Girardeau.

The plan would involve hiring of a "preservation consultant" to work with the city's Historic Preservation Commission to develop the plan, compile and coordinate historic surveys, identify national register and local designation properties, develop cooperation with local schools and the university, and host two workshops for the community.

The application calls for city contributions of about $1,200 in cash and $6,663 in kind. The total grant request is for $15,742, which includes $7,500 in federal share and $8,242 in local share.

In other action tonight, the council will consider:

A resolution to authorize a contract with Dutch Enterprises Inc. for a water main extension across Interstate 55. Dutch Enterprises submitted a bid of $50,783 the lowest of three bids for the project.

Other bids came from Potashnick and Ponder Inc. of Sikeston ($127,622) and R.L. Persons Construction of Poplar Bluff ($68,519). The engineer's estimate for the work was $55,681.

A motion to approve plans to extend the water system to Dixie Street and Jasmine Lane.

20A public hearing and ordinance to rezone the east side of Giboney Avenue, between Elm and Hackberry Streets and grant a special use permit for a metal recycling and salvage center.

The city's Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the council approve the request of Howard D. and Frances Tooke and William J. and Karen A. Sides.

20A public hearing the ordinance to rezone 133 S. Ellis from multiple family residential to general commercial zone. The planning and zoning board recommended approval of the request.

20Making permanent a temporary ban on parking during certain hours on Louisiana and Broadway to Bessie and a complete ban on parking in the 400-500 block of Franklin.

A resolution awarding a contract to Fronabarger Concreters of Jackson for paving of Cape West Parkway. Fronabarger was the lowest of four bids on the project at $357,227.

Other bids were received from Nip Kelley Equipment Co. of Cape Girardeau (490,661); Lappe Cement Finishing of Perryville ($455,712); and Penzel Construction of Jackson ($485,814). The engineer's estimate for the work was about $506,000.