COUNCIL CONSIDERS PURCHASE OF PARK LAND

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday will consider acquiring 51 acres of property at the corner of Mt. Auburn Road and Kingshighway commencing a $4 million project to expand the city's parks and recreation facilities.

The council will consider first reading of an ordinance to accept the transfer of the property from Heisler Development Corp. to the city.

Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink said Friday that the property was acquired for about $160,000 and that the project is on schedule with a timetable set out last fall.

The city is still trying to work out financing for the project, but Stoverink said the project remains on schedule for completion in 1994.

"Financing is not holding up pursuit of the project," he said. "At the same time, we're in the process of selecting an architect and laying out the scope of activity for getting all the engineering done.

"I'm hopeful that we'll have a professional services contract for the council at its Feb. 17 meeting," Stoverink added. "Our goal is to get a general grading contract let this spring, and we hope to get the major dirt work for both sites under way sometime in May."

The plan includes construction of softball and soccer fields at Shawnee Park; acquisition of a 90-acre tract of land at Mt. Auburn and Kingshighway for development as a "general-use community park"; construction of a 32,000-square-foot, multi-use building on the site; and completion of a fitness trail through Arena Park and the new park site.

Although the acquisition of the Heisler tract is related to the project, it's something that the city has worked on securing for years.

"That was actually initiated before the parks and recreation project was approved," Stoverink said. "It's availability last fall may have been triggered by discussion about the project, but the council had authorized acquisition of the land prior to their final decision on the project."

Ken Eftink, the city's planning coordinator, said Friday that Catheline Heisler was instrumental in the city's ability to acquire the tract.

"She had another offer from a private developer, but she wanted to give the city first option on the property," Eftink said.

As part of the acquisition, a monument will be erected at the 51-acre park site that will denote that the property was the farm of August C. Heisler and mention Catheline and their daughters, Barbara Tobin and Brenda Stocklas.

The overall recreation project will be funded by bonding excess tourism funds, which are financed by a quarter-cent tax on motel and restaurant receipts.

Stoverink said the city will be able to issue bonds with the excess tourism funds for $3.5 million. The balance of the $4 million project will be paid from donations to the city's Parks Development Foundation.

The assistant city manager said the $500,000 pledge by the foundation could be reduced if the city is able to secure local financing at an interest rate lower than that offered on the open market.

Stoverink said city officials are meeting with representatives of local financial institutions with the hope that some type of arrangement could be worked out.

In other business Monday, the council will consider whether to authorize engineering of a short section of street in Woodland Hills, off Lexington.

The status of a Kent Drive extension to Lexington has been in limbo since the council in November voted against a subdivision plan that would have left the street a dead end.

Residents of the neighborhood objected that the street be extended, and at Monday's meeting the council will consider a new subdivision plan and an engineering plan for the street, which would be built by the city rather than the subdivision developer.

The developer, P. David Gerlach of Randol Farms Development, has refused to build the street, claiming the design of Lexington makes the extension too costly and impractical.

Residents of Woodland Hills, particularly those who live on Belleridge Pike, have said Kent is needed to relieve traffic on their street.

In a letter to council members, City Engineer J. Kensey Russell said: "Kent Street has been the subject of much discussion over the last several months. Private development of the street is one alternative. The council also has the option of developing it as a city project."

If the council agrees, design engineering for the project would be done and the city would proceed with plans to build the street with the construction costs likely assessed to abutting property owners.

"The council plans to move ahead with construction of the street," said Stoverink. "If they vote to go ahead and do that, which is what seems to be their intent, we would proceed with that and start construction and ultimately bill the cost of the improvements to property owners along the street."

The assistant city manager said construction could start this fall, or even as late as next spring, depending on whether condemnation of property is involved.

The council also will consider:

Approval of an engineering services contract with Blattner and Associates Inc. for a foot bridge at Arena Park.

A resolution authorizing a contract with Seabaugh's Auto Repair to provide vehicle lockout service at a charge of $15 per call.

20A request by the American Red Cross to allow volunteers to collect donations at main city intersections a request that the police department has recommended be denied for "safety reasons."

Resolutions declaring it necessary to improve Ferguson Drive off Big Bend Road and Vista Lane from West Rodney Drive to Hawthorne Road.