COUNCIL EYES ECONTRACT FOR FLOOD PROJECT

The Cape Girardeau City Council tonight will consider approving a contract for appraisal of properties along Walker Branch as part of a flood control project.

The council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

City officials said the appraisal of 15 tracts along Walker Branch from Broadway south to Good Hope Street, would be done by the Corps of Engineers. The cost would not exceed $37,600, officials said.

The appraisals are needed before the city can proceed to acquire right of way along this section of the creek for the flood control project, city officials said.

In a council agenda letter, Ken Eftink, the city's planning coordinator, said the appraisal work should be completed by Sept. 30.

In connection with the acquisition of right of way, Eftink said that the city "will relocate one business, Hill Equipment Co., and five mobile homes in the Gaslight Mobile Home Park on Spring Avenue. The Amoco service station at the corner of William and Kingshighway is planning a major remodeling coordinated with our construction on the creek channel.

"We are planning to remove the shed-type warehouse owned by Wolohan Lumber Co. at Independence Street," said Eftink. "We are also planning to remove the brick warehouse along the creek, just south of Independence, owned by Spartech Plastics."

In addition, five bridges will be replaced as part of this portion of the flood control project and improvements will be made to the Independence Street bridge over Walker Creek, Eftink said.

In other business tonight, the council will consider first reading of an ordinance authorizing a contract with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for improvements at the intersection of Route K and Mount Auburn Road.

City officials said the state project will involve replacement of the existing, temporary traffic signals with permanent traffic signals, construction of free-flow right turn lanes at each corner and restriping of a portion of Mount Auburn Road for three lanes. The improvements will be done at no cost to the city, officials said.

The council will also consider authorizing the city's Bicentennial Commission to begin preparations for a bicentennial celebration of the establishment and founding of Cape Girardeau. The city was founded and established in 1792-1793.

In a council agenda letter, City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said the city held its sesquicentennial celebration in 1956. But, he said, that celebration recognized the chartering and surveying of the city in 1806.

"The Bicentennial Commission recommends, however, that 1792-1793 be used as the dates for the bicentennial celebration in order to recognize the actual establishment and founding of Cape Girardeau," Fischer said.

The council tonight will hold two public hearings on requests by LaCroix United Methodist Church and Christ Presbyterian Church for special use permits for construction of two churches near Lexington Avenue and Abbey Road.

Council members will also consider approving: An agreement with the Salvation Army for providing emergency shelter to the homeless; and a cooperative agreement in connection with the operation of the area's major case squad.