COUNCIL OKAYS CONTROL TOWER CONTRACT, CAPITAL PROJECTS PLAN

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The City Council Monday approved a resolution to authorize a contract with the Federal Aviation Administration for operation of the Municipal Airport control tower.

The council's action resolves a six-month conflict over whether the city should continue control tower operations or relinquish the contract to a private air traffic control company.

Last week, the FAA gave in to the city's repeated objections and allowed it to retain the tower operating contract.

The city last year took over control-tower operations under an annual contract with the FAA that was renewable for five years.

But when the first year expired in September, the FAA ordered the city to bid the tower service.

Midwest Air Traffic Controllers of Industrial Airport, Kan., was the successful bidder, but the city refused to award the contract, contending that tower operations should remain with the city.

Airport Manager Mark Seesing revised the city's initial bid and the FAA March 14 agreed to allow the city to retain the contract. The latest proposal approved Monday by the council calls for a 54-month contract at a cost of $683,000.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer has said the new contract will require the city to reduce staffing at the tower, but he maintains the city still will provide "quality service" at the tower.

In other business Monday, the council formally adopted the 1991-96 Capital Improvements Program.

The $37 million plan is the city's blueprint for major street and sewer projects over the next five years. The plan covers 56 projects, up from 35 in last year's $24 million proposal.

Capital improvements are divided into four categories: transportation, environment, recreation and community development.

The transportation category contains 31 projects at a total cost of about $16 million. The environment category, which includes sewer and flood-control projects, contains 19 projects totalling nearly $21 million.

Funding sources include: Public Facilities Authority bonds ($13 million); flood-control sales tax ($8 million); special assessments or tax bills ($5.2 million); federal grants ($4.4 million); and motor-fuel tax receipts ($4.2 million).

The council also gave initial approval to the following items:

An ordinance approving the record plat of West Park I Subdivision.

An ordinance providing for the issuance of special tax bills not to exceed $65.60 per front foot for improvements made to Siemers Drive and Campster Drive.

A resolution authorizing an agreement with S.H. Smith and Co. for engineering services for replacement of bridges over Walker Branch in coordination with the Cape LaCroix Creek flood control project.

A motion endorsing the Community Counseling Center's application for the Neighborhood Assistance Program.