COUNCIL OKs NEW METHOD FOR HAULING TRASH

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday opted for better technology to haul trash to a landfill in Dexter.

The council set into motion an ordinance that would add an additional $291,000 for the Solid Waste Fund for this fiscal year. The money will be used to update the capabilities of the city's transfer station.

Trash at the transfer station is compacted into trucks and driven to the landfill in Dexter. This means the city has to maintain the rams that compact the trash and pay the electricity for their operation.

"Those are a constant nightmare as far as maintenance," said Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III.

The money will be used to make changes to the transfer station to allow larger trailers, with more capacity, to be loaded. The trailers have walking floors that remove the trash easily into the landfill. The trash is loaded onto the trucks with a front-end loader instead of being compacted.

Doug Leslie, director of public works, said the new system will save money in the long run because with larger trucks, there will be less trips to be made. Also, there cost of maintaining the compactors, which is being paid by the city, will be eliminated, he said. Savings should reach $20,000 per year.

The total cost of the project will be about $346,500. The Solid Waste Fund already has $55,000 set aside for updating the transfer station.

In other business, the council gave permission to begin the process of acquiring land for the widening of Hopper Road between Kage Road and Interstate 55 and the construction of a portion of Vantage Road.

Council members also voted to extend Hopper Road between Mount Auburn and Kage Roads. The project is one on the list of road improvements funded by the city's transportation sales tax.

There has been some delay on the project because it was redesigned for safety concerns. There also has been some hold-ups with acquiring land for the project.

"I don't know where we are with this," Spradling said. "I can say that we will be meeting with the land owners."

Spradling said if the land owners turn down the offers, then the project will be slowed even more and the outcome would have to be determined in court.

"It will fall back on the land owners, and we will get an idea then to see how far apart we are," Spradling said.

The council also said the American Legion will have to look elsewhere to find a new home in Cape Girardeau.

In a unanimous decision, the council accepted the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation to deny the legion's request to rezone 701 W. Rodney Drive from a single family residential district to a local commercial district.

The legion wanted to build a new facility there, but council members did not want to condone spot zoning, which is the practice of allowing pockets of commercial zoning in residential areas.

The council also agreed to hold a public hearing for the Capaha Antique Car Club, which is requesting a special-use permit to meet and store cars at 2827 Perryville Road. The site is in a residential neighborhood.

CAPE GIRARDEAU CITY COUNCIL

Monday, July 19, 1999

City Hall

Consent Ordinances

(Second and third readings)

-- Approved an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances by changing the zoning on part of Lynwood Hills Drive from R-1 to R-3.

-- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code relating to parking, stopping or standing of trucks or commercial motor vehicles.

-- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code relating to truck parking regulations.

-- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code relating to commercial vehicles in parks.

-- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code to establish a handicapped parking space on Sunset Boulevard.

-- Approved an ordinance appropriating funds for contingency, public works, general capital improvement, internal services, public safety, parks and recreation, hazard mitigation, general fund transfers, administrative services and developmental services.

-- Approved an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of property for the widening of Mount Auburn Road between Independence and William streets and improvements to the Independence Street and Mount Auburn Road intersection.

New Ordinances

(First reading)

-- Approved an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of property for the widening of Hopper Road between Kage Road and Interstate 55 and the construction of a portion of Vantage Drive.

-- Approved an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of property for the extension of Hopper Road between Mount Auburn and Kage roads.

-- Approved an ordinance accepting a permanent sewer easement from J.B. Properties, Inc. for sanitary sewer improvements in Hillcrest Place Subdivision.

-- Approved an ordinance amending a section of the City Code by placing a stop sign on Randol Drive.

-- Approved an ordinance declaring it necessary to improve that part of Walnut Street from Kingshighway to Commercial Street.

-- Approved an ordinance appropriating funds for public works.

-- An ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute general warranty deeds to D&D Cape Investments, L.P. and Earl H. Norman, trustee, pursuant to agreements for the exchange of real property for the Mount Auburn Road extension project.

-- Approved an ordinance approving the record plat of Joe Kluesner Subdivision.

-- Approved an ordinance approving the record plat of Aspen Park Townhouses Phase III Subdivision.

-- Approved an ordinance approving the record plat of Strack 1 Subdivision.

Resolutions

-- Approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Robinson Mechanical Contractors, Inc. for seismic protection improvements, Gordonville water storage tank No. 1. Reading and passage.

-- Approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Burns and McDonnell Waste Consultants Inc., for the professional engineering services for a hazard mitigation plan. Reading and passage.

Other

-- Accepted into the city's system the street, sanitary sewer, stormwater and water improvements, as shown on the plans approved for Melrose III Subdivision, and the storm sewers in the street right-of-way, and authorizing the release of escrow in the amount of $306,462 covering these improvements.

-- Accepted into the city's system the street, sanitary sewer and water improvements as shown on the plans for Melrose IV Subdivision, and authorizing the release of $8,050 to the developer for these improvements.

-- Accepted into the city' system the water main extension to serve Forest Hills Estates Subdivision.

-- Approved the request of the developer of Golden Eagle Subdivision to withdraw the sanitary sewer improvements on the approved plans for this subdivision.

-- Approved the preliminary plat of Crites 10th Addition.

-- Accepted the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission to deny the request of Wade and Jackie Williams and Louis K. Juden Post No. 63, American Legion to rezone 701 W. Rodney Drive from R-1 single family residential district to C-1, local commercial district.

-- Approved a motion setting a public for Aug. 16 for the request of J.W. and Bonnie Strack and Capaha Antique Car Club for a special use permit for a meeting place for the club and storage of club owned cars at 2827 Perryville Road in an R-1, single family residential district.