Council opts not to disband board of examiners

The Cape Girardeau City Council spent the majority of its study session Monday night discussing whether it would disband the board of examiners.

The council gave initial approval to the measure that would disband the board -- which examines qualifications of applicants for licenses for plumbers, mechanical installers, master drainlayers and electricians -- at its last meeting.

Before it took the final vote in Monday night's regular session, board members went before the council to explain why they believed the board should continue to operate, rather than making the examining process a staff function.

In recent months, the board has experienced difficulty drawing new members. The eight-seat board currently has seven members, with two members reaching term limits in January. City manager Scott Meyer said failure to keep the board fully staffed was the reason the disbanding issue was placed on the council's agenda.

Vice chairman Dan Stitz told the council the board of examiners does more than glance over an application to grant approval. The board also offers input on city ordinances relating to their trades, pointing out issues or loopholes, he said.

Stitz also pointed out that because the members were professionals of the various trades, they would be more likely than city staff to notice discrepancies in applications and able to pursue further investigation.

After lengthy discussion about whether city staff could perform the duties of the board in an equally successful manner and whether the board could continue to keep up its numbers, the council ultimately voted not to disband the board of examiners. Councilman Wayne Bowen was the only member to vote in favor of disbandment. Mayor Harry Rediger was absent.

Other business

* The council gave unanimous approval to award a contract to Nip Kelley Equipment Co. to construct an extension for the Mississippi River Walk trail. The project extends the trail 300 feet to the north to the Department of Conservation's Red Star Ramp, and also includes a 10-foot-wide pedestrian bridge over Sloan's Creek. To the south, the project extends the trail by approximately 1,600 feet along the city's floodwall on the riverside. The total cost for the projects is $802,516.10, which will be fully financed by Federal Highway Administration funds.

Councilman Mark Lanzotti, who also served as mayor pro tem in Rediger's absence, called the projects a "great addition" to the river walk.

* An ordinance establishing no parking anytime along a portion of Hawthorne Road was given initial approval by the council. City staff have been contacted with complaints about cars parked along Hawthorne Road near Clippard Elementary School that restrict traffic movement. Should the ordinance receive final approval by the council, it will establish no parking anytime along the east and west sides of Hawthorne Road, 300 feet south of Hopper Road.

* The council also gave initial approval to an ordinance amending the section of the city code relating to delinquent business licenses. The change means the city will no longer collect the estimated $700 per year it receives in interest for delinquent merchant taxes, but Meyer said it will make the process of calculating owed penalties easier for business owners and staff.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.