COUNCIL QUESTIONS COMPLAINT; ECONOMIC GROUP'S OFFICES ARE AT ISSUE

Councilman David Limbaugh questioned Wednesday why some entities in a regional economic development organization are opposed to the group working out of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce building.

The group first met in May to develop efforts for regional economic development. But at a recent meeting, Scott City Mayor Larry Forhan said he was opposed to having the organization's executive director's office situated in the Cape chamber.

At the Cape Girardeau City Council's study session Wednesday, Limbaugh questioned the opposition and wondered if the group will adequately represent Cape Girardeau's interests.

The regional group, if organized, will be governed by a seven-member board, with two representatives from the city of Cape Girardeau, two from the county, and one each from the Cape Girardeau chamber, Jackson chamber and city of Scott City.

Funding for the group's activities will include $50,000 each annually for three years from Cape Girardeau city and county; $25,000 annually from the Cape Girardeau chamber; $20,000 from the city of Jackson and its chamber; and $5,000 from Scott City.

"It concerns me that we're spending $50,000 on an organization that might not be best representing us," Limbaugh said.

He felt the group's office should be situated in the Cape chamber building and objected to comments that the chamber wouldn't try to attract industry to the entire region.

"Cape has demonstrated its willingness to work with other communities, and much of the new industry in the area has gone to other cities although the chamber helped attract them here," Limbaugh said.

"We let this group have $50,000 without any conditions," he added. "I think we ought to watch it. If they don't look out for our interests, I don't think it ought to go through."

Mayor Gene Rhodes, who along with Councilman Melvin Gateley represents the city in the organization, said: "This group isn't going to spend anything foolishly. I can assure you that."

But Limbaugh said he voted for the expenditure without really understanding the scope of the group's efforts. He said he still is unsure of the organization's plans.

Rhodes said it's too early to worry about the location of the group's office, because it hasn't even approved bylaws yet.

The mayor admitted he also was against placing the director's office in the chamber building here. He suggested the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport might be a good location.

But Limbaugh said that's the type of issue the council needs to discuss and vote on as a group, rather than leave it to a couple members.

"It's my feeling the Cape chamber would attract industry even if it goes to other cities in the area. Cape has demonstrated that," he said. "That's why I don't understand comments from other mayors when they say they would not do it if it was in Cape.

"We're the big city, and we're seen as the bad guy in this," Limbaugh added.

Council members Al Spradling III and Mary Wulfers questioned where the $50,000 would come from each year.

Limbaugh said it would "have to come" from the city's tourism and economic development fund, which is financed with a quarter-cent motel and restaurant tax.

The council and other advisory boards are considering a sports and recreation complex to be funded with excess tourism and economic development funds.

"The fear I have is that we won't have any money left for a major tourism project," Limbaugh said.

Officials of the economic development group have said they anticipate a large part of the $150,000 annual budget will be spent on marketing the area to businesses that might consider locating here, and on the salaries of a director and assistant. The director's annual salary will be about $50,000, according to the group's budget.

In other business at Wednesday's meeting, an amendment to the city's fence ordinance was pulled from the agenda after Spradling objected to fence permit requirements in the law.

"I don't have any problems with changing the ordinance to make it more clear," he said. "But I really have a problem with having a permit for a fence.

"I just don't think we need another requirement to come down here and tie up the staff. Are we going to have a fence inspector next? I think we already have too many permits, too many regulations and too many fees."

City Planner Kent Bratton said the primary reason for the amendments were to clarify a vague law. He said he wouldn't object to removing the permit and fee requirement.

Spradling also questioned the law's prohibition of barbed wire on fences. He said a lot at the city's police station has a barbed wire-topped security fence surrounding it, as do many businesses.