COUNCIL SEEKS STORMWATER GRANT FUNDS

The timing of a state grant was too perfect for Cape Girardeau to miss.

The Cape Girardeau City Council approved Monday night a grant application that would help the city pay for stormwater improvements along Broadway and alleviate flooding on the street.

The action was part of a 13-minute meeting that included approving an ordinance calling an election for $8.5 million in sewer bonds, paying a St. Louis architectural firm $85,000 for a facilities study and assessing damages of $9,500 on the Perryville Road improvement project.

The council approved a grant application from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources that would help the city pay for drainage improvements along Broadway as the city widens the road from Clark to Perry avenues. The grant must be submitted by Oct. 31.

The city is expected to apply for $20,449 in grant funds. Cape Girardeau County is expected to apply for $70,895 in funding for an erosion control project along Hubble Creek.

If the county's application is rejected for some reason, the County Stormwater Coordinating Committee asked that the city add the project to its grant application. No other city in the county is applying for the state funds.

The council approved a resolution that would allow the city to apply for as much as $91,344 from DNR's Stormwater State Revolving Fund.

The council also approved, on first reading, an ordinance that would call for an election in February to decide whether to issue $8.5 million in sewer bonds.

The bonds would not require a sales-tax increase or extension of a half-cent sales tax approved in 1994. The capital improvement sales tax was approved to fund a list of 12 projects at an estimated cost of $25 million.

But rising costs have pushed the original price tag much higher. The city needs the $8.5 million, coupled with about $3.9 million remaining in the sanitary sewer improvement program fund, to complete the last three original projects and add two others. The total cost would be $12.4 million.

The council also approved a resolution that would allow the city to hire an architectural firm from St. Louis to study building needs.

The council agreed to hire Horner and Shifrin for $85,000 to study building needs and help the city plan for the future. The St. Louis-based firm will assess existing buildings and evaluate the sites for traffic, access and size related to growth.

A report should be presented to the council by June, outlining the firm's recommendations.

Acting upon recommendations from City Engineer Mark Lester, the council approved a payment of $2,184,262 to Fronabarger Concreters Inc. and Lappe Cement Finishing Inc. for work done on Perryville Road from Meyer Drive to the city limits.

The contract was extended by 38 days so the city assessed $9,500 in damages for the project.

The Perryville Road improvements were funded by the Transportation Sales Tax Fund.

Cape Girardeau Council Agenda

Monday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Council chambers, 401 Independence

Study session at 5 p.m.

Agenda

Public hearings

-- Held a hearing to consider vacating the city's interest in a 20-foot gas and water easement running across property at 2122 Woodhaven, on lots 2 and 3 of Woodhaven Subdivision.

Consent ordinances (Second and third readings.)

-- Approved an ordinance granting a special-use permit to Columbia Construction Corp. and Southwestern Bell Wireless for constructing, maintaining and operating a communication tower and equipment building at 3630 Exchange Drive.

-- Approved an ordinance vacating the city's interest in a gas and water line easement in Woodhaven Subdivision.

-- Approved an ordinance vacating the city's interest in McLane Outlot No. 1 Subdivision.

-- Approved an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for bridge construction over Little Ramsey Creek.

-- Approved the record plat of Golden Eagle Subdivision.

New ordinances (First reading.)

-- Approved an ordinance amending Schedule C of Section 26-121 of City Code by placing a stop sign on Koch Street.

-- Approved an ordinance amending Schedule K of Section 26-121 of City Code by placing a yield sign on Prospect Drive.

-- Approved an ordinance accepting a general warranty deed from Northfield Properties Inc., for improvements in Northfield 19th Subdivision. Accepted into the city's system the street, sanitary sewer, stormwater and water improvements as shown in plan approved for the subdivision and releasing the escrow agreement covering these improvements.

-- Approved the record plat of Blattner Fourth West Subdivision.

-- Approved the record plat of Cape West Ninth Subdivision.

-- Approved an ordinance calling an election in the city on the question of issuing sewerage system revenue bonds.

-- Accepted a quit claim deed from DSW Development Corp., for a portion of Cape West Parkway.

-- Approved the record plat of Cape West Eighth Subdivision.

Resolutions (Reading and passage.)

-- Passed a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a T-hanger rental agreement with First Missouri Terminals Inc., at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

-- Passed a resolution approving a debt statement for the city.

-- Passed a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a grant application to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for Broadway improvements from Clark to Perry avenues.

-- Passed a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Horner and Shifrin Inc., for the future facilities needs analysis.

Appointments

-- Re-appointed Harry Rediger and Charles Haubold to the Planning and Zoning Commission; Mike Kohlfeld, Terry Ashby and Mike Keefe to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; and Thomas Meyer to the Golf Course Advisory Board.

Liquor license

-- Approved conditional license for retail liquor by the drink and Sunday sales for Merriwether Investment Inc., dba Europa's Gourmet Market at 20 N. Spanish St, Jerrianne Malone Wyman, managing officer.

Other

-- Accepted into the city's system the storm sewer and stormwater improvements as shown on plans approved for Ashland Court, Phase I Subdivision, and releasing the escrow covering these improvements.

-- Passed a motion authorizing the withdrawal of plans for a sanitary sewer to serve McLane Outlot No. 1 of Westborough Subdivision and refunding the estimated inspection fees of $300.

-- Passed a motion authorizing the release of escrow agreement for McLane Outlot No. 1.

-- Passed a motion withdrawing the improvement plans for storm sewer and streets to serve LaCroix Meadows Business Park, Phase II, and returning inspection fees.

-- Passed a motion authorizing the revision to the improvement plans for Vernon Rhodes Subdivision.

-- Accepted the improvements to Perryville Road from Meyer Drive north to city limits and authorizing final payments to Fronabarger Concreters Inc., and Lappe Cement Finishing Inc.

-- Approved the preliminary plat of Rosewood Subdivision.