COUNCIL TO APPOINT PROPERTY STANDARDS COMMITTEE

If the arrival of minimum property standards could be viewed as a horse race, Cape Girardeau City Councilman Tom Neumeyer would be casting an appreciative glance at the home stretch.

"A moment that has taken two-and-a-half years to arrive is finally only two months away," said Neumeyer, who represents Ward 2. "This is something I've been very interested in for a long time. This is the culmination of a lot of work by the board of appeals and has a lot of public support behind it."

The city council will appoint a minimum property standards review committee at tonight's meeting. That committee has 60 days, or until July 15, to produce a recommendation for the city council.

"From there the city council will look at the recommendation and consider any amendments that need to be made," said Neumeyer. "Then we'll have something on the books that everyone will have to live by. As far as the committee goes, I'm just hoping they all work together as a team to come up with the best recommendation possible."

The committee will be comprised of a member of the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a tenant, two landlords, a residential property owner, a member of the board of appeals and a city staff member.

Charles Kupchella, who is the president of the DNA, is the only one in his organization to apply for a seat on the committee.

The same is true for Cape NAACP President Michael Sterling. Thus Kupchella and Sterling are assured of serving on the review committee. The city will be represented by Inspection Services Supervisor Rick Murray. The board of appeals has yet to submit the name of a representative to serve on the committee.

Among those interested in representing tenants and renters are: Dorothy Jones, Brian Shelton, Israel Taylor and Carol Drummond. The list of those wishing to represent landlords includes: Frank Bean, Melvin Dockins, Dorothy Hardy, Louis Haynes, John Hilpert, Barbara Horn, Julian Howes, Han Mu Kang, R. Todd McBride and Richard Miller.

Neumeyer believes the review committee will have a worthwhile document to study. "The third draft the board of appeals came up with is an excellent document," said Neumeyer, who discussed the document with Murray at a recent DNA meeting.

"Existing ordinances, while they may be good, don't cover so many things that in the city need immediate attention," said Neumeyer. "I heard a report of a vacant house that has not been secured. Kids are getting into that house, and who knows what's going on there. Right now we have no ordinance against that."

Added Neumeyer,"Another instance that shows how much we need minimum property standards is the case of a landlord wanting to turn his basement into an apartment.

"There is only one means of entry, and there are no windows in this basement. That's a scary situation when you're talking about a fire or an extreme emergency."

Murray indicated at the last DNA meeting that attic and basement apartments are the most dangerous and will receive strict scrutiny if the third draft by the board of appeals becomes law.

"There are some places we would have to shut down, no question about that," said Murray. "The thing people have to realize is that minimum property standards are for the good of the entire city, not just one area."

Neumeyer added: "I think it's a great document because it provides for health, safety and welfare. We're not trying to go after someone whose gutter has chipped paint. We're talking about minimum standards that most of the citizens already live by."

Said Murray, "Ninety-five percent of the people won't even know minimum property standards exist, because they're already living above that."