Council to look at taxes, Wal-Mart market

The Cape Girardeau City Council will discuss and vote on a long list of items tonight, including hotel tax, a BAT van and the next step for the Galleria Plaza Subdivision.

It was revealed in December that a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market was being developed for the site of the former Plaza Galleria at 2001 Independence St. The application for the plat was approved by the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission in December as well.

An ordinance approving the Galleria Plaza Subdivision record plat will have its first reading in council Monday night, after being postponed in December. According to city manager Scott Meyer, this is a routine first step for most major property developments in the city.

"This is just getting the plat ready to then start submitting building plans," he said.

Most actions or delays up to this point, including the December postponement, were determined by Wal-Mart rather than the city, he added.

The city also will vote on whether to approve an ordinance that would allow the city to apply for a sobriety checkpoint grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation. The grant would provide funds for a BAT -- blood alcohol testing -- van and equipment. Meyer said he had limited information about the van and what equipment would be needed, but said it would help police officers to "quickly mobilize" any equipment needed for sobriety checks.

The council also will have second and third readings to approve the agreement with Midamerica Hotels on the city's restaurant and hotel taxes.

Before voting on any ordinances, however, the council will hold a public hearing on the 2014-2019 Capital Improvements Program. The council held a special meeting Thursday to review capital improvement projects and the public hearing allows the public to weigh in as well, Meyer said.

"We want council to be up-to-date on what's in [the Capital Improvements Program] and get their input," he said of Thursday's meeting. "So, now, we will incorporate these things into the document and take public comment on them."

The council also will declare the results of the Feb. 4 municipal primary election, where voters selected Rocky Everett and Shelly Moore as candidates for Ward 2 representative. They also will set the date for a special city council meeting to declare the results of the April 8 municipal elections.

Joining Everett and Moore on the April ballot for city council will be Teresa Robinson and Joseph Uzoaru in Ward 1. Councilman Wayne Bowen is unchallenged in Ward 6.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.