COUNCIL TO TALK TRANSPORTATION

Finding a ride across town isn't too difficult with a taxi service operating in Cape Girardeau, but some residents say getting to their destination on time isn't easy.

The Cape Girardeau City Council will hold a public hearing on the city's taxi service and coupon program at 7:30 tonight at City Hall.

Complaints about delays in the service received by city employees and council members are forwarded to Kelley Transportation Co., which provides the taxi service.

Taxi owner Terrence Kelley said if he knew a solution to the problems he'd fix them.

"I know about the complaints," he said, "and if I knew what to do I'd be in good shape. I've got the cars and the dispatchers, but not the drivers."

Finding workers to operate the 24-hour service isn't easy. The cab company has been running in Cape Girardeau since 1959. It operates seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

"I don't want people to be late or to be angry," Kelley said. "I want them to continue to use the service."

He estimated that 35 to 45 percent of his company's business comes through the city taxi coupon program.

Tonight's public hearing is part of a grant application process through the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department for the public transit program.

The city receives state funding for its taxi coupon program but has to match that funding dollar for dollar. Last year, the city received $118,375 through the state grant.

The grant application for 1999-2000 is $170,545, and the city has already budgeted the matching amount.

The grant program allows the taxi service and the city to provide coupons for one-way trips at reduced fares. Residents can buy up to 14 coupons in a month for taxi service within the city limits. The coupons are $1 for the elderly and $2 for other residents.

Kelley Transportation Co. is the only provider for the service and has been since the program started.

Until other vendors bid for the service, residents will have to live with some delays, said Mayor Al Spradling III.

Kelley said the six-day workweek makes it tough finding and keeping drivers. He's even had to drive himself.

"You have to keep prices down so they don't get outrageous," he said, "and if I'm not hauling people, I'm not making money."

The only other option for the city would be to not have public transportation, which would only cause more problems for residents, Spradling said.

"People don't want to walk to a bus stop," he said. "They want portal-to-portal service."

But some residents of the city's south side say a shuttle service with a routine schedule would be the best solution.

Former councilman J.J. Williamson said the complaints have always been that the taxi service doesn't run on time. Having a service, like a shuttle, that ran stops through the major streets, might be the solution.

But without other vendors, there isn't another option but a taxi service, unless you start talking about tax increases, a city official said.

The city operated a bus service for several years, but that ended in 1969 because it was losing money.

Having adequate transportation is an issue that both city and county officials struggle with. A transit study committee is trying to find solutions to the problem but hasn't completed a formal proposal.

Spradling, Jackson Mayor Paul Sander and Presiding County Commissioner Gerald Jones met last week to talk about the transportation issue.

The most feasible solution is creating a county transit authority that would combine all the services, including adding the city's taxi coupon program into the mix.

"There are better ways to solve all of our problems," Spradling said.

Cape Girardeau City Council

Monday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Council Chambers, 401 Independence

Study session at 5 p.m.

Public hearings

-- Public hearing regarding application for funding from the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department to assist with operating the city's taxi coupon public transit program.

-- Public hearing regarding request of Christ Presbyterian Church for special use permit for church sign on south side of Lexington Avenue, west of Flad Avenue.

-- Public hearing regarding request of Society for the Propagation of the Faith and Cape Girardeau Properties II L.P. for special use permit for 40-unit apartment complex for elderly at Linden Street and Parkway Drive.

-- Public hearing regarding certain sewer improvements in Lateral Sewer District No. 14-1-G-1.

Consent ordinances

(Second and third readings)

-- Ordinance establishing boundaries of lateral sewer district No. 16-D, subdivision of trunk sewer district No. 16.

-- Ordinance authorizing city to approve lease purchase agreement and other actions in connection with financing costs of capital improvements for city.

-- Ordinance amending City Code by placing stop sign on Kent Drive.

-- Ordinance amending City Code by placing yield sign on Abbey Road.

-- Ordinance approving record plat of Northfield 19th Subdivision.

-- Ordinance approving record plat of DKR 5th Subdivision.

New ordinances

(First reading)

-- Ordinance granting special use permit to Christ Presbyterian Church for sign on Lexington Avenue.

-- Ordinance granting special use permit to Society of Propagation of Faith and Cape Girardeau Properties II, L.P. for 40-unit apartment complex.

Resolutions

-- Resolution authorizing city manager to file an application with Missouri Highway and Transportation Department for help in financing public transportation system.

-- Resolution authorizing city manager to execute administrative services agreement with Delta Dental Plan of Missouri.

-- Resolution authorizing contract with Nip Kelley Equipment for ISTEA recreation trail, phase 1.

-- Resolution authorizing city manger to enter into master services agreement with Burns and McDonnell.

Liquor licenses

Conditional approval of liquor license renewals:

Retail liquor by the drink

-- Philip Brinson, dba Rufus Mudsuckers, 2 N. Main St.

-- Philip Brinson, dba Cape Girardeau Brewing Co., 132 N. Main St.

-- Jaynne Brown, dba Ed's Bar, 519 Good Hope.

Retail liquor by the drink and Sunday sales

-- William K. Bond, dba Columbus Club Association, 318 S. Spanish St.

-- DeStock No. 12 Inc., dba Broussard's, 120 N. Main St.

-- Capashco Inc., dba The Pasta House Co., 155 West Park Mall.

Original package liquor and Sunday sales

-- Martin and Bayley Inc, dba Hucks Convenience Store, 353 S. Kingshighway.

-- C. Michael Keen, dba Fast Break, 1320 W. Cape Rock Dr.

3.2 percent non-intoxication beer by the drink

R and V Enterprises Inc., dba Pagliai's Pizza and Pasta, 1129 Broadway.

3.2 percent non-intoxicating beer by the drink and original package 3.2 percent beer

-- William K. Bond, dba Columbus Association, 318 S. Spanish St.

Wholesale of intoxicating liquor

-- Major Brands Inc., dba Major Brands, 839 S. Kingshighway.

-- Sidney Hill, dba Manee Thai Food and Noodle, 1315 Broadway.

Approval of liquor license renewals:

-- Darryl James, dba West Park Bowling Lanes, 354 Silver Springs Rd.

-- Ruby Tuesday Inc., dba Ruby Tuesday, 3069 William St.

-- Gary Helwege, dba BG's Old Tyme Deli, 205 S. Plaza Way.

Wholesalers of malt liquor not in excess of 5 percent

-- Thilenius Distributing Co. Inc., dba River Eagle Distributing, 2346 Rust Ave.

5 percent beer by drink and wine

-- Salamy Twins Inc., dba Phoenicia Restaurant, 1000 N. Sprigg St.

Motion to change temporary liquor license for Louis K. Juden Post 63, dba American Legion for event at A.C. Brase Arena Building, from 3.2 percent non-intoxicating beer by drink to 5 percent beer by the drink.

Other

-- Motion accepting into city's system the out-of-district sewer connection for Raymond J. Wilhelm at 1805 Timberlane.

-- Discussion regarding Saturday recycling center hours.