COUNCIL TO VOTE ONCE AGAIN ON EXTENSION OF KENT

If the Cape Girardeau City Council gives its approval tonight, the Kent Street extension project finally will become reality.

Probably.

Since 1990, the City Council has approved extending Kent Street, located in the Woodland Hills subdivision, on numerous occasions. However, for one reason or another, the issue kept coming up again, and the work never got done.

The project entails extending Kent Street 450 feet from the current dead end south of Earleen Drive to Lexington Avenue between Flad and Dixie streets.

The city already has a contract with a developer to build the extension.

But on Jan. 19, the council voted down the preliminary reading of a measure authorizing the city to issue tax bills to the developer to recoup some of the project cost. The vote was 3-2, with two members absent.

With the full council present Feb. 1, the measure passed 6-1, with Councilman Frank Stoffrengen switching his vote.

The final vote on the measure is scheduled for tonight. The council's meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Councilman Tom Neumeyer, who voted against the measure both times, said that when the project first came up nine years ago there was only one entrance to the subdivision.

Now there are three entrances, and residents are concerned by the increased traffic flow in the subdivision a fourth would add, Neumeyer said.

Councilman Melvin Gateley, who missed the Jan. 19 vote, said at the last meeting that the extension is long overdue, and nine years of delays have no doubt added to the cost of the project.

"The same thing happens over and over," Gateley said. "We vote this up, it's ready to go; and then somehow it shows up again on the agenda."

He said opposition to the extension is minimal.

Mayor Al Spradling III said that even if the council votes down the current ordinance related to the project, the city is still obligated to build the extension.

"By not building Kent Street, we would essentially be backing out of a contract we have already entered into," Spradling said.

Without the authority to issue a tax bill to the developer, the city would be responsible for the entire cost of the project, Spradling said.

Cape Girardeau City Council

Agenda, Tuesday, Feb. 16

City Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Public hearings

-- A public hearing regarding the request of Vernon E. Rhodes Family Partners, L.P., for a community unit plan at the southwest corner of Kingshighway and Boulder Crest Drive in an R-4, multiple family residential district.

-- A public hearing regarding the request of Charles W. Riske, trustee, Christopher Evans and Thorn Investments Inc. to rezone a 5.61 acre tract along County Road 206, north of Cobblestone Court from R-1, single family residential district, to R-4, multiple family residential district, and for a special use permit for a community unit plan on said tract.

Consent ordinances

(Second and third readings)

-- An ordinance, with one abstention, declaring it necessary to improve Timberland Drive from Kage Road to the dead end; Capaha Trail from the end of existing pavement to the dead end; Garden Lane from Capaha Trail to the dead end; Hill Street from Johnson Street to the dead end; Beaudean Lane from College Street to south of Elm Street; Beaudean Lane from Linden Street to Hickory Street; Engram Street from Highland Drive to the dead end; Terry Lane from Kingsway Drive to Joanne Street; and Johnson Street from Rand Street to Riverview Drive.

-- An ordinance declaring it necessary to improve that part of Kent Street, from the termination of the existing pavement in Woodland Hills subdivision to Lexington Avenue, approximately 450 feet.

-- An ordinance amending Chapter 30 of the City Code relating to zoning.

-- An ordinance accepting a drainage easement from Perry E. and Bessie R. Cook for the improvement of Missouri Street from Mississippi Street to Scott Street.

-- An ordinance levying a special assessment for the 97-1, 4-inch asphalt pavement program for the improvement of Vincent Avenue from Country Club Drive to Timon Way; Flint Hill Road from Big Bend Road northwesterly to a dead end; Country Club Drive from the club gate southward to a dead end; Redwood Drive from vista Lane to Lear Drive; Bevin Drive from West Rodney westward to a dead end; Cedar Lane from Charles Street northward to a dead end; and Rand Street from Water Street to Roberts Street, and authorizing the issuance of special tax bills there for.

New ordinances

(First readings)

-- An ordinance granting a special use permit to Vernon E. Rhodes Family Partners, L.P., for purposes of constructing, maintaining and operating a community unit plan at the southwest corner of Kingshighway and Boulder Crest Drive.

-- An ordinance amending Chapter 30 of the Code of Ordinances by changing the zoning of part of a tract along County Road 206, north of Cobblestone Court.

-- An ordinance amending Schedule F of Section 26-247 of the City Code, establishing no parking on Broadway.

-- An ordinance amending Schedule C of Section 26-121 of the City Code by placing a stop sign on Lynwood Hills Drive.

-- An ordinance amending Schedule P of Section 26-248 of the City Code, establishing limited parking on Randol Avenue.

-- An ordinance annexing land to the city of Cape Girardeau upon the request of the Missouri State Highway and Transportation Commission.

-- An ordinance reaffirming the action of the City Council declaring it necessary to improve, providing for the improvement, directing the city manager to enter into a contract to do the work, and providing for the manner of payment of the work, of Hopper Road from Mt. Auburn Road to Kage Road, for a distance of approximately 3,258 feet.

-- An ordinance reaffirming the action of the City Council declaring it necessary to improve, providing for the improvement, directing the city manager to enter into a contract to do the work, and providing for the manner of payment of the work, of Hopper Road from Oak Ridge Court to I-55, for a distance of approximately 1,700 feet.

-- An ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute an intergovernmental cooperation agreement between Cape Girardeau County and the cities of Jackson and Cape Girardeau for the purpose of forming a transportation cooperation to facilitate the acceleration of design, engineering and construction of highway improvements along the I-55 Jackson/Cape Girardeau corridor, and take certain actions related thereto.

Resolutions

(Reading and passage)

-- A resolution authorizing applications to the Missouri Department of Social Services under the Emergency Shelter Grant Program for Safe House for Women Inc. and the Salvation Army and authorizing the city manager to execute all necessary grant documents.

-- A resolution authorizing application to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Quality, Solid Waste Management Program, for the Cape Girardeau recycling drop off facility, and authorizing the city manager to execute all necessary grant documents.

-- A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an addendum to engineering services with Bowen and Lawson Engineering and Surveying for the Hopper Road extension project.

-- A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Nip Kelley Equipment Co. Inc. for the Hopper Road extension, Phase IIA.

Appointments

-- Appointment to the Cable Television Advisory Board.

-- Appointment to the Ethics Commission.

-- Appointment to the Board of Adjustment.

Other

-- A motion approving the amended preliminary plat of Vernon Rhodes subdivision.

-- Discussion regarding a proposed amendment to Chapter 15 of the City Code relating to electrician license holders.