COUNCIL TO WEIGH SEMINARY FUNDING

The Cape Girardeau City Council tonight will consider a recommendation to spend $8,000-$10,000 to study the cost of renovating St. Vincent's Seminary.

The Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation Task Force last week made the recommendation.

Task force members said the study should be the first step in the search of funding to buy and operate the seminary as a museum. The foundation wants to convert the 150-year-old seminary into a museum and Civil War interpretive center.

The cost of the study would include the hiring of an architect to review the facilities and estimate how much it would cost to renovate the buildings in accordance with city building codes.

In a letter to council members, Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink said: "This information is essential to have an accurate picture of total project costs and, thereby, be able to generate a meaningful financial plan."

Stoverink said the cost for architectural services can be covered out of the city budget's "line-item for community development projects."

The city administrative staff has recommended the council approve the study.

In other business tonight, the council will consider an extension of the city's landfill agreement with Lemons Landfill in Dexter and an engineering services agreement for the development of a closure plan for the city's landfill.

Both items were prompted by new, stricter federal environmental regulations for landfills.

The city's current agreement with Lemons expires at the end of the year, but due to the impending "Subtitle D" regulations of the federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act, city officials began last month to negotiate a new agreement.

In a letter to council members, Public Works Director Doug Leslie said the regulations could "preclude landfill operations in Southeast Missouri."

Leslie said Lemons has agreed to extend landfill services to the city for another five years at higher "tipping fee" rates.

"Lemons' services have been excellent during the course of the existing contract," he said. "In addition, Lemons has recently received approval from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for an additional 200-acre landfill facility across Highway 25 from his existing site near Dexter."

The city now pays $11.50 per ton of trash dumped at the Dexter landfill. Those rates would increase to $12.50 next year and an additional 50 cents per ton each year through 1998.

Other landfill rates in the area that would take effect next year are $15-$16.80 per ton at the Southern Illinois Regional Landfill; $16.20 per ton at the Randolph County Landfill; and $13.20 per ton at the Herrin County Landfill.

If a recently formed Southeast Missouri Regional Solid Waste District is able to develop an approved regional landfill for the district, the city would be able to cancel the agreement with Lemons with six months notice, Leslie said.

The public works director called Lemons proposal "very favorable" and recommended approval of the contract.

Closure of the city landfill will require a detailed closure plan and post-closure plan that must be approved by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Leslie has recommended the council approve a contract with Burns and McDonnell Engineers of St. Louis to develop the plans. The cost of the company's services won't exceed $12,300.

Other items on the agenda for tonight's council meeting include:

A resolution to authorize an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers for replacement of six bridges over Walker Branch along Kingshighway as part of the city's flood-control project. The bridges are Good Hope Street, Merriwether Street (Town Plaza), Independence Street, Themis Street, Arby's Restaurant, and Bessie Street. The work will be done at the city's expense from funds generated by the flood control sales tax.

A public hearing on the city's latest Community Development Block Grant Program application. The city proposes to replace and repair water lines, pave portions of two streets, and rehabilitate some housing units in the southeast part of the city. The total grant application is for $734,500.

The area of the application is bounded by Beaudean Lane on the west; Locust Street on the south; Fort Street and Giboney Avenue on the east; and Maple Street to Ellis, south to Elm, and west to Beaudean on the north.

The request of the Small Business Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University for $6,000 to fund small business counseling and assistance in the city.

Public hearings on the necessity to improve Vista Lane from West Rodney Drive to Hawthorne Road and Ferguson Drive, west from its intersection with Big Bend Road.