COUNCIL VIEWS CONTRACT FOR CITY WATER SYSTEM

The Cape Girardeau City Council tonight will consider a contract with Mid-Missouri Engineers Inc. for management, operation and maintenance of the city's water system.

It's the first action the council will take regarding the water system since voters earlier this month approved the city's purchase of the utility. The city plans to take over water system operations sometime next spring.

On Nov. 5, voters approved the transaction, which city officials say will be a key link to orderly growth and development in the city.

In other business tonight, the council will conduct a public hearing on construction of the next phase of the Lexington Avenue arterial project and consider a law to annex property west and north of the city limits.

The water system contract will allow Mid-Missouri Engineers, which operates other water systems, to direct the transition from Union Electric's operation to the city's.

In a letter to the city council, Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink said the city staff has recommended the council approve the contract.

"MMEI has a great deal of experience with the operation of water systems throughout this region," he said. "The city staff has thoroughly reviewed their qualifications in this area and contacted various cities who currently contract with them.

"Our research indicates that MMEI is qualified and quite capable of meeting its obligations under this contract."

The five-year contract will be revocable by either party without cause after three years. The contract also can be terminated by the city for breach of contract by MMEI.

On Nov. 4, the council passed a resolution declaring it necessary to construct the next section of the Lexington Avenue project, from Carolina Lane about 2,200 feet to the street's intersection with Perryville Road. The total cost per front foot assessed to property owners along the street will be $25.

The annexation proposal involves property north of the city along Cape Rock Drive.

The Cape Special Road District has requested the annexation for a section of the street from Lexington Avenue, north about 2,700 feet.

City officials have said the annexation will clear up past confusion over who has jurisdiction over the tract the city or the county.

The second petition is a joint petition from the Cape Special Road District and First Exchange Bank for 3,200 feet of Bloomfield Road west of the city limits. It also includes a 24-acre tract that's owned by First Exchange Bank.

The city's Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 14 recommended the council rezone the tract to allow developer Robert Penrod to construct a 40-duplex subdivision on the site.

The council on Nov. 11 held a public hearing on the annexation requests. In a letter to the council, City Planner Kent Bratton said that no objections have been received to the annexation requests.

"If the council determines that the annexation is reasonable and necessary to the proper development of the city, and the city has the ability to furnish normal municipal services to the area to be annexed within a reasonable time, the council may proceed to annex the areas by ordinance," Bratton said.

"The staff feels that both annexations are reasonable and necessary and is recommending that the council proceed with these annexations."

In other business, the council will consider a resolution to assist Biokyowa Inc. with sludge management until the company's own management plan is approved by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

If the council approves the resolution, the city would provide the sludge management service, and city employees would handle the appropriate DNR testing and reporting requirements, while Biokyowa would be responsible for handling and injection of the sludge.