Council votes to increase solid waste, water fees

Cape Girardeau residents will pay more for trash and water service but neither city employees nor those who work for the private firm that runs the water service will get pay raises under a $45 million budget that won first-round approval from the city council on Monday night.

The council voted to increase the residential trash fee by 2.88 percent and the fee for use of a 6-cubic-yard trash container by 5 percent for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The water rate charge would be raised 4 percent rather than 5 percent after Alliance Water Resources, which operates the water service, agreed to cancel planned pay raises for its employees.

In other action, the council refused to renew a liquor license for the White House Sports Bar on Sprigg Street and gave final approval to new fireworks regulations that ban the sale of fireworks within 600 feet of a school or church, but allow them to be discharged in such neighborhoods.

Police chief Steve Strong said fire officials didn't want to lift the ban on fireworks stands in those areas for safety reasons. Police favored lifting the ban on discharge of fireworks near churches and schools because, Strong said, it was impractical to enforce.

Monday night's session marked the first meeting of the council since it fired city manager Michael Miller and promoted public works director Doug Leslie to serve as interim manager.

Mayor Jay Knudtson welcomed Leslie to his new role as the council conducts a search for a new city manager.

The council action on the water rates came despite concern by Councilman Matt Hopkins that the city might need a 5 percent increase -- the maximum allowed without voter approval -- to cover funding requirements associated with paying off water system improvement bonds.

But Councilman Jay Purcell said the council would risk public criticism if it trimmed expenses for water services and still raised rates by the maximum amount.

"It's just not going to play well," he said at a study session prior to the regular meeting at city hall.

In addition to the fee increases, the council gave first reading to the overall budget but said the budget could be amended before a final vote on June 16.

No one in the audience spoke up at a public hearing on the budget prior to the council action.

The council, which already has held one work session on the budget, said it will hold another on June 10 at noon at city hall.

The council denied a liquor license for the White House Sports Bar at 820 N. Sprigg because the operator of tavern failed to comply with the city's requirement that there may be no access to the business from Mason Street, a neighboring, narrow residential street.

The council action came after a neighboring property owner complained about unwanted traffic on the street and litter from bar patrons.

Bar operator Bobby McDonald said he'll close down the business rather than reapply.

But he insisted that he ran a "very good operation" and didn't serve liquor to minors.

McDonald said he's frustrated trying to do business in Cape Girardeau. "I'm selling about every piece of property I own in Cape," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123