COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER BUBBLE REPLACEMENT AT MEETING TONIGHT

The Cape Girardeau City Council tonight will consider whether to share with the Cape Girardeau School District the cost of replacing the Central Swimming Pool bubble.

Also included on tonight's agenda is "discussion" of the state solid-waste law.

Last week City Manager J. Ronald Fischer and Superintendent Neyland Clark reached a tentative agreement to split the cost of a new bubble, estimated at $110,000 to $120,000. Final approval for the agreement rests with the council and school board.

In a letter to the council, Fischer recommended approval of the agreement. The city staff already earmarked $65,000 in the city's proposed 1992-1997 capital improvements plan for replacement of the dilapidated bubble.

The solid-waste-law item was prompted by Councilman Doug Richards' comments at the council's Feb. 3 meeting. Richards questioned whether the Missouri solid-waste law enacted in 1990 actually mandates efforts to reduce solid waste or merely "suggests" them.

The city last year implemented a citywide recycling program as part of its plan to meet the requirements of the state law, which include reduction of all waste going to Missouri landfills by 40 percent by 1998.

But Richards said he discussed the matter with a Missouri Department of Natural Resources official, who said the 40 percent reduction is merely a "goal" set for 1998.

"I personally don't think a 40 percent reduction is required," he said. "If there's a question on it, it should be answered because it's going to affect what we do."

In the council agenda packet for tonight's meeting, Public Works Director Doug Leslie responded to Richards' questions in a letter to the council members.

The public works director cited a letter from Jim Hull, acting director of the DNR's waste management program, in which he indicated the law does mandate the waste reduction.

Hull said in his letter that the state legislature adopted the landfill law "in order to achieve a 40 percent reduction in the amount of solid waste being generated for disposal by 1998.

"To reach this goal, cities and counties, alone or as part of a regional solid waste management district, are mandated to develop and implement integrated solid-waste management plans."

Hull said that citizens must be provided with opportunities to recycle and compost.

"Cape Girardeau is required to comply with the solid waste management law, which does contain enforcement provisions," he wrote.

"It is important that Cape Girardeau continue to move forward with the implementation of solid waste management alternatives in order to stay in compliance with Senate Bill 530," he wrote.

Leslie also defended the city's operation of its recycling program, including the recycling center's hours of operation. Richards suggested the city increase operating hours for residents who wish to bring recyclable materials to the center.

But Leslie said the center's primary purpose is to process materials from the curbside recycling collection.

"The center is staffed with court-assigned community service workers and at least one full-time city employee supervisor," he said. "Any extension of hours or days of operation will require additional city personnel assigned to cover that period of time.

"In addition, with curbside service provided to all city residents except some apartment dwellers, extended hours would primarily serve numerous out-of-town residents utilizing the center."

Leslie also argued in the letter continued weekly recycling collection. Some residents have suggested that once or twice per month recycling collection would be sufficient.

"The basic reason for once-per-week pickup was to encourage participation in recycling by making the program as convenient as possible for residents as well as encouraging them to reduce the amount of waste placed at the curb through recycling," Leslie said.

"Other reasons were cited including the necessity of a manageable flow of materials through the recycling center."

Leslie said that without adding employees, the recycling center is unable to handle large quantities of material at one time. He said the weekly recycling collection assures a smaller volume of material at a steady rate.

In other business, the council will consider authorization of a $880,000 contract with Sides Construction Co. for the Municipal Airport terminal building renovation project.

Sides submitted the lowest of seven bids on the project. The successful bid was below the architect's estimate for the project, with three added alternates, of $950,000.

The council also will consider a proposed $20,000 budget for the city's bicentennial celebration this year. Included in the budget is $10,500 for supplies, clerical assistance, advertising and memorabilia and $9,500 for various activities planned for the celebration.