Council will decide date of Ward 6 special election in Jan.

The Cape Girardeau City Council has scheduled a meeting at 5 p.m. Jan. 17 to set a special election for the Ward 6 council position.

Depending on the number of candidates, the council will call either a general election -- for two candidates -- or a primary election -- for three or more candidates.

Meanwhile, the council will appoint a temporary member to represent Ward 6, the seat of which is being vacated by Kathy Swan, who was elected in November to the Missouri House and will be sworn in next month. The council has 60 days from the day of vacancy to make the appointment.

At the council's Monday night meeting, councilman Mark Lanzotti said the council has "a great number of variables to be considered before they can begin making decisions" and expects to see more progress as more candidates apply.

The filing of applications for the vacant seat will close at 5 p.m. Jan. 15. As of Monday, Dr. Wayne Bowen, a Southeast Missouri State University history professor and Southeast Missourian columnist, was the lone candidate submitting an application.

Lanzotti announced more possible changes for the Cape Girardeau Area Magnet, the not-for-profit economic development organization that works with expanding and relocating companies considering a location in the greater Cape Girardeau area.

Twelve months after initiating a search for a new executive director, the Magnet board chose to contract those responsibilities with the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. Based on factors such as funding and size, Lanzotti said a "team approach" -- working with area partners and board members to accomplish Magnet's mission -- was determined the best step for the organization's future.

Now, a new member could be added to the team. Lanzotti said the chamber is considering the possibility of recruiting an additional staff member to handle business marketing.

Mayor Harry Rediger said he was "excited" to see the direction the chamber had taken the economic development organization.

The council also heard a presentation by the new Keep Cape Beautiful Committee, represented by Doug Austin, which will be involved in Friends of the Park Day on April 27.

The following new ordinances were passed by the council:

* Bill No. 12-191, an ordinance amending Schedule T of Section 26-260 of the city code, by establishing handicapped parking along a portion of Missouri Avenue; first reading, passed 4-0.

* Bill No. 12-192, an ordinance repealing Section 17-52 of the city code and amending Chapter 26 of the city code regarding trespass on private parking lots; first reading, passed 4-0.

* Bill No. 12-193, an ordinance amending Schedule F of Section 26-247 of the city code, by repealing no parking along a portion of Themis Street; first reading, passed 4-0.

* Bill No. 12-194, an ordinance amending Schedule P of section 26-248 of the city code, by establishing a limited parking zone on a portion of Themis Street; first reading, passed 4-0.

* Bill No. 12-195, an ordinance vacating the city's interest in a portion of right of way on Linda Street from William Street to Good Hope Street; first reading, passed 4-0.

* Bill No. 12-196, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute quitclaim deeds to Vernon E. Rhodes Family Partners LLLP and Plaza Tire Service Inc. for property in the Linda Street right of way; first reading, passed 4-0.

* Bill No. 12-197, an ordinance approving the record plat of Plaza Tire Service; first reading, passed 4-0.

* Bill No. 12-198, an ordinance approving the record plat of a resubdivision of Lots 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73 of Walden Park Phase 2 -- Amended; first reading, passed 4-0.

* Bill No. 12-199, an ordinance approving the condominium plat of Banterra Centre; first reading, passed 4-0.

* Bill No. 12-200, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a quitclaim deed to REC Investments LLC for property in the Southern Expressway right of way; first reading, passed 4-0