County paving project under scrutiny

~ Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said rules need to be revised before tax increase goes to voters.

The rules for selecting county paving projects need to be revised and changes will be in place before voters decide whether to give Cape Girardeau County more money, county commissioners said Monday.

Addressing more than 60 people who packed the community room of the County Administration Building, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said there are several rules that should be overhauled.

County voters will decide Aug. 8 whether to pass Proposition 1, a half-cent sales tax that would fund road projects and an expanded sheriff's department.

The gathering, a public hearing on the county's proposed road paving plans, included praise from some hoping to eliminate dust along their road and criticism from others who question how roads are chosen for paving.

One rule that must be reviewed, according to both residents and commissioners, is a requirement that every landowner along a stretch of road give the county an easement before the county decides to blacktop it.

"That is not right, for one person to hold things up for everybody," Jones said.

He cautioned, however, that the county will not use eminent domain to take easements from landowners.

Jones made his comments after one property owner, Delbert Mueller, warned that a lack of action could generate voter backlash.

"We will have to have answers by the time we go to the ballot box," said Mueller, who lives along County Road 316. "If we don't, I anticipate a lot of negative votes."

The $5.9 million raised by the tax would not be earmarked by law. Commissioners have promised to use it to eliminate property taxes dedicated for roads, to accelerate paving plans and to expand road patrols by the sheriff's department.

The sales tax would apply countywide. In the city of Cape Girardeau, approval would increase the sales tax rate to 7.425 percent.

During the meeting, a show of hands vote indicated strong support for the tax proposal. Many of those who attended also demonstrated by a show of hands that they live along county roads.

Some on hand, however, offered only conditional support of the tax proposal. David Seabaugh, a former candidate for county commission, called the proposal "the best thing I have seen come from the county commission in 15 years."

But the request for money must be accompanied by a change in the way the county operates its road program, he said. "It doesn't address the main issue. What everybody in the county wants is dust control, consistency and credibility."

Commissioner Jay Purcell asked the audience to focus on what can be achieved with the extra money.

"Please take this as an opportunity to move this county forward," Commissioner Purcell said. "There have been mistakes made. If you talk about the past, we'll all leave mad and we won't get a damn thing done."

Another rule that came under fire allows residents to donate private funds to supplement the county paving budget and push their road to the top of the list.

"The criteria needs to be the same for everyone, everywhere," Mueller said. "They are buying their road."

Jones replied that the commission last year for the first time accepted donations to push a project forward. This year's paving plans include two or three such projects, he said.

"It is swelling on us and we are confused," Jones said. "We don't have a policy. We just did it."

Cape Girardeau County maintains more than 400 miles of roads. Paving projects are financed by the interest on the county's emergency fund. If the tax passes, the county expects to pave 53 miles of road by 2012, or about 20 miles more than current revenue would allow.

Some at the meeting Monday questioned whether a major push to pave roads would bring as much benefit as an aggressive dust control program. Bob Henry, who lives along County Road 525, said he moved from Illinois four years ago and counties there used oil on gravel roads to reduce dust.

"Why not do that for some roads so we have a decent road while we are waiting? he asked.

The problem with dust control applications, Jones said, is that they often must be reapplied every year at considerable expense.

Dean Allison, who lives on West Cape Rock Drive, questioned whether the sales tax is the best way to raise revenue for county projects. Sales tax hits lower income people hardest because they spend a larger share of their income on taxable items.

Allison also said the paving proposal will fall short when viewed realistically. "If you look at this map, you aren't going to get all these roads paved in 100 years," he said.

The hearing was the first step for the commissioners as they seek to win public support for the tax hike. They plan presentations before the Jackson Board of Alderman and Cape Girardeau City Council, as well as talks to civic groups.

Residents of the smaller towns in Cape Girardeau County will get a chance to raise questions and learn about the road plan in town hall meetings, but commissioners have not set any specific dates.

The turnout and the support for the tax proposal was encouraging, Jones said. "All the people who live out in the county are for this," he said. "I really appreciate everything everybody said, especially the ones who are critical."

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126