County to weigh in on Fruitland annexation Monday

Fruitland residents will find out Monday how the Cape Girardeau County Commission is leaning on the annexation issue. The commission will discuss a letter that could, among other things, suggest changes in the proposed boundaries.

On the commission's agenda under routine business is a letter written by Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy in reply to the petition that holds 79 percent of Fruitland residents' signatures. The residents are asking that an area bound by U.S. 61, Interstate 55, Highway 177 and routes Y, W and FF be incorporated as a village.

Commissioners would not release the letter to the Southeast Missourian on Friday, saying that the matter needs to be discussed and approved first.

Before the release request, commission assistant Donna Oldham said Tracy includes in the letter that he has concerns with some of the area's boundaries and in the letter explains his concerns.

The area residents want incorporated includes the two limestone quarries, owned by Heartland Materials and Strack Excavating. Tracy was not reachable by phone Saturday, and Commissioner Jay Purcell did not return calls seeking more information after voice-mail messages were left.

Group members Brenda Luttrell and Tim Sutterer said they have some ideas of what the commission's response could include, and met Thursday to discuss Fruitland's future and how to best deal with concerns of the commissioners.

"We are pleased they seem to be moving forward," Sutterer said.

Commissioners previously told residents they wouldn't address the incorporation until after the city of Jackson had a chance to vote on the issue. The city proposed annexing parts of the area, including land containing Heartland Materials, but voters disagreed.

"We can't thank the Jackson voters enough," Luttrell said. "We owe them a lot and wouldn't have gotten to this without them."

Sutterer said he didn't think whatever response was coming would be final because commissioners also previously said a lawsuit filed in November would likely need to be settled before they could take any action.

The commission meets at 9 a.m. Monday in the county administration building in Jackson.

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