Disagreements between Jackson, Cape have faded

JACKSON, Mo. -- Annexation, sharing the public access channel and taking positions on two major local road projects were some of the issues on the agenda when the Cape Girardeau City Council and Jackson Board of Aldermen held their first joint meeting in 1998.

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander and Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III organized the meeting as an outgrowth of informal get-togethers the two had been having with Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones. At Monday's fourth joint meeting (none was held last year), Sander gave Spradling a plaque in appreciation for his work in furthering cooperation between the two cities. Major differences, which once provoked enmity between the two cities, were nowhere on the agenda.

Spradling, who is ending his eight-year tenure as mayor, recalled the ugly battles the two cities had when he was a city councilman. "We've come a long way ... since '88, '89 and '90," he said. "We had some disagreements."

The councils heard updates on two projects and a Census designation that could affect the cities along with Cape Girardeau County. They are:

The Cape Girardeau County Nature Center. Jones said the center is expected to draw 150,000 visitors when completed in 2003. Bids for the project are expected to be sent out in 60 days. The center at North County Park will include a 20,000-square-foot building and 50 acres of nature trails.

A research and technology park proposed for the Southeast Missouri State University demonstration farm. Don Dickerson, president of the Southeast Board of Regents, said the university hopes to use part of the 415 acres at the farm to provide a park where entrepreneurs can develop life and plant science projects using money from the tobacco settlement due the state. The farm is at the intersection of I-55 and the East Main Street extension interstate exit. The Missouri Department of Transportation has scheduled to begin construction in 2006.

Dickerson said he thinks the park works best as a shared project between Jackson, Cape Girardeau, the county and the university. No funding has been acquired for the park.

A Metropolitan Planning Organization. Doug Leslie, public works director for Cape Girardeau, is awaiting word from the U.S. Census Bureau about whether the area that includes Cape Girardeau, Jackson and surroundings has the population density required to earn a MPO designation. The MPO would give the area a higher status with MoDOT as far as plans that affect roads, mass transit, airports and ports, Leslie said. "It carries a lot more clout with MoDOT."

Both mayors began the meeting by listing their cities' accomplishments over the past year and the projects they will be working on this year. Cape Girardeau's list included the $16 million expansion of its water plant No. 1 and a well project that will provide the city with more and softer water, the $4.5 million dry detention basin controlling flood water in the north end of the city, and upcoming street widening projects that include Mount Auburn Road, Bloomfield Road and Broadway.

Jackson's list included progress on a number of water and sewer projects intended to keep pace with the city's phenomenal growth over the past decade, automation of the Jackson Library circulation, upgrades to the city-run electrical system and upcoming improvements at the Route D and Farmington Road intersection along with the city's comprehensive traffic plan to be completed toward the end of 2002.

Sander is confident the tradition he and Spradling started will continue when either Jay Knudtson or Melvin Gateley is elected Cape Girardeau's mayor in April. "I know them both well. They both are fine people," he said.

One tradition the two mayors started is a bet over the annual Jackson-Central High School football game. The losing mayor must wear the winning team's sweatshirt at the next council meeting. Spradling has had to wear a Jackson Indians shirt all but one year since the tradition began.

"You have a nice selection of red sweatshirts," Sander told Spradling.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182