DOWNTOWN: PERRYVILLE POINTS AT EFFORTS TO RENOVATE A BUSINESS DISTRICT

PERRYVILLE -- "We're basically going to tear everything out and start over."

That's how Perryville City Administrator Craig Lindsley describes the town's planned renovation of its downtown business district, scheduled to begin this spring.

"We're very excited about this project," Lindsley said. "It's received a lot of public input, and I honestly feel it will be a tremendous improvement for the city of Perryville."

The renovation includes new, wider streets; new streetlights; water, gas and sewer lines; landscaping and a courthouse park.

Devised about two years ago by city officials and a citizens advisory committee, the renovation has had its share of setbacks. A lawsuit filed in 1990 against the city, questioning the city's levying of special assessments without voter approval, delayed the project.

Although the city ultimately prevailed in the lawsuit, it prohibited the city from going ahead with any street improvements for more than a year.

Now that things are back on track, the first phase of the renovation is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 15. Phase two, which involves renovation of the courthouse lawn and improvement of the streets surrounding the business district, is scheduled to begin in 1993.

The downtown area isn't the only part of town to see changes. A $1.7 million project at the Perryville Airport has included new water and gas lines and the expansion of the runway from 5,500 feet to 7,000 feet.

"Both the water and gas lines will help our economic development," Lindsley explained. He said the Sabreliner Corp., which has a plant near the airport, will use the longer runway in its operation. It will allow the company to land larger planes and increase business, leading to more jobs and a better economy, he said.

"It's part of a total economic development program we've been working on for a number of years," he said.

In September 1990, the city received a $1.3 million grant from the Economic Development Administration to help pay for the airport improvements. City funds were also used for the project, in addition to funds granted by the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department's aviation section.

Construction on the runway hopefully will begin in May, Lindsley said.

The city administrator said the coming fiscal year will bring with it some other noticeable changes in the city. New street lights are being constructed at each intersection along the Highway 51 bypass. It's a project that will cost the city $35,000, but one that "needed to be done," he said.

"We've had numerous requests to have that done. It's a state right of way, but because of (state) budget constraints they have been unable to put up the lights. It was the feeling of the board of aldermen that it was a project that needed to be done."

The city's recycling efforts will also be expanded this year, Lindsley said. The city already collects newspapers for recycling, but officials hope to begin collecting plastics and glass soon.

Lindsley said there are other projects in the works that will help improve the quality of life in less obvious ways. He said he is hopeful that an upcoming inspection of the city by the Fire Insurance Rating Service will result in the city receiving a lower, and better, fire safety rating. The town currently rates a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10.

A study on how to lower the city's rating began in 1986, he said. Several new water lines looping the city since have been constructed, which upgraded the city's fire fighting capability.

"We feel we've made enough changes to get the rating lowered, and that would result in lower property insurance rates for everyone," Lindsley said.