DRAINAGE STUDY GOES TO COUNCIL

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The City Council tonight will consider a resolution that would authorize the final phase of U.S. Geological Survey work to monitor Cape Girardeau's storm-water systems.

The $36,000 1991 project would culminate four years of USGS work in the city. The geological survey this year would conclude its data-gathering stage and begin analyzing its information for final watershed recommendations.

The project started in July 1988, when the USGS installed three digital, recording stage gages and six digital, recording rain gages.

Since then the survey has installed additional stage and rain gages on Cape LaCroix Creek near the Municipal Golf Course. The program is funded by the USGS and the city on a 50-50 cost-share.

In a letter to the City Council, City Planner Kent Bratton said: "This information, when completed, will be invaluable in fine-tuning the city's storm-water-management ordinance and in designing storm-water-control projects in the future.

"This five-year project is an integral part of the city's overall storm-water-planning program."

In other business, the council will consider an application on behalf of the Salvation Army to the state's Emergency Shelter Grant Program.

Captain Elmer Trapp of the Salvation Army filed an application with the ESGP that would provide state funding for certain social services. The city, technically, must apply for the funds, which, if awarded, would allow it to contract with the Salvation Army to provide essential services outlined in the application.

A council letter from Bratton and City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said the application is for $40,000 in ESGP funds, to be matched by the Salvation Army with $53,300 in local cash, $8,500 in in-kind contributions, and $8,400 that the Salvation Army receives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The total project costs are $110,200. The funding would be used to operate the following Salvation Army programs: rent and utility assistance to keep families together; transient lodging program; emergency food-assistance program, and emergency prescription-assistance program.

The city would not required to contribute matching funds to the grant, but the city would be responsible for overseeing the program.

"Given the level of experience of the Salvation Army in operating these programs, the staff feels that the time and effort required by the city staff will be minimal," the council letter said.

The council also will consider:

A resolution to improve a number of city streets as part of a three-inch asphalt overlay program. A public hearing on the program has been rescheduled from Tuesday to May 6.

Appointments to the Airport Advisory Board, Historical Preservation Commission, and Bicentennial Commission.

The Bicentennial Commission was authorized at the council's April 1 meeting. Twelve residents have applied for seats on the nine-member commission.

Conditional approval of a retail liquor-by-the-drink license for Mark LaMont and Rodney Pobst for Players Sports Bar, 632 Broadway.

Endorsement of a Boy Scouts of America application to the state's Neighborhood Assistance Program.

Planning and Zoning Commission recommendations that request special-use permits to operate a computer-software design business at 2879 Hopper Road and a funeral parlor at 2441 and 2437 Jean Ann be denied.

Amendments to the City Charter recommended by the Cape Girardeau County League of Women Voters.