EAST CAPE PUTS IN NEW NATURAL GAS LINE SYSTEM

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- East Cape Girardeau residents will have access to natural gas this winter.

Construction of the community's natural gas system is under way and should be completed for winter, said Karl Klein, manager of Cairo Public Utility Co., which is installing the system.

"We hope to eventually expand the system to McClure and rural areas adjacent to the two communities," said Klein.

During the first phase of the project more than 22,000 feet of 4-inch-wide steel piping will be put in place. It will be hooked into the Texas Eastern pipeline.

"We'll install a regulation station for distribution," said Klein.

The natural gas system will be owned by the city but managed by Cairo Public Utility.

No tax money will be used on the project, said East Cape Girardeau Mayor Joe Aden. The cost will be paid from revenue the system produces.

"When the system is complete -- to McClure and surrounding areas -- we should have about 300 to 400 customers," said Aden.

Contractors are moving quickly on the project, said Klein. "We're looking at operating before this winter's heating season," he said.

The project will be a topic of discussion during a public meeting Aug. 10 at the Clyde Pearce Community Building in East Cape Girardeau. Representatives of Cairo Public Utility and East Cape Girardeau officials will be on hand at the 7 p.m. meeting to answer questions and provide information.

"A complete update on the new gas system will be presented," said Carolyn R. Thomas, East Cape Girardeau clerk.

"We're looking forward to the new municipal service," said Aden. "This will give the community a wide variety of municipal services."

A new sewage-collection and treatment system was added recently, and the East Cape Girardeau-McClure Water District recently hooked into Southwater Inc., a new water system created by Southern Illinois Electric Cooperative. The water service provides safe drinking water to more than 1,600 families in Alexander, Pulaski and Union counties.

"Crews are working this week on running the line beneath Route 146, preparing to extend the lines to individual houses on both sides of the highway, said Aden.

Lines will be run to houses free of charge. The only cost for hookup will be piping into the house.