Ethics probe finds no violations by Cape officials

Two separate investigations, one by the state and one by the city of Cape Girardeau, have found no evidence of ethics violations stemming from the city's approval of a convenience store development near the new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.

Planning and zoning commission member Robert Blank didn't use his position for financial gain regarding the convenience store development at Sprigg Street and Highway 74, the Missouri Ethics Commission ruled.

Blank is part owner of the property where the convenience store is being built; his son, Scott, operates the Bi-State Southern convenience store business.

City attorney Eric Cunningham disclosed the ruling Thursday at a special noon meeting in city hall where the city council unanimously accepted the recommendations of two reports from the city's ethics commission.

It marked the first time the city commission had received and investigated a complaint since it was formed in June 1997.

The council also accepted the low bid of Artisan Contracting of Cape Girardeau to construct a pedestrian bridge over Highway 74 at a cost of more than $278,000.

The city commission found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Mayor Jay Knudtson and council members Evelyn Boardman, Jay Purcell, Hugh White and Matt Hopkins who voted in October to rezone property from residential to commercial and grant a special use permit for construction of a Bi-State Southern convenience store and gas station.

'A non-issue'"As far as we are concerned, it is a non-issue," Knudtson said after the brief council meeting.

In one ruling, the city's ethics commission said the complaint by Sprigg Street residents Mary Skelton, James Coley and Patsy Langston "does not allege any misconduct" on the part of the mayor or council members.

The three residents claimed the council should have denied the project because of the conflict of interest issue regarding the planning and zoning vote.

Awaiting word

In its second report, the city commission said it would wait on the ruling from the state ethics commission before making any final recommendation to the city council regarding the conflict of interest allegation against Blank.

Cunningham said now that the state commission has ruled on that issue, the city board will meet and send a final report to the city council.

The three Sprigg Street residents opposed the convenience store development.

Coley is a partner in the Rose Bed Inn, a bed-and-breakfast establishment across the street from where the convenience store is now being built.

Coley said Thursday that he was "disappointed" by the state commission's ruling as well as the ruling by the city ethics commission clearing the city council of any wrongdoing.

At its Sept. 10 meeting, the planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the project. Blank abstained and didn't participate in the discussion. But the draft minutes of the meeting didn't detail why Blank abstained as required by city ordinance.

Final minutes from the meeting indicate Blank abstained from discussion and voting.

He expressed relief Thursday at the ruling of the state ethics commission.

He said he made it clear to planning and zoning commission members prior to the September meeting of his involvement in the convenience store project.

"I think it was more a harassment thing than anything," Blank said of the complaint.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123