FEE HIKES, BUDGET GET OK

Cape Girardeau residents and businesses will soon pay more for trash pickup and water service in order to help balance the city's new $33 million operating budget.

The council, without comment on Monday, gave final approval to both the budget and the related fee increases, which will take effect July 1 with the beginning of the new fiscal year.

The council also passed a motion to widen the new traffic roundabout at the intersection of Silver Springs and Gordonville roads. Many motorists have complained the roundabout is too narrow.

The monthly bill for the average city utility customer will go up 72 cents to $40.85.

Solid waste collection fees will increase 40 cents, or 2.96 percent, bringing the monthly charge to $13.90.

A 2 percent hike in water rates will raise average monthly water bills for residential customers by 22 cents to $16.54. Commercial users on average will pay $69.94 a month, or $1.37 more than at present.

City officials said the rate hikes, which will generate approximately $136,500 a year combined in new revenue, are needed to cover increased costs.

City operating expenses are slated to rise by approximately $168,000, or 0.51 percent more than the current budget. However, capital expenditures will drop 63.5 percent, or $15.7 million. The new budget calls for $9 million in capital outlays, compared to $24.7 million this year.

Taking into account the drop in capital spending, total city expenditures would decrease 27 percent, from $57.6 million to $42 million.

Roundabout changes

The changes to the roundabout at Silver Springs and Gordonville roads near St. Francis Medical Center will cost up to $10,000. The improvements include removal and replacement of existing curbs and expanding the width of the pavement by 2 feet, bringing the total width to 18 feet.

City engineer Mark Lester said widening the roundabout any more than 2 feet would create enough room for two lanes of traffic and cause problems.

Councilman Hugh White said he hoped 2 feet would be wide enough to squelch complaints about the narrowness of the intersection.

"If this 2 feet doesn't show sufficient improvement, we will be opening ourselves up to a level of criticism we haven't experienced thus far," White said.

Currently only three of the four roundabout access points are open to traffic, another source of motorist frustration. A small section of Silver Springs Road connecting to Mount Auburn Road is closed. Lester said it will remain closed until the roundabout modifications are completed.

Officers honored

The council also passed a resolution honoring police Sgt. Bradley Ellis Moore and Cpl. Keith Allen May for bravery.

Both officers were shot and wounded in the line of duty Feb. 10 while investigating a suspected methamphetamine lab at the Super 8 Motel on Kingshighway. The officers fired back, killing the shooter.

May has recovered from his injuries and returned to active duty. Moore is still recuperating. Both men were on hand to accept the honor.

RATE HIKES

The city council raised utility, solid waste and water rates at its meeting Monday night. Rates shown are for average city customers:

*UTILITY: 72-cent increase

*SOLID WASTE: 40-cent increase.

*WATER: 22-cent increase for residential; $1.37 commercial.