Floodwall partnership agreement signing ceremony set for Friday

The signing ceremony for the floodwall renovation partnership agreement between Cape Girardeau and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday.

The ceremony will be at the floodwall's Themis Street gate, weather permitting, said assistant city manager Ken Eftink.

The ceremony, originally planned for Dec. 16, was scrapped because of weather. On Friday, if winter storms continue to threaten, the ceremony will be moved to Port Cape Girardeau restaurant at Water and Themis streets.

The event marks the formal recognition of the $9 million floodwall renovation project, Eftink said, and is an opportunity to recognize the many elements of this long-term project, including U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, who helped secure federal funding.

"It is a public partnership agreement," Eftink said.

Among the contracts already in place are awards to Keith C. Contracting LLC of Columbia, Mo., for a $3,499,990.13 project to place large rock along the existing retaining wall, on the river side. Eftink said that work would be done by midyear.

Future phases of the work to restore the floodwall protection system include structural repairs and improvements at the Merriwether Street and Mill Street pump stations.

Two Merriwether pumps are being repaired under a separate federal program after being damaged by September flooding.

The city officially assumed control of the floodwall in September; for 50 years, it had been maintained and operated by the Main Street Levee District and the North Main Street Levee District.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

388-3646