FUNDS FOR INDUSTRIAL GROUP PUT ON HOLD

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday tabled a plan to spend $50,000 for the city's share of costs for the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association until the group decides where to house its office.

The city of Cape Girardeau is one of five entities represented by the association, which has yet to determine where it will have its headquarters.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, city of Jackson, Cape Girardeau County and the city of Scott City are the other entities represented in the group.

The Chamber of Commerce has said it won't pay its share of association costs unless the group operates out of the chamber office in Cape Girardeau.

At the study session prior to Monday's council meeting, council members debated whether to earmark the funds until the issue is resolved.

Councilman David Limbaugh said that Cape Girardeau's funding share is contingent upon all the other entities also contributing to the association. If the chamber chose not to participate in the group, he wondered whether the city also would withdraw.

"I think we need to have that settled before we appropriate that money," said Councilman Al Spradling III. "Our appropriation is contingent on all entities contributing.

"I don't want to have it out there for use until this issue is resolved."

But Councilman Melvin Gateley, who, along with Mayor Gene Rhodes serves as the city's representative on the association board, said he didn't want the location of the association offices to be a stumbling block to industrial recruitment efforts.

Gateley said the only entity advocating a particular site over others was the Cape chamber.

"My thought is, basically, it's been some time since we've had to get industrial development going in this area," Gateley said. "If we really want industrial development, we shouldn't wreck the whole thing when everything else is going super."

But Limbaugh and Spradling both said they favored a chamber office for the association. He said the Cape chamber has a "track record of being regionalized in their approach to economic development."

Limbaugh was the only council member to vote against the city's participation in the association when it was brought up unannounced at a council meeting.

"My concern still goes back to us appropriating $50,000 one night for something that wasn't even on the agenda," he said. "Cape has demonstrated its willingness to be a rain maker for the area, and I'm not sure some of the other entities have done that."

In other business at Monday's meeting, the council voted to appoint a "Charter Study Committee" at its first meeting in March to consider and recommend possible changes to the city charter.

Interested citizens will have until March 1 to apply for the committee, which will have no more than 15 members.

The council also voted to appoint a committee of Councilmen Melvin Kasten, Gateley and Spradling to review procedural guidelines for city council meetings. The committee will report any recommendations to the council.

Gateley last month requested the matter be placed on the agenda.

In other action Monday, the council approved:

20First reading of an ordinance to designate the Christian and Gladys Stiver House, 406 Louisiana, as an historic landmark.

First reading of an ordinance to authorize an agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for a grant to fund a public transportation project in cooperation with Southeast Missouri State University.

The reappointment of C.A. Juden to the Cape Special Road District.

A motion to accept into the city's water system the water main extension along Bloomfield Road and the extension to serve Stonebridge subdivision.

A resolution to enter into a contract with Nip Kelley Equipment Company Inc. for the Lexington Avenue project, phase four.

20A temporary 5 percent beer by the drink license to the American Cancer Society for the Cancer Ball, to be held at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in February.