GATELEY SEES NEED FOR ROADWORK SALES TAX

Cape Girardeau Councilman Melvin Gateley said Saturday he thinks the city needs a transportation sales tax, but he didn't know how much of a tax or how long the tax would last.

The city council had rejected putting a sales tax plan to a vote earlier this year that would have financed some of the city's transportation needs.

Gateley was one of those who opposed putting the tax proposal to a citywide vote.

Gateley said he would wait until after next month's meetings to decide whether to place a tax measure on the August ballot.

"The decision to place a transportation sales tax on the ballot will be based on what the public wants," Gateley said. "These meetings are a way for the people to help make that decision."

Gateley made his comments at Saturday's Vision 2000 forum at May Greene Elementary School.

Gateley is coordinator of the Vision 2000 forums, which is conducting six public meetings this month and six more next month on the city's transportation needs.

Next month's meetings will discuss funding sources for transportation needs.

Ten people attended Saturday's meeting.

A meeting Tuesday drew about 35 people and a meeting Thursday drew 20.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said the discussions allow different people to express their various priorities.

He thinks the city will have to have a comprehensive plan for street projects if a transportation sales tax is presented to the voters.

A proposal for a sales tax could be 1/4 to 1/2 cent, Fischer said, which would cost 25 to 50 cents on a $100 purchase. The sales tax could have a sunset clause or it could run forever.

"Some of the major projects are coming to the top at these meetings," Fischer said.

Better traffic flow on Broadway and Independence, possibly by widening those streets, has been a consistent priority at the meetings and needs to be addressed immediately, he said.

Ellsworth D. Ware III, an attorney and member of the local executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, supported Louis Haynes' comments on the need for public transportation in Cape Girardeau.

Ware said the Manpower director knew people who would like to work, but they didn't have transportation. He said he understood the expense of operating public transportation, but he feels it's necessary.

Haynes, who had appeared at an earlier meeting last week, suggested bus or van routes through the city to carry people to major points like West Park Mall or Doctors' Park.

Walt Wildman, a lobbyist and executive director of the I-66 Project, suggested the city look at the major entrances to the city, as they are important to continued economic growth.

He cited the route from Jackson as becoming crowded and that the only direct connection to Scott City is by interstate.

The Vision 2000 meetings will continue Tuesday at noon at the First Baptist Church. Thursday's meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Saturday's meeting will be at 9 a.m. at the Red Star Baptist Church.

The meetings to discuss sources of funds will be May 2 through May 13. The final meeting to summarize findings is scheduled for May 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the West Park Mall.