GO-CARTS SPUTTER FOR LACK OF VOTE

After hearing testimony from several concerned citizens and church leaders against the development of a go-cart track, the Cape Girardeau City Council allowed the matter to die for lack of a motion Monday.

Earlier in the day, several members of the city council attended a decibel test conducted by Southeast Missouri State physics professor Richard Cannon at the proposed site, the corner of North Kingshighway and Lexington.

Cannon later testified at the city council meeting that the two go-carts tested Monday raised the noise approximately 10 decibels higher than that generated by traffic on North Kingshighway.

"I'm a little uncomfortable with this test because it was a windy day and the rain had an effect on the reading," said Cannon, who also conducted a test on Friday during a sunny afternoon with virtually no wind.

"Last Friday I got a decibel reading from traffic running along Kingshighway of 50 at 5 p.m. without any go-carts running," said Cannon. When he tested the noise level from more than 170 feet away Monday, Canon recorded consistent readings of 68 decibels.

Canon did indicate that the noise level from where the carts stood and where he later moved at 100 feet away showed a "significant drop" in decibels.

But Canon also stated that after 100 feet the noise level did not drop off "more than one or two decibels for the next 1,000 feet."

Officials for the company attempting to develop the 2.6-acre tract with a go-cart track, Kart Inc., said a Batesville, Ark. professor tested the carts there and found that from 1,000 feet away, the noise from the track didn't exceed a "conversation between two people.

Batesville, Ark., is the site of a go-cart track that Kart officials already operate.

"The test done in Batesville took place on a sunny day with no significant wind and there was just no noise from 1,000 feet," said Jim Reed, the proposed manager for Kart Inc. "A worst-case scenario gave us a reading of 58 decibels from 1,000 feet away."

Kart Inc. officials also said they would comply with the city's condition of incorporating earth berms, plants and vegetative screens to cut down on the noise level and serve as a buffer between the track and residential area.

"As far as this being an eyesore, we are very much a company interested in families," said Reed. "This is a family-oriented business that is interested in developing landscape as beautiful and as consistent as the kind we see in the city of Cape Girardeau."

But Jerry Nicholson, who lives at 3010 Melrose, indicated the noise test conducted on Monday afternoon did not take into affect the "amphitheater effect" of noise that travels to areas above the level of the go-cart track.

"The decibel level carried by the amphitheater effect is significant enough to make the noise of the go-carts travel to my home," said Nicholson. "I asked my wife if she heard the go-carts from our home and she gave me the exact time that they were tested."

Several residents also contended a go-cart track would hurt the aesthetics of the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed site.

"I'm not against a go-cart, but I just don't think it would fit into the neighborhood," said Pat O'Loughlin of the O'Loughlin O'Loughlin & McManaman law firm at 1736 N. Kingshighway.

O'Loughlin questioned whether Kart Inc. planned to add video games and an arcade to its proposed facility.

But Kart Inc. officials assured O'Loughlin and the city council that the go-cart track was the only development planned.

David Gerlach, the developer for Randol Farms subdivision, said the proposed go-cart track would cheapen the property value of the neighborhoods nearby.

"These are homes valued at from $125,000 to $250,000 to $400,000," said Gerlach. "I've heard from all of the people we have helped build homes for, and others, and they have told me this would go against the move toward progress in this area."

The council last month tabled final passage of the issue after hearing opposition from area residents.

But when the matter came up at Monday's meeting, council members were silent as the matter failed without a motion. Councilman Al Spradling III, who voiced support for the go-cart track during Monday's study session, was out of the council chambers when the issue arose.

In other business Monday, a review of a liquor license for Lisa Jean Johnson, Highwater Video Games at 903 Broadway, also failed without a motion.

Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd Jr. said a routine check revealed that the business was operating with the wrong video game license.

"The business was operating with a license for three or less video games and there are four in there," said Boyd. "The license the current owner, Jonathan Johnson, has is only $25 but the one he should have obtained is $300."

Boyd also said he believed the liquor license was really being sought on behalf of Jonathan Johnson.

"I believe this application in the name of Lisa Johnson is a subterfuge to allow Jonathan Johnson the ability to obtain a retail liquor by the drink license," the police chief said. "Jonathan Johnson does not meet the criteria necessary to be approved for a liquor license."