GROUP SETS HEARINGS ON SALES TAX NEEDS

Getting citizens to attend public meetings isn't easy.

But Vision 2000 hopes to do just that in an effort to fashion a transportation sales tax that will win voter approval.

The citizens group plans to hold a dozen public hearings between April 18 and May 13, followed by a concluding town-hall meeting at West Park Mall May 22.

At a press conference Monday in front of the "Welcome to Cape Girardeau" sign near the Holiday Inn, City Councilman Melvin Gateley and Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Harry Rediger urged citizens to attend the meetings.

Paula Grimme doesn't know if she will attend any of the meetings, but she did attend the press conference to voice her views. Grimme said the city needs a bus system to provide low-cost transportation.

Grimme lives in Pioneer Mobile Home Park. Currently unemployed, she is looking for work. She said finding a job is more difficult because she doesn't own a car. She borrows her mother's car or takes a taxi to get around town.

Taxi rides aren't cheap, Grimme said. A one-way trip to the airport costs $10, while a one-way trip from her home to the Holiday Inn area costs about $3, she said.

Grimme has lived in the city for the past 30 years. She grew up in Poplar Bluff where she often took a bus downtown for about 10 cents a ride.

She remembered that Cape Girardeau previously had a bus system.

A bus system operated in Cape Girardeau from 1941 to 1969. Prior to that, the city had streetcars from 1905 to 1934.

Gateley, the architect of the meetings, declared at the press conference that Vision 2000 is "back on the road again."

A banner hanging from the welcome sign displayed one of Vision 2000's goals. "Cape Girardeau will be a community with smooth traffic flow, adequate parking and well-maintained streets," the banner read.

Rediger said the city won't be successful in addressing its transportation needs without public support. "We would like them to voice their opinions," he said.

Rediger said the goal is to develop a list of transportation projects and determine the size of a sales tax that would be needed to fund them.

One possibility would be a five-year, quarter-cent sales tax that would generate $8 million to $10 million for city transportation projects. The projects would be done in order of priority, he said.

In addition to input from the public meetings, Rediger said that both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the local Chamber of Commerce Surface Transportation Committee would be offering their advice.

Ultimately, the City Council would decide whether to put a tax issue on the ballot.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

P&Z Chairman Harry Rediger announces public meetings.

Topic: Transportation needs

Tuesday, April 18

Noon, First Baptist Church

Thursday, April 20

7 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian

Saturday, April 22

9 a.m., May Greene School Gym

Tuesday, April 25

Noon, First Baptist Church

Thursday, April 27

7 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian

Saturday, April 29

9 a.m., Red Star Baptist

Topic: Sources of funding

Tuesday, May 2

Noon, First Baptist Church

Thursday, May 4

7 p.m. Westminster Presbyterian

Saturday, May 6

9 a.m., May Greene School Gym

Tuesday, May 9

Noon, First Baptist Church

Thursday, May 11

7 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian

Saturday, May 13

9 a.m., Red Star Baptist Church

Town Hall meeting

Monday, May 22, 7:30 p.m.

West Park Mall