Harry Rediger: Being mayor, 'one of the best decisions of my life'

Harry Rediger never planned on being mayor of Cape Girardeau. But once he decided to run, he embraced the role.

After eight years � two terms � as head of the city, Rediger is leaving office next month as a result of term limits.

�It was one of the best decisions of my life,� he said of being mayor.

Rediger was active in city government before he ran for public office. He served on the city�s planning and zoning commission for 19 years.

When Jay Knudtson�s tenure as mayor was coming to an end eight years ago, civic leaders �were trying to find somebody to run for mayor,� Rediger recalled.

�They finally recruited me on the side. They asked me to run and I said, �No,�� he said.

Rediger, who had retired after managing the J.C. Penney store in Cape Girardeau, said efforts were made to recruit different people to run, but no one stepped forward.

�We got down to almost crunchtime to file,� he said. �I was leading a little session with an easel and names up there and it came back and pointed to me. I finally said one night, �OK, I will.��

�A good ride�

Rediger said he is glad he ran, and won in 2010. In 2014, voters re-elected him.

�I have really enjoyed it. We accomplished a lot. It has been a good ride,� he said.

It also proved a major comfort after his wife, Fran, died in 2015 while the couple was on a cruise.

�Being busy and being mayor helped me bridge that loss,� Rediger said.

During Rediger�s tenure as mayor, Cape Girardeau has witnessed some major facility improvements.

In his first year as mayor, the city sought to attract a riverfront casino to Cape Girardeau. The city chose Isle Casino.

In December 2010, the Missouri Gaming Commission awarded the state�s 13th gaming license to Isle Casino. Cape Girardeau�s bid for a casino beat out proposals from the Kansas City and St. Louis areas.

�I was optimistic we would get it, and we did,� he said.

The casino opened in October 2012.

A good gamble

Rediger said the casino has been a good corporate partner for the city. Under a development agreement, the casino annually provides $3 million to $3.5 million in revenue to the city. The money has been used to make payments on the purchase of land to build a new industrial park along Interstate 55, and to help fund the Old Town Cape revitalization organization and downtown Cape Girardeau improvements.

Mayor Harry Rediger poses for a portrait Thursday in downtown Cape Girardeau.KASSI JACKSON

Casino money also has been used to help make improvements to the baseball field at Capaha Park and install a permanent sculpture in the Fountain Street roundabout near the River Campus. Both were done in partnership with Southeast Missouri State University.

Rediger said the casino development replaced �70 blighted properties� along North Main Street. �It made that property usable again,� he said.

The new development also helped reduce crime in the area, Rediger said.

While Cape Girardeau experienced economic progress, large buildings at the intersection of Broadway and Fountain Street stood vacant. Rediger said he once worried this would hamper further efforts to revitalize the downtown area

But in recent years, major renovations � aided by tax increment financing � have occurred, bringing the buildings back to life.

�One thing I am proud of is what we accomplished with infrastructure over the years,� he said.

Last year, the city celebrated the opening of the SportsPlex indoor sports facility as well as a new fire station, which opened on Lexington Avenue, replacing a cramped, outdated station.

Rediger also has seen the development of the city�s Cape Splash Water Park and a new wastewater treatment plant.

A new police station opened earlier this month.

Major street construction also has occurred during Rediger�s watch.

Rediger said the city�s voters have made improvements possible, repeatedly approving sales tax measures.

In April, voters will be asked to extend the parks and stormwater sales tax to fund a lengthy list of projects.

�Our citizens have really supported us and bought into what it takes to grow our city,� he said.

Purpose built

In recent years, city officials led by Rediger have looked to revitalize south Cape Girardeau, an area that has been plagued by poverty and crime.

Rediger and other city and civic leaders have embraced the Purpose Built Community model that began in Atlanta. It focuses on everything from education and policing to housing and health, he said.

One of the goals is to increase homeownership in the neighborhood from the current 35 percent to around the 60 percent range, Rediger said.

While it is still in the planning stages and full implementation could take 15 years, Rediger said he is �pretty encouraged at this point.�

He sees a growing partnership between the city and southside residents.

�It is the community that is going to make that work,� he said.

As mayor, Rediger has championed public-private partnerships.

�You can get so much more done together than apart,� he said.

At council meetings, Rediger regularly read proclamations recognizing community groups and projects.

While each proclamation may seem trivial to some, Rediger said it is �real important� to those being recognized for their community efforts. He said it is important to read the proclamations.

�I can�t remember a proclamation that I turned down,� he said.

Proclamations also help city government reach out to the public.

�Again, it is a partnership with our citizens and groups,� Rediger said.

Art advocate

Rediger also has been a vocal advocate for public art, particularly sculptures along Broadway. He also championed the permanent sculpture installed in the Fountain Street roundabout. Rediger said he would like to see sculptures installed in other roundabouts, too.

�While I say I am not an artist, I know the value of art and the hard work that the arts council does,� he said.

Public art draws people to Cape Girardeau, particularly the downtown area, he said.

For the past few months, Rediger has been mentoring Ward 5 Councilman Bob Fox to take over as mayor. Fox is unopposed for mayor in the April election.

�There is something to be said of a consistent approach of growing the city and being progressive, and developing these partnerships,� he said.

At age 80, Rediger said he remains committed to community service.

�I have got good health. I love this community,� he said.

He added Cape Girardeau has been �really good to myself and my family.�

Rediger enjoys volunteering his time. Among other things, Rediger said he plans to volunteer as a step-on guide on bus tours for visiting riverboat passengers. Talking about Cape Girardeau �would be fun,� he said.

While he has yet to fill up his retirement calendar, Rediger said, �I am going to stay busy.�

mbliss@semissourian.com

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