JACKSON, CAPE FEE OFFICES WON'T CLOSE

The Cape Girardeau and Jackson license offices are in no danger of closing, despite a warning from a St. Louis fee agent.

Ed Ruesing, president of Downtown St. Louis Inc., is leading a statewide effort raise fees charged by license offices to offset inflation. Ruesing said the fee office in downtown St. Louis has lost more than $150,000 since 1991.

Kay Dinolfo of the Missouri Department of Revenue said a bureau's success depends on the volume of transactions.

"I suppose it is possible that a fee agency could not be profitable," Dinolfo said, "but the contract (to provide services for the department) spells out conditions the agencies should understand."

Norma Wildman, manager of the Cape Girardeau and Jackson license offices, said she didn't know of any problem.

"There certainly is no risk of closing," she said. "This is coming out of the blue. We are not at any risk."

The two offices are operated by the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, a non-profit organization that funds college scholarships.

The foundation has operated the offices since Gov. Mel Carnahan in October 1993 chose it to operate the license offices. The Cape Girardeau and Jackson chambers of commerce previously operated the two offices.

Two bills in the Missouri General Assembly would increase the fees authorized for license services by $1.50.

The non-profit license offices in Missouri are operated by 17 chambers of commerce, four foundations, four American Legion posts, two Rotary clubs, two auto clubs and a Jaycees chapter.