JONES CITES NEW COOPERATION IN 'STATE OF COUNTY'

Gerald Jones has a positive outlook about the future for Cape Girardeau County.

"The best is yet to come," said Jones, Cape Girardeau County's presiding commissioner, who was guest speaker at a large gathering at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee.

"Cape Girardeau County is the best place in Missouri to live, work and raise a family," said Jones.

In the audience at the Show Me Center Friday were the other two members of the County Commission: Max Stovall and Larry Bock.

"Positive things are happening in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, and the county," Jones said during his "State of the County" discussion.

"The cooperation and partnership effort of everyone is developing a better lifestyle for our citizens," said Jones.

He referred to the teamwork of Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III and Jackson Mayor Paul Sanders and great relationships with Southeast Missouri State University as some big reasons for the positive outlook.

"We are also in touch with industry and business," said Jones. "We are interested in the well-being and expansion of our present businesses and industries and will try to get more businesses to locate in Cape County."

The county has played a significant role in the industrial growth of several local companies that could account for as many at 2,000 new jobs, including construction, he said.

One of the biggest projects now is working on the county Justice Center, said Jones.

The county jail expansion, a $7.5 million project which will accommodate more than 200 inmates, is a two-year project. The current jail houses about 80 prisoners.

"We having to send prisoners elsewhere, and this cost is about $175,000 a year," Jones said. We need a new facility."

The new jail would not result in any tax increases, he said.

Instead, "We're looking at selling bonds, at an interest rate of about 4.6 percent," Jones said. "We can draw about 6 per cent interest, so we can actually make money while borrowing."

Jones listed a number of other projects that the county is involved with.

"These projects are possible because of the positive financial condition of the county," said Jones. "This is a result of the conservative spending habits of elected officeholders and good management by former county commissioners."

They include:

-- A new and larger Juvenile Justice Center in Cape Girardeau, a $3 million project. The existing center, constructed in 1973, has only 10 cells.

-- A new conservation center in North County Park, a $5 million project. The proposal is for a nature center, a joint venture between the Missouri Department of Conservation, Southeast Missouri State University and the County Commission.

-- A county archives and record center.

-- A county planning and zoning commission.

-- A nuisance abatement and animal-control center, a cooperative venture between the county and Jackson.

-- Central communications dispatching.

-- County emergency management operation.

-- Continued role in industrial growth.

-- County transportation committee.

Transportation and adequate highways are always a concern of the commission, said Jones. The commission is also looking into the Welfare to Work program, including the training, transportation, education, and job placement of the program's participants.