KELLEY TO RUN CITY'S TAXI PROGRAM

Costs continue to creep higher to operate the city's public transit system, but prices for taxi coupons will remain steady in the coming year.

The Cape Girardeau City Council held a public hearing Monday night and adopted a resolution requesting $170,920 in funding assistance from the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department for its taxi-coupon program.

Richard "Butch" Eggimann acted as mayor pro tem during Mayor Al Spradling III's absence.

No one spoke during the hearing; a similar hearing last year lasted 55 minutes.

"It's the same song and same refrain," said Tom Neumeyer, city councilman. "At least nobody's complaining.

The taxi-coupon program allows the city to offer coupons for one-way trips at a reduced fare. Residents can buy up to 14 coupons a month for taxi service within the city limits. The coupons cost $1 for the elderly and $2 for others.

The program remains the same, with a slight rise in the amount requested, said City Manager Michael Miller. Funding requests last year were about $400 less at $170,545. In 1998, the state grant request was $118,375.

Bids for the service have remained constant in the last two years, city officials said. Kelley Transportation Co. was the lone bidder for the contract service at a cost of $80,000.

Kelley has been the only bidder for the taxi-coupon program since it started and thus is awarded the bid for service each year.

The cab company has been running in Cape Girardeau since 1959. It operates seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

In the past there have been complaints about delays in service and not getting to destinations in a timely manner. All complaints are forwarded to Kelley Transportation.

Miller said, "I think they have been making an effort to provide better service."

In applying for the highway department grant, the city must match the funded amount dollar for dollar. That funding request has already been placed in the upcoming budget, said John Richbourg, city finance director.

The city program provides about 35 percent to 45 percent of the taxi service business.

In other business:

* The council discussed the request of Jerry Lipps to rezone 2355 Locust St. from M-1, light-industrial district, to M-2, heavy-industrial district. A hearing was set for June 5.

The Planning and Zoning Commission last week denied the request based on concerns about street construction and possible dust that would accumulate from the operation of a ready-mix concrete plant.

Al Lowes, a lawyer representing Lipps, told the council Lipps would consider paving the street to city specifications so the site could be better suited for heavy truck traffic.

* The council accepted the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation to deny the request of Kevin Stanfield and Jeff Holzum to rezone 2021 Perryville Road and the northwest corner of Perryville Road and Lexington Avenue.

Cape Girardeau City Council

Monday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m.

City Hall, 401 Independence

Study session at 5 p.m.

Public hearing

* Held public hearing regarding the filing of an application for funding from the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department to assist in funding and operating the city's taxi coupon public transit program.

Consent ordinances

(Second and third readings)

* Approved ordinance amending Chapter 30 of Code of Ordinances by changing the zoning of 801 Good Hope St. from R-4 and C-1 to R-4.

* Approved ordinance granting a special-use permit to Phillips Development Corp. and Cherry Wood Heights One Limited Partnership for community unit plan for apartments at 801 Good Hope St.

* Approved ordinance amending Chapter 30 of Code of Ordinances by changing the zoning of the 400 block of Olive Street, south side, from R-2 to R-4.

* Approved ordinance amending Chapter 30 of Code of Ordinances by changing the zoning of northwest corner of Elm Street and Beaudean Lane from R-2 to R-4.

* Approved ordinance granting a special-use permit to Lonnie and Shirley Moss for purposes of constructing, maintaining and operating an automotive repair and retail sales business at 155 S. Park Ave.

* Approved ordinance granting a special-use permit to SEMO University Foundation and Cape Girardeau County for purposes of constructing, maintaining and operating a juvenile justice center on a tract south of Gerhardt Street in Foundation Park.

* Approved ordinance granting a special-use permit to Keith Deimund Trust and Lynwood Baptist Church for constructing, maintaining and operating a public information sign on the southwest corner of Cape La Croix Road and Lynwood Hills Drive.

* Approved ordinance granting a special-use permit to New Horizon Missionary Baptist Church for constructing, maintaining and operating a children's day care center at 800 S. Sprigg St.

* Approved ordinance granting a special-use permit to Robert A. Drury and Telecorp Realty, LLC for maintaining and operating a 195-foot cellular communication tower and equipment pad in 300 block of South Silver Springs Road.

* Approved ordinance granting a special-use permit to Michael and Bonnie C. Smith and Summit Enterprises, LLC, for purposes of constructing, maintaining and operating community unit plans for apartments in the 2700 block of Lynwood Hills Drive.

* Approved ordinance accepting a general warranty deed, permanent drainage easements and temporary construction easements from St. Francis Hospital of Franciscan Sisters and a temporary construction easement from Charles L. and Martha Jane Hirsch for the extension of Silver Springs Road north of William Street to its existing termination point south of Independence Street.

* Approved ordinance amending Chapter 15 of City Code by extending the half-cent transportation sales tax and re-establishing the City Transportation Trust Fund and calling an election on the question whether to approve the sales tax extension, designating the time of the election and directing city clerk to give notice of the election.

New ordinances

(First reading)

* Approved ordinance amending Schedule C of City Code by placing a stop sign on Mount Auburn Road at Bloomfield Road.

* Approved record plat of DKR 7th Subdivision.

Resolutions

(Reading and passage)

* Passed resolution authorizing city manager to file an application with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department for funds to aid in the financing of a public transportation system.

* Passed resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a subordination agreement for a second deed of trust for property owned by Charles A. and Costella E. Patterson at 907 N. Middle St. and 514 Olive St.

Other

* Appointed David Pfieffer and Paul Grebe to the Board of Appeals.

* Approved liquor license renewals.

* Approved motion accepting into the city's system the street, storm sewers and sanitary sewer improvements as shown on the plans approved for Forest Hills Estates Subdivision, and releasing the subdivision bond covering these improvements.

* Approved the improvement plans for the construction of a portion of Richmond Drive from Kell Farm Drive about 390 feet west to the entrance of the proposed Cape West Mobile Home Park.

* Accepted the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission to deny the request of Kevin Stanfield and Jeff Holzum to rezone 2021 Perryville Road and the northwest corner of Perryville Road and Lexington Avenue from R-1, single-family residential, to C-1, local commercial district and for a special-use permit for gasoline pumps at that site.

* Set a public hearing for June 5 to hear the request of Jerry Lipps to rezone 2355 Locust St., from M-1, light-industrial district, to M-2, heavy-industrial district. Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended denying the request.