MANAGER OF WATER SYSTEM WILL RESIGN

The man who has managed Cape Girardeau's water system since the city took over the service in 1992 will step down early next month.

During his tenure, Tom Taggart guided the water system through the ownership transition, two major Mississippi River floods and a major fire at the primary water treatment plant. All without residents ever losing service.

However, city leaders credit him most with the instrumental role he played in developing a plan -- approved by voters in 1996 -- to improve and expand water service in the city.

"I think he will be sorely missed," said Mayor Al Spradling III. "Tom is a very knowledgeable person, and he really helped the city water system get up and running."

Taggart is a utility manager for Alliance Water Resources, the company that has run the day-to-day operations of the system since the city purchased it from what used to be Union Electric Co., now AmerenUE.

His last day on the job will be Jan. 8. Taggart will pursue other career options but has not finalized his future plans.

"We have come though a lot in the last seven years," Taggart said. "We are really proud of what we have accomplished with the city."

Although he isn't a city employee, City Manager Michael Miller said that considering the level of cooperation he provided, he might as well have been.

"We are really sorry to lose Tom," Miller said. "He worked so well in tune with our staff that it was almost like he was part of our staff."

While no replacement has been named, Alliance has advertised internally for the position and may look outside of the company.

In the event a successor isn't found by the time Taggart leaves, Garry Anger, vice president and director of operations for Alliance, will temporarily oversee the day-to-day functioning of the system.

Taggart said Alliance has a "deep bench" of talented and skilled people in Cape Girardeau who keep the system in the best possible condition. That, he said, will continue after his departure.

Voter approval in 1996 of a $26.5 million bond issue and a quarter-cent sales tax for water system expansion and improvements was an important step toward the city's future growth, Taggart said.

The improvement project, which is under way, includes construction of a new treatment plant and wells plus an expansion of the distribution system.

"A city can't continue to grow without the water supply growing at the same pace," Taggart said.

He said he is also proud of the fact that local rate increases over the past five years are half of the national average.