MAYOR OF SCOTT CITY REJECTS SECOND TERM

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City Mayor Shirley Young said Tuesday she will not seek re-election to a second term.

After 10 years in city government, Young said she's ready to retire.

"I'll continue to be very interested in city government, and I urge everyone to work with whomever the new mayor will be," Young said.

The filing period for mayor candidates opened Dec. 2 for the April election. A Scott City businessman, Larry Forhan, has been the only person to file for the post.

Young, 55, was first elected to the Scott City Council in 1982. She kept that position for eight years, except for a six-month period in 1986. In 1990 she was elected mayor.

She said she is satisfied with the progress the city has experienced during the past 10 years.

During that time, the city has annexed an industrial park a move Young calls the city's largest step toward economic development constructed a new municipal building, gained voter approval of an Enhanced 911 telephone system, and corrected the house-numbering system in town.

But the mayor also remembers the less significant acquisitions.

"I remember, when it was first suggested to the council that we needed computers, the idea was laughed at," she said.

"We now have computers in City Hall and the Police Department. In 1989 we bought a computer for the city clerk and now have the budget and payroll on computer."

Young called the annexation of the 543-acre Nash Road industrial park and the subsequent struggle to fund water and sewer lines to the area "a project against all odds."

"The project was so frustrating," she said. "My family and friends would say, `Why don't you just give it up?' But I was driven to get the job done."

Construction of the water and sewer lines was considered vital to the growth of businesses in the area. But finding the nearly $300,000 to pay for construction of the lines proved to be difficult and time consuming.

After being turned down by a Department of Economic Development grant, the city was finally approved for a $203,500 grant from the Department of Natural Resources. Businesses in the area contributed $120,000 toward the line construction.

The area was annexed in June 1989, and water service was turned on in September. The services will allow the businesses there to expand and create jobs, she said.

"Someday our sons and daughters may be able to have more opportunity for local employment," she said.

Young said she will miss representing the city at state and regional conferences. She has consistently attended economic development and Community Betterment conferences, in addition to representing the city on the Southeast Missouri Highway Alliance and the executive board of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association.

Young said the allocation of an ambulance in the city and a first-response unit is another valuable resource for the town. In 1989 the North Scott County Ambulance District put one of the ambulances at the Scott City Municipal Building.

But she credits other city employees and volunteers for helping the city grow.

"The city is lucky to have outstanding department heads and employees who are often overworked and underpaid," she said.

There are 23 volunteers on the city's Fire Department and eight on the Police Department.

The renumbering of houses in the town proved to be the most controversial of all projects attempted during Young's years as mayor.

In the works since 1984, the project was completed just recently. Hundreds of residents will change their house numbers as a result, something many were not eager to do. The renumbering plan drew about 70 people to a city council meeting several months ago, most of them in protest.

But Young insists it is needed to aid emergency crews and deliveries. Although she said she didn't anticipate the project becoming so controversial she's glad it was accomplished.

"Perhaps that's why no one else tried to accomplish that," she said.

Young said she regrets that the city has never hired a city administrator and insisted "a good one would pay for himself." And she said she hopes a retirement plan for city employees will be developed soon.

Young said after her term expires in April she plans to travel with her husband, Lloyd, who has also retired. She has two sons, one in Wyoming and one in St. Louis whom she said she plans to visit more often. She said she also will spend more time with her mother and sister.

But she admitted old habits may be hard to break. Each morning when she gets to City Hall, Young reads the newspaper, taking note of births and deaths in Scott City. She then sends congratulation or sympathy cards to the families.

"I think people really appreciate that," she said.