Mayoral candidates discuss Cape issues

On April 8, Cape Girardeau voters will be tasked with selecting the city's next mayor.

One candidate is incumbent Harry Rediger, a retired businessman and past member of the Cape Girardeau School Board and the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The challenger is Walter White, also no stranger to running for the highest office in the city. This is White's fourth attempt at the mayor's office. In the past, he also ran for county commissioner and Cape Girardeau School Board.

Voters have a number of issues to consider before checking the box by either candidate's name, including the city's use of casino funds, the future of the police station, taxes and capital improvement projects such as the new wastewater treatment plant.

Casino projects

Harry Rediger

Rediger said the projects funded by casino money completed so far were "well-received by citizens" and improved quality of life.

Messages left for White since March 18 seeking comment from were unreturned as of Thursday afternoon.

Warning sirens, additional lighting in the downtown area and a dog park -- which Rediger said received "some controversy" but now are popular among residents -- are among the completed projects, and he said more are on the horizon.

"The largest project we're working on now with casino monies is adding infrastructure to our business park, which was an investment into the future," said Rediger. "So we're very excited about that and getting that completed so we can get on with announcing our first tenant at the business park."

The city also invests some of the money into capital improvements and an innovation fund, and saves a percentage to place in a legacy fund.

Police station

The need for a new police station was one of the most discussed city topics in 2013 and that trend has continued this year. The Cape Girardeau Police Department earlier this week completed its final open house, where the public was allowed to see its cramped working quarters and outdated facility firsthand.

Rediger said a new police station is a high priority for him, as well as city council and staff. He said he's convinced the station cannot be remodeled and must be replaced. But first, a revenue source must be found.

"So, with the police station, we know there's a desperate need, but we haven't determined a location, we haven't determined a funding source, so we have a lot of work to do there yet. But ... I would anticipate, and a goal would be, to be under contract to build in 2015. That's a very aggressive goal, but the need substantiates that goal."

Taxes

In the fall, Cape Girardeau voters will vote whether to renew a quarter-cent fire tax. The city also will seek a renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund tax in 2015.

The first TTF was approved in 1995 and voters have renewed the half-cent sales tax, which has a five-year sunset, each time it's returned to the ballot. Projects funded by TTF include asphalt overlays, street, curb and gutter repair and sidewalk repair and construction.

According to Rediger, the city has "completed or [has] under contract or in planning over $80 million worth of street improvements" because of continued renewal of TTF.

"It has been an excellent venue to accomplish both new streets and repair of streets and renovation of areas," he said. "I can't even comprehend where our city would be if we hadn't had 20 years of transportation trust funds."

He also stressed the renewal of the fire tax, which has helped provide funding for a new fire station and equipment for the police department.

During his 2010 bid for mayor, White told the Southeast Missourian his main concern was bringing more jobs to the city. He believed lower taxes was the key to job creation.

"First thing, lower the taxes around here," he said. "That will give people an incentive to come to Cape."

On April 8, a use-tax question will be brought before voters. If the 2.75 percent tax is approved, it can be levied by the city on out-of-state purchases of titled vehicles, including automobiles, boats and other recreational vehicles, along with purchases of other "tangible personal property" as defined by state law. Voters also will consider a use-tax question for Cape Girardeau County.

Rediger said the tax protects local businesses against the "unfair competition" from out-of-state and online purchases. Without the tax, consumers can make a short trip across the river to buy vehicles and other big-ticket items and avoid hundreds of dollars in taxes. Business hardships and declining city and county sales have led several municipalities across the state, including Perry County, to seek approval from voters for a use tax.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that local governments could not charge sales tax to residents on certain purchases made out of state. The state legislature and Gov. Jay Nixon later approved a law allowing governments to keep collecting local sales taxes on purchases, but required governments to hold elections about use-tax questions before November 2016.

Wastewater treatment plant

In 2011, Cape Girardeau voters approved the city's plan to build a new wastewater treatment plant, which was partially funded through an increase in water and sewer fees. It is scheduled to be complete this summer.

The $55 million plant is the largest capital improvement project in the city's history, and Rediger said valuable lessons have been learned from the experience.

"If we learned anything from this whole situation, it's that 50 years ago, when we built the former plant, we never did save money through a little extra user fee to plan for the next one. So, when we got to the point that we had to replace it, we had to find all the money," he said. "So if we learned anything, it's that we always should be planning for the next need as we move forward."

Rediger added the new plant will serve the city for the next 40 to 50 years, and it has the capacity to accommodate new industrial businesses.

When the city still considering next steps for the new plant in 2010, White expressed concern at its high price and said he was in favor of upgrading, rather than replacing, the existing plant. He said examining projects carefully and rejecting spending that burdens residents with higher costs was the best way to help Cape Girardeau residents.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.