OFFICIALS ALONE AT TRANSPORTATION MEETING

The general public was a no-show at Saturday's transportation meeting, leaving Cape Girardeau city officials to talk among themselves about how to fund street projects.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer, Assistant City Manager Doug Leslie and City Councilman Melvin Gateley showed up at the May Greene School Gymnasium Saturday morning.

What they found was an empty gym. The only other person at the school was a custodian, but he went about his business and didn't attend the meeting.

Gateley said this marked the first time the public was a no-show since the Vision 2000 community improvement group began holding meetings three weeks ago to look at the city's transportation needs and how to fund them.

Saturday's session was designed to look at possible funding sources, such as a sales tax.

Gateley said he wasn't alarmed that citizens didn't attend the session.

A meeting Thursday night at the Westminster Presbyterian Church had two citizens in attendance.

"We are available if there is an interest in it," he said.

Nine meetings have been held at various sites since April 18, with three more scheduled for this week.

Meetings will be held at noon Tuesday at the First Baptist Activity Center, at 7 p.m. Thursday at Westminster Presbyterian Church and at 9 a.m. Saturday at Red Star Baptist Church.

The whole process will wrap up with a public meeting May 22.

Gateley said the Vision 2000 group hopes to make its final recommendations to the City Council by June 5.