PERRYVILLE CONSIDERS ANNEXATION FOR NEW BUSINESS

PERRYVILLE -- Perryville may have another ready-mix-concrete business if annexation plans are approved.

City Council members met at noon Monday for a public hearing on the matter. At the request of two Ste. Genevieve businessmen, the city may annex a quarter-mile south of the city limits along Highway 51.

Nobody appeared to speak against the plan, clearing the way for council approval.

City Administrator Craig Lindsley said the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission is involved because the city would annex state right of way along Highway 51. This would allow the businessmen, Terry Guethle and Gaylon Light, to run a water line under the road to a new ready-mix plant.

The two own Ste. Genevieve Ready-Mix and another plant in Murphysboro, Ill. Guethle said an expansion into Perry County is appealing.

"It seems like a good market down there," he said. "But we have to get a few more ducks in a row before we start building. Nothing is set in concrete right now."

Guethle said he may start building in the spring.

The Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages show about a half-dozen concrete businesses serving the Perryville area.

The public hearing was too late for the City Council to consider it at tonight's regular meeting. But councilmen will address another important issue -- an intergovernmental agreement with Perry County for construction and operation of a new community center.

City and county officials have been meeting to work out details of a lease-purchase agreement to finance the $9.5 million structure. They appointed a building commission that would own the facility and lease it back to the county, with the county being responsible for operating and maintaining the center.

Lindsley said the council is expected to approve the agreement tonight. The County Commission likely will approve it Thursday, allowing preliminary work to begin on the center.