PUBLIC AWARENESS COORDINATOR SUGGESTS CITY MAKE JOB FULL TIME

The city of Cape Girardeau may expand the job of public awareness coordinator to full time.

City Manager Michael Miller said that option will be considered as the city looks to replace Sherri Finley.

Finley, who has served as Cape Girardeau's public awareness coordinator since the job was created last November, plans to step down in mid-January because of a job move by her husband. Finley's husband, John, works for State Farm. He is being transferred to the insurance company's regional office in Columbia.

The job of public awareness coordinator has been a 25-hour-a-week, part-time one.

But Sherri Finley believes there is enough to do to warrant a full-time job. Finley said there could be expanded duties for the coordinator since the new city manager plans to implement customer-relations training programs for city employees.

Finley has recommended the city replace her with a full-time coordinator.

Mayor Al Spradling III praised Finley's work. "She was just perfect for the position," he said. "I hate to see her go."

Spradling said this could be the time to expand the job to a full-time one, if it is justified.

The public awareness office is housed in the labyrinth of offices that house the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1707 Mount Auburn Road. The office has an annual budget of about $30,000.

As public awareness coordinator, Finley informs the public about city operations through information sheets distributed with the utility bills and through press releases.

She was active in the city's informational campaign on the transportation sales tax issue this summer.

She also puts together the employee newsletter and coordinates city promotional materials.

In October, the city started distributing packets of information to new residents, including a list of telephone numbers of city offices. So far, 75 have been distributed.

Finley also is involved in the city's efforts to manage the local cable television access channel.

She said her job isn't to serve as "the city spokesman." Reporters still have access to all city officials.

"It's still a behind-the-scenes job," said Finley.