RESIDENTS DIFFER ON ANNEXATION

Despite having lived within a stone's throw of Cape Girardeau for 20 years, Joe Hann has felt like something of an outsider.

"Something as simple as having to pay for a library card or as serious as wondering how long it would take to get service for an emergency reminds you that you're not part of the city," Hann, who lives in the Cape Rock Subdivision, said.

"I can understand why I don't qualify for those services, because I don't pay taxes," Hann said. "But indirectly, I really do pay into the city because 100 percent of my check goes toward things I pay for that are in Cape Girardeau."

If the city would venture into an involuntary annexation of the Cape Rock Village and Tanglewood Estates subdivisions, Hann would have a different outlook.

Cape Rock Village and Tanglewood Estates are one of eight areas the city's planning and zoning commission is looking at to annex within the next five years.

"I think we've got a pretty good volunteer fire department, but something like having a fire truck come out for an emergency medical situation would be a good thing to have," Hann said.

Hann was referring to the city's first response program.

"You never know how important something like that is until you really need it," he said.

Hann favors annexation because of those services.

"Something like having the speed limit enforced is a big thing to me because I've got three kids," Hann said. "I've called the sheriff's department and they don't seem to want to enforce the 25 mph speed limit. Cars go so fast through our street of Singing Hills that I've even jumped in my car and tried to catch the person and try to persuade them to go slower next time."

Hann said his most serious problem living outside the city occurred about 10 years ago when there were so many potholes.

"We finally got together and decided we needed to pave the street, which was about a half-mile stretch," Hann said. The problem was solved when Tanglewood Estates residents shared the cost, about $22,000.

"The best way to get to Tanglewood is through our street, Singing Hills," Hann said. It was logical for them to help.

Kermit Meystedt was one of several who took an interest and helped the residents of Cape Rock Village finish the project.

The ordeal left many Cape Rock Village residents feeling they needed to incorporate the area to deal with future concerns in a more orderly fashion.

"The city really didn't want that," Hann said, because it would be like going through another town to get to another part of Cape Girardeau if it wanted to expand.

"I think that's why the issue of annexation has come up in the last couple of years," Hann said.

There are those in the Tanglewood Estates Subdivision who don't think annexation would be in their best interest.

Keith Kannenberg said annexation would change "absolutely nothing" from what he has.

"We already have city water, sewer, gas and an ambulance service," he said. "We pay for the sewage lagoon, so there's nothing we don't have out here."

Kannenberg, who has lived in Tanglewood Estates for four years, said all annexation would do would be to give him another bill to pay.

Kandi Sailer, who lives off of Highway W, a mile from an area being considered for annexation, said she doesn't want anything to change.

"I guess eventually we'll be forced into annexation, but we're already happy with what we have," she said. "The only time I could see a benefit from annexation is if we build a new home and just getting started. We've already paid for the well and septic tank."

Frank Stinnett, who also lives on Tanglewood Drive, said he still has a bad taste from an experience with the city while living on Country Club Drive.

"The city asked us if we wanted the street paved and we voted it down," Stinnett said. "Then they went ahead and paved the road and left me with a bill that cost $1,850. I don't think annexation would help me at all. Actually, it seems like the city will do what it wants anyway, regardless of what somebody like me thinks."