RESIDENTS FIGHT KLAUS PARK JUVENILE FACILITY PROPOSAL

JACKSON -- The debate continued Monday over whether to use county land in Klaus Park to attract a Missouri Division of Youth Services juvenile facility to Cape Girardeau County.

About 20 people who live in the Klaus Park area, primarily in Westlake Meadows and Crystal Lake subdivisions, met with the Cape Girardeau County Commission Monday morning to protest the commission's offer of free land.

In February, commissioners announced they would apply for a $3.8 million, 30-bed secure facility to be built here. They said it would bring 50 new jobs with a $1 million annual payroll to the area, with another $250,000 spent on expenses and supplies.

An application was filed with DYS last week. The county will be up against several others in the 28-county area that will be served by the new center. If Cape County makes the first cut, there will be a public hearing here, probably in April.

Three main concerns emerged during Monday's discussion: Residents fear for their property values, their families and their county parks.

"What is this going to do to the value of our homes? It will make them harder to sell," said Mary Way. "And who wants to go to the park with that sitting on it?"

Several other residents expressed similar sentiments. One, Juan Crites, said her home was robbed 15 years ago by an escaped juvenile delinquent.

Jim Davis, who oversees the Girardot Center, a DYS juvenile facility in Cape Girardeau, said Crites' concerns are legitimate. In his 22 years with the center, he has dealt with disgruntled neighbors on several occasions, he said, but most feel better when they see how well the facilities are run.

Davis brought two Girardot Center residents with him. One, a 16-year-old convicted of distributing drugs at school, spoke at the meeting about his conviction.

"The group home is a place for you to go and learn how to use your abilities to your advantage instead of in negative ways," he said. "We have our problems, but we're dealing with them. We're like a family in there. Other kids are out on the street."

Randy Rhodes, the Cape County juvenile officer, agreed with the teen. He said only seven Girardot Center residents were arrested since 1993. Six of those were walk-aways and one squirted a non-toxic substance on a motorcycle officer.

Then he pointed to 49 cases involving students at Cape Central High School since January 1995. Among them were cases of assault, sexual assault, drug possession and property damage.

Juveniles convicted of the most serious crimes, Rhodes said, are certified as adults and don't go through DYS.

The Klaus Park site isn't set in stone, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones assured the opponents. He said the commission is researching other possible sites.

"We had no intention of disturbing your property values or your well being," Jones said.