ROAD PAVING FALLS SHORT; COUNTY GETS HALF OF WORK DONE THIS YEAR

Cape Girardeau County paved only about half of the gravel roads it had hoped to pave before this year's construction season ended.

The County Commission planned to pave about eight miles of county roads before cold weather set in, but only about four miles were completed.

"It was a learning experience for us," said Commissioner Larry Bock. "It's disappointing, but we had a long season of maintenance of our present blacktop roads, so we got started late in the year. We've got to get started right away early next year and be ready."

This was the first year the county paid for the paving of county gravel roads, said Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones. Previously, the county provided equipment and labor but property owners paid for the material for paving roads next to their property.

He cited under staffing and starting late as reasons for not paving all eight miles.

Jones said: "This is the first year we've ever done this. So, of course, we're going to slip and fall," Jones said. "But I think this program shows some foresight on taking care of the roads. And it's not costing the landowners one cent."

In July 1995, the commission set aside interest money from the county's $4 million emergency revenue fund to form a capital improvement funds specifically to pave roads. About 75 percent of the $250,000 in interest earmarked for road and bridge improvements was used this year. Previously, interest went back into general revenue, Jones said.

Landowners are donating some of their property to widen the roads before they are paved, Jones said. The amount needed depends on the area and the road, Jones said.

The commission established priorities on some of the 420 miles of unpaved roads by placing traffic counters on the roads to measure traffic volumes. Then a list of the heaviest traveled roads was made. Commissioners started at the top and worked their way down. Graveled portions of county roads 253, 533, 379 and 543 were paved.

In many cases landowners donated the county land along the roads to widen them, he said.

Don "Red" Hewey owns a home on County Road 533, and he donated over 15 feet for the new road. He said he is pleased that the road is now paved with blacktop.

"You couldn't hardly live for the dust," Hewey said. "The new road raises the value of our property. I can't believe in 1996 that a man wouldn't want a paved road."

There is at least one who doesn't: Joe Mathews, a farmer who lives next to Hewey. Matthews said the last thing he wanted was a paved road but he got one.

"We didn't want the additional traffic or the additional speed," Mathews said. "And we felt the road was wide enough."

Mathews told the commission he was against the paving but he said it was to no avail.

"It's a beautiful road out there," Jones said. "I don't know why he's fussing; it didn't cost them a nickel."

Jones said the majority of people on County Road 533 wanted the road and donated land.

"It's a heck of a good program," Jones said, "and I hope next year we get a little closer to our goal."