SCOTT CITY COUNCIL NOT JOINING AREA ASSOCIATION

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City Council Tuesday decided against paying dues to join the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association, but instead to put the money to better use on city projects.

The council agreed that it felt somewhat insulted, if not intimidated, by the fact that the Cape Girardeau City Council threatened to withhold its $50,000 investment in the recruitment association if it did not put its office in their city.

"They act like its their way or no way at all," said Ward 3 Councilman Ron Oller. "Everyone involved is expected to find the money for it, but then have no choice in where it will be located."

The mayor agreed.

"It's designed for industrial recruitment to this area for all of us," said Mayor Larry Forhan. "But I have to question how much of that draw will trickle down to Scott City."

Both Jackson and Scott City were asked to commit $5,000 per year for three years.

"I can think of a lot of improvements we can make to our city and our streets with $15,000 over the next three years," said Ward 1 Councilwoman Ladonna Phelps. "I agree that growth and development are extremely important, but I don't see that we can benefit that much from this agreement."

The council did not want to short change the Cape Girardeau City Council's efforts, but also made it clear that it wants no part of the organization.

"We want to do what's best for Scott City," Forhan said. "We can't afford to send that kind of money down the drain."

In other council business, all five members of the police personnel committee resigned Monday, leaving the city in a quandary over the hiring of a new, badly needed dispatcher.

"They just resigned," said Forhan. "One of the letters I got just said, `I resign.'"

The mayor appointed Gene Thompson, Ralph Hayes, Jim McClintock, Diane Stevens and Barb Lynch to replace the resigned members.

Forhan asked the council for emergency authority to hire one to two new dispatchers to fill vacancies on the Scott City police force.

The council decided to take up the matter in an executive session following a special meeting next week.

Scott City Public Works Department did not pick up garbage Tuesday due to poor driving conditions, but will have double pickup for the whole city on Thursday and Friday.