SCOTT CITY FACES MANY CHANGES, GROWTH IN '92

SCOTT CITY -- In 1992, residents of Scott City will elect a new mayor, possibly see progress on a second exit to Interstate 55 and be one year closer to the implementation of a 911 emergency telephone system.

And Mayor Shirley Young hopes the year will be one of growth in the city's industrial park.

"I see nothing but growth," the mayor said. "Now that water and sewer has been extended to the area, I think we are on the verge of some important things."

Young said 1991 was a good year for the city. The industrial park project was one of several that were completed during the year. Construction of the water lines was completed just months ago, but city officials had worked since 1990 to find a way to pay for the project.

"It's very rewarding and satisfying to know that it finally came to pass," the mayor said. "At times it looked bleak."

After a $290,000 grant from the Department of Economic Development was rejected, the city financed a large part of the $550,00 cost of the lines with a 12-year bond issue. The city also received a $203,500 grant from the Department of Natural Resources.

Also, city voters in November approved a telephone surcharge that will pay for the installation and maintenance of an Enhanced 911 emergency telephone system in the city. That project was another that had been in the works for several years.

"It's a big step forward," Young said.

But city voters twice rejected a half-cent increase in the city's sales tax rate to pay for city street repairs.

The tax increase was defeated in April and again in August, with only about 20 percent of registered voters casting ballots in both elections. The tax would have generated about $100,000 annually for five years.

Young said the poor condition of many streets in town will have to be addressed again soon.

But because voters already rejected a sales tax measure twice, the mayor said she doesn't plan to push the issue again before her term expires in April.

Young, elected mayor in 1990, didn't file for re-election. After 10 years in city government she is a former councilwomen Young, 55, announced plans to retire.

"I'll still be around to cheer on whoever is here next," she said.

Two candidates have filed for Young's seat, Rodney Holloway and Larry Forhan. Voters also will elect five to the city council in April.

Young said one of the most important projects in the city's future is construction of a second exit out of town. The Interstate 55 exit at the city's north end handles an enormous amount of traffic, the mayor said, and is the main access road for residents of not only Scott City, but neighboring towns as well.

"All of these people are converging on this intersection, and it's very congested," she said. "We need another exit out of town desperately."

Young said she is hopeful the city council will someday hire a city administrator, even if it's part-time.

"The city is a large business," she said. "And we have access to river, rail, interstate and air. These are very important things, and I think a good city administrator will pay for himself."

The most controversial of issues Scott City faced in 1991 was a project to renumber hundreds of homes in the town.

The city council last summer initiated the project, which drew criticism from many residents, mostly from the town's Country Club subdivision that was most affected by the changes.

At an August city council meeting, about 70 residents protested the renumbering plan.

After months of debate, a new house numbering plan was devised by a group of citizens. Residents now are changing their addresses to comply with the new system.

City officials contend a correct numbering system is vital to the success of the 911 system, which will begin to operate next year.