Scott City welcoming water treatment system, interchange plan

The late British actor/writer Joyce Grenfell noted that progress "does seem to come so very heavily disguised as Chaos." Scott City residents have paid the price of progress by putting up with a little chaos on the way.

In the last year Scott City residents have focused their attention on two projects: The expansion of the city's water treatment system and an ongoing debate on access to Interstate 55.

One project, the water treatment facility, is nearly complete with final preparations for start-up taking place over the next few weeks, said city administrator Ron Eskew.

"We're looking to get it up and started within two to three weeks," he said, noting that the facility was recently toured by city officials.

Scott City's pursuit of a reliable water treatment system, approved by voters in a 2000 bond issue, has been dogged by delays and a $750,000 cost miscalculation. The two shallow wells that will double the city's treatment capacity were dug last August, and ground was broken on the plant located at 1716 Rear East Outer Road, in January 2003.

The city has had a history of water problems due primarily to the five deep wells that currently provide its water. Boil-water orders have become common during the summer months because of the murkiness of the water brought up by the strained system.

In 2000, the city's engineer, Waters Engineering of Sikeston, Mo., urged the construction of a new water treatment plant at the city's industrial park in the northern part of town just east of Interstate 55.

The plan called for digging only two shallow wells of 100 to 150 feet to tap into a water-rich aquifer Cape Girardeau also taps. In addition, the firm recommended rehabilitating two of the city's three water tanks.

The water tank repairs, consisting of sandblasting and repainting inside and out, have been completed. The tanks are at City Park and at the Southeast Missouri Port Authority.

Waters Engineering estimated the total cost at $2.2 million, and voters approved a bond issue for that amount. The bond issue passed on the promise that water rates would not be raised. Residents expected to be drinking water from the system by this summer.

Then the plan sprang some leaks. The required approval from the state Department of Natural Resources, a process that usually requires 90 days, took a year.

When bids on the treatment plant project finally were received last October, there were only four. The low bids totaled $750,000 more than the engineer's estimate.

Rich Cochran, a senior engineer for Waters Engineering, said one reason the misjudgment occurred was that many more construction companies were expected to bid. By the time the delayed project was put out to bid, many companies were already busy, he said.

The city negotiated with Penzel Construction, low bidder on the treatment plant, and the two low bidders on the water tanks to reduce the construction costs, but its bond is still $650,000 short.

The city will borrow the rest of the money through a 20-year lend-lease loan and revenue from water use will repay the loan. Eskew said some savings also will be realized through reduced costs in electricity when the old wells are phased out, in addition to other cost-efficiency measures.

The city council promised in March not to raise water rates as a way to cover the shortfall and they're keeping to their word.

"We still foresee no future water rate increase," Eskew said.

Looking ahead, city officials wanted the new facility to be able to handle projected growth, especially at the city's industrial park where more than 30 businesses are located.

"This water plant will produce twice what we now need," Eskew said. "We built it so we can expand, industrially and residentially."

James Street plan

Expansion is another topic on the minds of Scott City's residents, especially those living near the interstate.

Scott City residents agree that traffic congestion at the Interstate 55 on-ramp is a problem, but they have differing opinions on how to remedy the situation.

Mayor Tim Porch favors a plan to extend James Street to the I-55 northbound lane on-ramp. James Street runs parallel to Main Street, which on weekday mornings backs up with traffic getting onto I-55 or traveling past the interchange to Scott City schools. The extension would give motorists an alternative route to the interstate.

Traffic backs up for nearly 10 blocks during morning rush hours. Porch worries that such traffic tie-ups could delay fire trucks and emergency personnel from reaching the city's industrial park from I-55, creating a safety problem.

"We've got a real problem, and it's not just about convenience, it's a safety matter," Porch said.

City officials held a public hearing on the matter earlier this month and received mixed reviews from residents in the audience. Also present were Missouri Department of Transportation representatives. Local business owners have reported the congestion has adversely affected their business.

But some residents attending the hearing disapproved of the extension idea.

They told the city council members it will only increase traffic congestion and lead to more cars speeding through their neighborhood, creating a safety hazard.

Steve Glueck told the council he has already difficulty backing out of his driveway onto James Street.

"It is a racetrack now," Glueck said after the meeting.

Discussion during January gave way to action in February. At a council meeting on Feb. 2, the city council voted to endorse the plan.

"We will write a letter of support for the James Street access based upon the positive comments received at the public hearing," Eskew said. Those comments resulted from questionnaires distributed to approximately 30 people in attendance at the public hearing. He said the results show about 10-to-1 in favor of the project. "The results are overwhelmingly in favor of it," he said.

No residents were present at the Feb. 2 meeting.

What happens next is up to MoDOT, Eskew said.

Scott Meyer, MoDOT district engineer, said after the January meeting that the highway department would pay the $150,000 cost of the improvements if the city council and the Federal Highway Administration approve the project.

Even then, construction of the project might not occur until next year, said Barry Horst, MoDOT project development engineer.

The ultimate decision rests with federal highway officials because the project involves changes to a federal highway on-ramp.

"The city will be out no expense," Eskew noted.

jpillers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 134