Spending in east, west sides an issue for some Cape voters

When the Cape Girardeau City Council discussed the city's Capital Improvements Program earlier this year, Councilman John Voss asked why it seemed there was little for his ward on the northeast side of the city.

In reply, city officials said the plan deals with citywide priorities and that a large section of Big Bend Road is scheduled to be rebuilt this year. The plan for Big Bend Road includes a new sidewalk along Bertling Street that is part of a biking and hiking path around Cape Girardeau.

A perception remains, however, that much of the city's focus and resources are directed toward supporting new development on the west side of the city at the expense of older areas. Voss said Wednesday his question at the meeting was prompted by an inquiry from a constituent and that he was satisfied road money is being properly used.

"It is the role of the council to look for what is best for the entire community rather than looking at our own individual silos," Voss said. "We need to make sure the needs to the ward are accurately represented to staff, that citizens' concerns are relayed and followed up appropriately. I don't view the role of the council is to make sure each ward gets their fair share."

The issue also came up during a League of Women Voters candidate forum last month, when council candidates were asked: "Not including the downtown district, it is quite obvious that the bulk of the city's interest, time and money are spent on the western parts of Cape Girardeau. What can be done to equalize expenditures and get more things done on the eastern side of the city?"

On Tuesday, Cape Girardeau voters will select a new mayor and council members from Wards 1 and 2, which cover the city's entire east side.

Former council member Matt Hopkins and retired businessman Harry Rediger, who has had a leading role in each of the three previous road plans, are seeking to replace outgoing Mayor Jay Knudtson. Voss is being challenged for re-election by tax accountant Teresa Robinson. In Ward 2, radio ad representative Meg Davis-Proffer is competing with Stafford L. Moore, a human resources/safety leader at Procter & Gamble.

Robinson said she believes Ward 1 does get less than it should from the city. As she has campaigned door to door, she said, she noticed many streets in the ward do not have sidewalks. She also said that Twin Trees Park in the Mississippi River floodplain along Cape Rock Drive lacks any amenities, such as benches or picnic tables.

"They just need to redirect their focus," she said. "We need to look at investing in what is the foundation of the town. If we lose the foundation, what do you have left?"

Voss said he knows the issues facing his ward but said sidewalks along residential streets may not be the best use of city money. And he said he thinks TTF money has been spent well.

"There is an appropriate rate of investment," he said. "Folks would be upset if we want to build a bunch of new streets to attract" big retail development to predominantly residential areas.

In the Transportation Trust Fund road plan scheduled for a vote in August, major projects on the west side include rebuilding and widening a portion of Bloomfield Road and construction of Veterans Memorial Drive from Scenic Drive to Hopper Road. East-side projects including new sidewalks and repaving on Broadway and extending Walnut Street to West End Boulevard.

Overall, $7.6 million of the $13 million in specific projects in the TTF-4 plan are west of West End Boulevard. Plans call for spending $4.1 million east of West End Boulevard and $1.4 million on West End Boulevard itself.

Rediger said he doesn't see an imbalance in those plans or in previous TTF programs. Past projects include widening of Broadway from Henderson Avenue west and rebuilding Independence Street.

A lot of city resources have been put into west-side development because that is where business congregates to take advantage of Interstate 55 traffic, several candidates said.

"As an old retailer, you go where the people are," Rediger said.

Hopkins said he did not, when representing Ward 5, worry whether his ward was getting an equal share of spending. "I don't know that we ever tried to equalize spending," he said. "We prioritized based on where the need was."

Davis-Proffer said no one has complained about an imbalance as she has campaigned. But she also said the city needs to pursue plans outlined in the DREAM Initiative to promote university-oriented retail development on Broadway.

"With as many students and other populations, there are some gold mines waiting to happen on this side of town," she said.

Moore could not be reached Wednesday.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO