Task force targets residents with storm-water flooding issues

A citizens task force hopes to sell voters on the Cape Girardeau city tax issues at a public meeting tonight that targets residents plagued by storm-water problems.

The Citizens Finance Task Force mailed 1,700 to 1,800 invitations to residents in neighborhoods with storm water problems. But the meeting is open to all residents, said Nancy Jernigan, who co-chairs the task force and is director of the Area Wide United Way.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. City officials will give an "Invest 4 Cape" presentation outlining the storm-water fee proposal and three other tax issues on the April 8 ballot.

The others are a quarter-cent sales tax for fire department needs, a 2 percent sales tax on out-of-state purchases above $2,000 and extension of a 10-cent property tax.

City officials say the money would go to pay operating expenses, replacing aging equipment, improve storm drainage, build a new fire station, expand the police station and construct a water park.

The monthly storm-water fee is the only measure whose revenue would go solely to a single need -- drainage problems.

William Balsmann, whose yard turns into a swamp during heavy rains, said he will attend the meeting and vote for the storm-water fee. "We've got water problems," said Balsmann who lives at 2563 Fairlane Drive and complained to city officials for years.

Balsmann said he won't vote for the other three taxes. "I am taxed enough," he said.

Jernigan said the task force hopes to convince residents to vote for all four tax issues.

The city council has promised to move ahead with 14 storm-drainage projects if voters approve the storm-water fee. The fee would range from $1.75 to $5.25 per month on residential property and up to 7.5 cents a month per 100 square feet for business properties, based on the building footprint and paved surfaces.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123