Traffic lights, sinkhole help among capital improvement plan priorities

The next traffic light to be installed in the city of Cape Gir-ardeau is destined for Silver Springs Road at Bloomfield Road. After that, expect to see one at Independence Street and East Rodney Drive.

Those were two of the easier priorities to set during a study session for the city of Cape Girardeau's capital improvement plan.

City officials are required by the city charter to update a five-year plan annually. In many cases, it's a matter of deciding how to spend money, as in the case of $937,300 from the motor fuel tax that will pay for traffic signals. Others merely require coordination, as with the $9 million floodwall repair.

Projects for the city's parks and recreation department earned a special section of the project list.

"It's the first time in 20 years I've seen my projects on this list," said Dan Muser, parks and recreation department director. "It's kind of an odd feeling."

Parks projects and some storm-water abatement jobs would only be funded if a proposed half-cent sales tax is approved by voters April 8. Councilman John Voss asked city planners to add an indoor pool to the list of projects, even if it is unfunded.

"This community needs an indoor pool," he said.

City officials faced a big question mark over the phrase "sinkhole mitigation."

The sinkhole problem on South Sprigg Street continues. City manager Doug Leslie said engineers are studying the problem. It isn't clear, he said, whether the sinkholes are caused by drought, pre-existing geologic conditions or from something else. The capital improvement plan estimates the cost of fixing the problem at $1 million. Leslie said federal funding may be available.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127