Trail extension, traffic issue to be addressed by Cape council

The Cape Girardeau City Council will vote at its meeting today to award a contract to a local company to construct an extension for the Mississippi River Walk trail.

The project was bid Oct. 1 and the city received four bids, with staff recommending the council award the contract to the lowest bidder. Nip Kelley Equipment Co. submitted the lowest bid of $802,516.10.

The project consists of two sections, with extensions planned to the north and south. The South Project extends the existing trail approximately 1,600 feet south along the city's floodwall on the riverside. The North Project extends the existing trail approximately 300 feet north to the Department of Conservation's Red Star Ramp. The northern extension also includes a 10-foot-wide pedestrian bridge to provide a crossing over Sloan's Creek.

Construction costs will be financed by Federal Highway Administration funds. The federal funding will cover 100 percent of costs, not to exceed $1,599,727.

After looking at improvements to pedestrian traffic in the city, the council also will consider an ordinance to improve vehicular traffic, specifically along Hawthorne Road. If the council approves the proposal, no parking anytime would be established along the east and west sides of Hawthorne Road 300 feet south of Hopper Road.

The measure is supported by city staff who have been contacted about cars parked along Hawthorne Road near Clippard Elementary School. The parked cars are especially problematic during high-traffic times such as morning drop-off, afternoon pickup and school events because they restrict traffic movement. There also is an issue with cars parking in the grass along Hawthorne Road causing maintenance issues for adjoining property owners.

Other business

The council will vote to give initial approval to an ordinance amending the section of the city code relating to delinquent business licenses. The city changed its ordinance in January 2013 to comply with a new state law prohibiting municipalities from applying higher penalties than those assessed by the state for delinquent merchant taxes owed. The state statute establishes a penalty of 5 percent per month on the amount of tax owed, up to a maximum of 25 percent penalty, and states additional interest shall be collected on any delinquent merchant tax amount.

The state calculations for the interest provision are "complicated at best," according to reports from city staff, with a fluctuating interest rate calculated on a daily basis. Business owners have difficulty accurately determining the amount of interest due the city, requiring city staff to take time to work with them on the calculations. The ordinance under consideration would leave in place the penalty provision for delinquent merchant taxes and remove the interest calculation.

Since the city adjusted its ordinance in 2013 to comply with the state calculations, it has collected approximately $700 in interest for delinquent merchant taxes. Although interest would no longer be collected with the ordinance change, reports from city staff say it will decrease the amount of staff time required for the issue and make it easier to set up a system allowing business owners to pay penalties online.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641