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NewsMay 10, 2007

The Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority has planned a public hearing next week to discuss its capital projects plans, including whether to pursue the purchase of land for a dedicated transit office. The hearing, scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the transit authority offices at 937 Broadway, is a required annual opportunity for public comment required for the authority to receive federal funds. ...

The Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority has planned a public hearing next week to discuss its capital projects plans, including whether to pursue the purchase of land for a dedicated transit office.

The hearing, scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the transit authority offices at 937 Broadway, is a required annual opportunity for public comment required for the authority to receive federal funds. But the hearing won't be held unless someone from the public contacts the authority offices by Friday to inform the authority they have something to say.

The land purchase item on the list of capital needs is a long-term want, not something on the table for the next year, said Tom Mogelnicki, interim executive director for the district. A new minibus, van and computers being sought are part of the plans for the upcoming year. "This is a combination of everything we have today," he said. "If we want to build a new building, we have to submit to the state the necessary paperwork. This building may not happen for five to 10 years."

The hearing, while routine, is the first of its kind since the transit authority took over public transit services within Cape Girardeau and began a scheduled bus route that runs six days a week.

Mogelnicki took over the authority last month following the resignation of Jeff Brune, who left to take other employment. The authority board has not begun searching for a permanent director, board president Doug Richards said, but plans to advertise the position beginning in June.

"Right now we are taking care of business and making a lot of changes internally," he said.

Land and a dedicated building are "long-long-term goals," Richards said.

A more immediate goal is to win additional funding from Cape Girardeau. Last year, the Cape Girardeau County Commission and the county's Senior Services Fund Board provided substantial increases in their contributions, and the authority wants Cape Girardeau to add $40,000 to its current contribution of $70,000.

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"We need to apply it to the bus service," Richards said. "The bus service needs more funding."

Richards said he hopes to expand the bus service to the Red Star District north of downtown Cape Girardeau and add bus service to the Central High School area.

The extra money from the city won't be enough to provide the additional service, Richards said, but "it would help us start thinking in that direction."

The Cape Girardeau City Council will consider budget decisions during June, city manager Doug Leslie said. The draft budget includes a renewal of the contract that pays the authority $70,000, and it will be up to the authority to convince council members to increase the amount.

"We will have a public hearing on the budget June 4, and that may include a presentation from the transit authority," he said.

To convince city leaders to provide more funds, the authority will have to show that its bus service is providing better transportation and more rides than the old, taxi-based program, Leslie said. If more money is justified, he said, the city will pay its share.

"The staff and council feel this is a vital service and have a stake in its success," he said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

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