TRASH-HAULING FEES MIGHT INCREASE

When the Cape Girardeau City Council agreed in February to bid out a contract to haul the city's solid waste rather than extend an existing agreement, council members thought they were being fair.

But that decision could result in higher solid waste costs and increased fees.

The council tonight will consider a resolution to hire Sverdrup Corporation of St. Louis to assist the city staff and council in preparation of bid specifications and review of the bids received for the trash hauling service.

If authorized by the council, Sverdrup will prepare the appropriate documents for a five-year contract for "the hauling and disposal of Cape Girardeau's solid waste from the transfer station," said Public Works Director Doug Leslie in a letter to the council.

Last January, the city staff had completed negotiations with Lemon's Landfill of Dexter to extend a trash-disposal contract five additional years at little cost increase.

But in February, representatives of Continental Waste Industries of Three Oaks, Mich., asked that the council bid out the service.

At the next meeting, the council instructed the city staff to bid out the services.

But Leslie said the solid waste hauling options have since narrowed.

"Since that time, the solid waste hauling issue has become more complicated through a corporate buy-out of Lemon's Landfill," he said in his council letter. "This purchase was made by Allied Solid Waste Company, who purchased not only Lemon's Landfill but also the landfills at New Madrid and Poplar Bluff.

"With the buy-out of landfills in Western Kentucky, Southwestern Illinois, and Tennessee by Continental Solid Waste... it appears that the large, national solid waste concerns have gained control of all available facilities in our region."

Leslie said that because of the "complexity of this issue," the city should hire Sverdrup to provide a "thorough, objective analysis" of bids.

"(T)he staff feels that it is essential to have outside expertise and assistance on this important matter," he said. "In addition, the significant cost of $500,000 a year going to this contract, or some $2.5 million over the five-year period, further supports the need for this expertise."

In January, Lemon's Landfill had agreed to extend the city's contract, which expires in December, for another five years at higher "tipping fee" rates.

Leslie had recommended the extension, which he called "fair" in light of expected cost increases associated with new federal landfill regulations.

The city now pays $11.50 per ton of trash dumped at the Dexter landfill. Under the proposed extension agreement with Lemon's Landfill, those rates would have increased to $12.50 next year and an additional 50 cents per ton annually through 1998.

Other landfill rates in the area that would take effect next year are $15-$16.80 per ton at the Southern Illinois Regional Landfill; $16.20 per ton at the Randolph County Landfill; and $13.20 per ton at the Herrin County Landfill.

In other business tonight, the council will consider another request by a property owner to use an undeveloped city street for driveway access.

It's the third such request the council has considered in three months. Council members reluctantly approved similar requests by James T. Bruening and Paul Brown.

Now, Robert Lowry and his wife have asked for permission to use a portion of Belleau Drive right-of-way for a private driveway and extension of utilities to property they own east of the developed portion of Chateau Oaks Subdivision.

In a letter to the council, City Attorney Warren Wells said the lot has no direct access, but the Lowrys hope to build a house on the site.

"In exchange for the right to the use of Belleau Drive, the Lowrys have agreed to grant the city a permanent easement across the northern portion of their property for the future extension of Belleau Drive should the city desire to do that at some time," Wells added.

Other agenda items for tonight's meeting include:

The appointment of a councilman, a resident landlord, a HUD-assisted tenant and five citizens to the Housing Assistance Task Force. The task force will develop recommendations regarding the quality and quantity of housing stock available for low-income families and persons in Cape Girardeau.

Application for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places the Alliance Building, 7-15 S. Spanish, and Clark-Kellerman House, 6 S. Fountain.

Bert and Mary Ann Kellerman own both the sites, and the city's Historic Preservation Commission has recommended that the city make the application on behalf of the Kellermans.

A public hearing on a second six-month extension of TCI Cablevision's cable television franchise. The extension would enable the city and TCI to continue to negotiate a new franchise.

20A public hearing on recommendations from the city's Planning and Zoning Commission.

They include: A request for rezoning or a special use permit for a small animal veterinary clinic at 2910 Kage Road; request by St. Andrew Lutheran Church to rezone 2424 Kingsway Drive from single family residential to general commercial district; a request for a special use permit for a five-story Drury Inn near the present site of Cape Budget Inn; and a request for a special use permit to place a mobile home at the rear of 216 Capaha Trail.

20A resolution to authorize a contract to extend Minnesota Avenue south to Southern Expressway. Lappe Cement Finishing of Perryville submitted the low bid of $188,000. Other bids included Nip Kelley Construction, $205,400; PR Developers, $223,300; and Brenda Kay Construction of Oran, $210,500. The engineer's estimate for the work was $294,200.