VISION 2000 PREPARES FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Organizers of Vision 2000, Cape Girardeau's strategic plan to improve the community between now and the turn of the century, took stock of where they've been and where they are going Saturday.

The 12-member Community Relations Council held its annual retreat.

Harold Tilley, chairman for 1993, said, "This retreat gives us an opportunity to reflect on what we have done over the past year and what can be done."

The Vision 2000 plan was started in 1987. Since then, community members have been working toward improvements in the city that citizens said were needed.

The plan includes nine goals that fit into four general categories: community spirit, education, business/industry/jobs, and planning and zoning.

Under those goals are specific objects, like increase voter registration and participation, reduce the number of functionally illiterate citizens, increase net employment in the area, and provide adequate citywide parking and priority parking for the handicapped.

"These are on-going goals," Tilley said.

For example, Vision 2000 was active in voter registration and participation efforts last year, and voter turnout was very high. "We can't take credit for it, but we like to think our efforts had an impact," Tilley said.

Through Vision 2000, a survey of business needs has been conducted and results should be released soon, Tilley said.

"At our retreat, we look at ideas and ways we might be able to improve each of these goals," he said.

"Then it is up to us to try to involve the community to achieve these goals," he said. "The more involvement we get from community organizations and individuals, the better we feel we have achieved the goals."

Vision 2000 annually reports to the City Council. Tilley said the report will likely be made in March or April.

New members on the Community Relations Council for 1993 are Bob Robins, Union Electric, and Mary Spell, St. Francis Medical Center.

Other members are Tilley, Area Vocational-Technical School; Martha Bender; Steven Green, Capital Bank; Dorothy Hardy, Area Vocational-Technical School; David Kaempfer; Jeff Krantz, Southeast Missouri Hospital; Lauchette Low; John Mehner, Advanced Business Systems; Curt Smith, ComputerLand; and Bill Yuede, Boatmen's Bank.

Ex-Officio members are Melvin Gateley, City Council member; Al Stoverink, assistant city manager; and Buz Sutherland, Small Business Development Center.