VOTERS WILL GET CHANCE TO AMEND CITY CHARTER IN APRIL

Cape Girardeau voters will have a chance to amend the city charter next April.

The City Council voted Monday night to put the issue on the April ballot.

Council members said they would wait until their Nov. 20 meeting to decide which amendments proposed by the Charter Review Committee to place on the ballot.

Keith Russell, charter committee member, said he hoped the council would include a proposed amendment that would create an ethics commission.

Russell said it was a top priority of the charter committee. He maintained an ethics commission would improve city government.

Councilman Richard Eggimann said he wants to see a proposed tax-and-fee cap added to the charter.