WASTE WATER DISTRICT 1 HOLDS FIRST MEETING, MAKES PLANS

The Cape Girardeau County Waste Water District 1 is looking for an engineer to help design a unified sewage system for residents in the Fruitland and Pocahontas communities.

The sewer district was formed in November by voters in those areas.

About 2,700 registered voters live in the district. The district's southern border is close to the Jackson city limits. The district's boundaries lie north of Pocahontas and include property on both sides of I-55.

The area has no unified sewage system, so residents and businesses depend on septic tanks, sewage lagoons and some subdivision package plants. With the area's rapidly growing population, the soil can't absorb all the discharge in some areas.

In January, the County Commission appointed a five-member board and this week, the group gathered for its first official meeting.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us," said Sharon Schuessler, treasurer of the board. "Our first step is to interview engineers, and we are working on bylaws and guidelines."

Mark Kasten was named president, Chris Johnston vice president, Ed Close secretary and Schuessler treasurer.

The board has the power to appoint an engineer, hire a staff and raise money from grants, loans and user fees, but levy no taxes.

Voters would have to decide if the board could float a revenue bond issue to actually build the sewer system.

A sub-committee will be developing by-laws and regulations for the district. The board has requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission in Perryville to help with mailings, legal publications and other advice.

The group is also looking for help from interested members of the community. They hope to develop other sub-committees as the project develops. The panel doesn't have a timetable established for the project.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at the Fruitland Fire Station 1. The public is invited.

"By meeting twice a month we really feel we can get started," Schuessler said. "This is very much needed and we really wanting to get it on the go."

Also at the meeting, the board discussed ways to provide information about the project to the public and how to incorporate those who opposed formation of the district.