Water supply district seeks voter approval of $750,000 bond issue for new well

Voters in Cape Girardeau County’s Public Water Supply District No. 5 will decide the fate of a proposed $750,000 revenue bond issue in the Nov. 8 election.

The district wants to issue the bonds to construct a new water-supply well and pay for the operating costs of the additional well.

Chris Koehler, who operates an engineering and land surveying firm and serves as the district’s engineer, said the water supply district has about 200 customers.

“A lot of people have not connected on,” he said, explaining many people in the largely rural area have private wells.

The district serves a largely rural area on the east side of the county, extending from just north of Cape Girardeau on the south end to just south of Trail of Tears State Park on the north end, Koehler said.

The district has “one well, but they have no backup,” Koehler said.

The revenue bonds would allow construction of another well to provide a second water supply, he said.

Koehler said the additional well not only would provide backup but increase the capacity of the system.

The bonds would be retired with revenue generated from utility charges paid by the district’s customers.

Koehler said only voters who reside in the water district, including those not served by the water system, will be eligible to vote on the ballot measure. A simple majority is needed for passage.

If approved, Koehler said the new well is expected to be drilled and placed in operation within a year.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

347 County Road 649, Cape Girardeau County, Mo.