WULFERS PRAISES CITY RECYCLING

Cape Girardeau City Council member Mary Wulfers praised the city staff Thursday for its recycling program and efforts to comply with the state's solid-waste law.

At Thursday's city council meeting, Wulfers also chided Councilman Doug Richards for comments he made about recycling efforts at the council's last meeting Feb. 3. She called Richard's comments "irresponsible."

Richards had said he was told by a Missouri Department of Natural Resources official that the state solid-waste law merely suggests rather than mandates landfill waste-reduction guidelines that last year prompted the city's recycling program. He questioned whether recycling and other solid-waste programs were needed if the law's requirements weren't mandated.

"It's been brought up with insinuation that the staff has done this for the purpose of deceiving the public and that they didn't know what they're doing," Wulfers said. "Probably one of the best kept secrets in this town is the fantastic job (Public Works Director) Doug Leslie and the solid-waste division is doing."

Wulfers explained that she previously worked in solid-waste management and research at the University of Missouri. She said she has closely monitored the city's solid-waste and recycling plans.

"In my opinion, it's been right on target all the way," she said. "It's the job of every member of this council to find that out for themselves.

"I felt that harsh judgments were made, and I was offended by them."

In a staff report that was included in the council's agenda packet, Leslie addressed a number of concerns voiced Feb. 3 by Richards. Included in the report was a letter from the DNR's director of waste management, Jim Hull, who said the solid-waste law is mandated including 40 percent reduction by 1998 of all waste going to Missouri landfills.

Wulfers said the city has successfully addressed the issue and already has made great strides toward reaching the 40-percent reduction.

"Not only has Mr. Leslie implemented a recycling program under great adversity in this city without, up to this date, a fee increase; the city has come up with a whopping 25 percent reduction.

"This is a real success story right here in this town and no one knows about it. It's time to give them their rightful pat on the back."

Richards didn't respond to Wulfers' comments or to the staff report.

In other business, the council approved an agreement between the city and the Cape Girardeau School District to share the cost of replacing the Central Swimming Pool bubble.

The bubble is expected to cost $110,000 to $120,000. City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said the city would buy the bubble, and the school district would reimburse its share with payments over three years.

"They would pay us in three installments with the rate of interest that we get on our investments," he said.

Fischer said that he doubted whether the city would recommend installation again next year of the existing bubble, which is badly deteriorated.

"We've got a sizable investment out there, and from what we've seen looking at the old bubble, it needs replacement," he said.

Wulfers questioned who determines fees for use of the pool the city or the school district. She said she's received a number of calls from people who use the facility who would gladly pay additional fees to assure its continued maintenance.

"People want to be reassured that whenever this one wears out that yes, there's going to be a bubble there," she said.

Fischer said the city staff is studying the fees structure for all its parks and recreation programs and facilities. He said the plans will be amended to better reflect operating and program costs.

"I don't think there's any way we can put this pool into a cash flow situation, but we can defer some of the costs by changing the fee structure," he said.

Fischer has said the city subsidizes the pool's operation for about $130,000 annually.

"I'd like to see the thing get out of debt," said Wulfers.

"We would too," the city manager responded.

The council also approved a $20,000 budget for "seed money" for the city's bicentennial celebration this year. But the council refused to go along with Fischer's suggestion that money for the budget come from the city's tourism funds.

A city advisory committee currently is considering a number of proposals for use of the tourism funds, and council members said they wanted to wait for a recommendation from the board.

"I'm for funding it; my question is where the funding should come from," said Councilman David Limbaugh.

The finance committee for the city's Bicentennial Commission requested the money for supplies and clerical services, advertising and various activities.

Members of the committee told the council that the $20,000 would not completely fund the group's activities, but that it would "be a good start."

"If you're nice enough and good enough to give us $20,000, then we'll take off," said Melvin Gateley, chairman of the Bicentennial Commission.

He said the commission also would solicit private funding from businesses and individuals.