CAPE CITIZENS AFFECT CITY THROUGH ADVISORY BOARDS

Despite what might be a common perception to the contrary, Cape Girardeau residents have ample opportunities to involve themselves in community affairs and affect their city government.

The vehicle for this involvement is the more than 20 citizen advisory boards active here. And although many people likely rely on "coffee shop" dialogue to tackle city concerns, nearly 200 citizens instead choose to attempt to make a positive impact through service on the various advisory boards and committees.

These boards which range in scope from the Airport Advisory Board to the city's Utility Committee represent municipal democracy at its best. It's no accident that many of Cape Girardeau's community leaders serve on these committees and boards, and many elected officials first served in such capacities.

But on every board also are "average" Cape Girardeans. Contractors, factory workers, teachers and professors, managers and retirees all are represented on the various boards. Most recently, the city council appointed 41 citizens to two new advisory boards the Zone Election Committee and the Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation Project Task Force.

The Zone Election Committee will work to resolve legal and technical matters related to the measure voters approved in November to switch to ward-style council representation. Members of the Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation Project Task Force will put their heads together to develop possible funding sources for a proposal to purchase and renovate the historic St. Vincent's Seminary property.

The charge of these boards is indicative of the type of work all city advisory boards do: study from a citizen perspective many issues that affect the community, and recommend possible action by elected officials. Not only do these boards supply much of the tedious "leg work" for the city council, but many are comprised of people more qualified to deal with specific issues than is the council.

The Board of Appeals, for example, considers contractors' and developers' appeals of the city's building codes. Few council members have the expertise to know whether such appeals have merit. But the plumbers, electricians and general contractors on the Board of Appeals are able to consider the requests objectively and with practical knowledge of the codes and their application.

There are many other examples of how Cape Girardeau's citizen advisory boards and thereby Cape Girardeau's citizens help govern and oversee our city. We applaud their efforts and the willingness of the city administration and council to engage their help.

The next time someone in the coffee shop complains of the city's disregard for the concerns of "the common man," we suggest they join the efforts of their nearly 200 neighbors who serve the community on advisory boards.