Cape Girardeau enjoyed eight excellent years

For the last eight years, the city of Cape Girardeau saw virtually unprecedented improvement, mostly due to Mayor Al Spradling and a can-do council that worked together for the common good.

Hats off to them. Certainly, our new mayor and three new council members can take a page from the following list of accomplishments compiled by city manager Michael Miller. The first part features items receiving voter approval:

1994 -- An increase in the sales tax for a $25 million sanitary sewer project, which included the separation and upgrading of the city's outdated combination sewer system as well as the construction of necessary trunk sewers.

1994 -- A sales tax for a five-year, $20 million street improvement program. Most of the program has been completed.

1996 -- An increase in the sales tax for a $26.5 million waterworks system improvement, including modernization of the city's main treatment facilities and development of an alluvial well system.

1998 -- A unique university/city cooperative project to develop a $35.6 million performing arts campus at the site of an historic seminary overlooking the Mississippi River. The campus will include a 1,000-seat auditorium, a state-of-the-art, 500-seat theater, a museum of regional history, a scenic overlook, dance studios, classrooms and offices.

2000 -- A sales tax extension for an additional $8.5 million for sanitary sewer system rehabilitation and wastewater treatment plant improvements.

2000 -- A sales tax extension for an additional five-year $21 million street improvement program, including the construction of a new street system in the area of the new career center and high school.

The second part of Miller's list enumerates various projects:

Construction of the Cape La Croix/Walker Creek Flood Control Project. The project was financed with city sales tax and money from the Corps of Engineers.

Construction of the multipurpose Osage Centre recreation building and the Shawnee Sports Complex.

Renovation of the A.C. Brase Arena Building.

Construction of a community recreation hiking/bicycle trail from Lexington Avenue to the Shawnee Sports Complex.

Record-setting construction years, including 1996, 1999 and 2001.

Implementation of the flood buy-out program, which resulted in the purchase and demolition of 94 residences and four commercial structures and the acquisition of 16 vacant lots following the 1993 Mississippi River flood.

Cape Girardeau was one of 50 cities nationwide that implemented Project Impact with a $500,000 federal grant. Project Impact emphasized pre-disaster mitigation actions and the involvement of the business community to save lives, reduce property damages and shorten the recovery period.

Rehabilitation of the Locust-Maple and Jefferson-Shawnee Parkway neighborhoods, including the rehabilitation of 100 homes using $1.2 million in State Community Development Block Grant funding and $150,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank.

Demolished the old St. Francis Hospital to make way for a modern apartment complex by utilizing state tax credits and a Community Development Block Grant of $250,000. The private developer contributed $350,000 toward the demolition.

Established annual meetings with the Jackson Board of Aldermen to discuss common issues.

Established a self-insurance system which resulted in savings for the employee health and workmen's compensation insurance programs.

A complete modernization of the city's computer system.

Adoption of a comprehensive annexation policy.

Development of an effective city Web site.

Establishment of the downtown Fourth of July fireworks display.

Establishment of Old Town Cape, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and the university, as a nonprofit organization recognized as a National Main Street Program.

Location of Renaissance Aircraft at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport in a building being constructed at this time.

Introduction of the annual air show at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Closing of the Taste Lounge and restoring order to a troubled area.