Cape's year in review

This year has been a very productive one for the City of Cape Girardeau. I want to focus on the future during these comments but will highlight a few accomplishments of 2014.

An initiative that will have a major effect on the future of Cape Girardeau is the agreement to extend the hotel/restaurant tax into the 2030s. A committee has recommended, and the city council has approved, a plan to build an indoor sports facility in our city. This will have a major impact in bringing visitors into our city and help solidify our regional hub status.

The voter-approved extension of the 1/8-cent fire tax assures our citizens and visitors that state-of-the-art facilities, equipment and trained staff will be maintained in public safety over the next 20 years.

Other productive projects and events in 2014 include the downtown Fourth of July celebration, the "Gone Girl" premiere, July air show, the Broadway sculpture exhibit, the moving of the Gateley Garden, the sale of the old federal building and the beginning of the Capaha Park master plan.

I project and predict that the year of 2015 will be a year of growth and excitement for our city.

Our new wastewater treatment plant will be completed with a ribbon cutting, probably in March. Hopefully we will be able to move ahead with a new transfer station in 2015. Staff and council will be reviewing sites and plans for the new police station. Also, staff will be moving ahead with plans and location of the indoor sports facility that was recently approved by the council.

Development will continue at the Greater Cape Girardeau Business Park on LaSalle Avenue. Pepsi will be under construction in 2015 and infrastructure development will continue at the park. There is increased interest in that location, and I feel we will have additional business announcements during the coming year.

Our Transportation Trust Fund 5 committee has been hard at work prioritizing our street needs for the next five years. They will be reporting to council in January. This program is vital to the quality of life of our citizens and the continued growth of our city.

We have been through 20 years of TTF, thanks to the wise choice of our citizen voters. There have been over $80 million in new streets and street improvements during those 20 years.

Our voters will be asked to approve the next five-year program in August. We will have public input on this next series of improvements, and the entire council-approved list will be available for citizen review before the August vote.

We initiated the pilot of Neighborhood Development Initiative in two areas in October. One was an area of South Cape Girardeau and the other in the Red Star District. I am looking forward to this program getting more citizen involvement and gaining traction in 2015. The ultimate goal would be for this neighborhood governance program to become a citywide effort.

There are many other initiatives that will be developed during 2015. Stay tuned as they unfold and become public throughout the months of the coming year.

I am excited about the year 2015 as we continue to grow our city as a regional hub and work together to improve our great quality of life.

I would like to extend to every citizen my best wishes for a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Harry E. Rediger is the mayor of Cape Girardeau.