CHAMBER AND CITY STRIVE FOR BALANCE IN DEVELOPMENT

Cape Girardeau's inspection office has been the target of builder complaints over red tape and delays.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has invited members to join a new building task force to look into dealings between builders and inspectors. A recent chamber survey showed that one of the most pressing issues to members is difficulties builders encounter when they deal with city hall.

This review of procedures and problems should prove useful for both the city and builders.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling favors the chamber task force. If the city has a problem, Spradling says it needs to be fixed. But he also feels if there are myths, they need to be dispelled. These are wise words from the mayor.

The city's inspection office is a busy place with 5,200 inspections in 1994. The staff includes three full-time inspectors, who refer to the BOCA handbook when inspecting buildings.

Jackson also follows the BOCA code, with a full-time and part-time inspector on its staff. Jackson has a reputation of being more developer-friendly.

Cape Girardeau Supervisor of Building Inspectors Rick Murray hopes that specific problems are aired, instead of generalities. That's why it is crucial to involve a number of builders in this review process.

But it is also good to maintain a perspective on why inspections are important. Routine inspections can save homeowners thousands of dollars.

As an attorney, Spradling is representing at least four homeowners with complaints over new construction in Cape Girardeau County. There are no building codes outside of Cape Girardeau and Jackson. In 1992, voters eliminated planning and zoning in the county.

Spradling says these homeowners allege contractors did sub par work or failed to live up to contracts. He feels that if these same people were building in Cape Girardeau, inspectors would have found the problems.

The inspection process and adherence to the BOCA codes should ensure a well-built structure. But the inspection process shouldn't discourage development.

A fine line exists between development and regulation. Perhaps with the aid of this new chamber committee, problems and myths at the Cape Girardeau inspection office can be resolved.

Chamber president John Mehner says the task force won't launch an investigation. Instead, the group will work with the city on what is perceived as problems.

With both city and chamber officials expressing a willingness to work together, this task force could go a long way to bettering the building atmosphere in Cape Girardeau.

TASK FORCE NOMINEES

Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce President Jim Rust has invited the following nominees to join the chamber's building task force:

* Ronnie Fischer

* Rick Murray

* Tom Phillips

* Herb Annis

* Steve Strom

* Tony Sebek

* David Gerlach

* Robin Tolbert

* Bud Monroe

* Jim Arnzen

* Keith Deimund

Meetings will begin in two weeks.