Leadership Cape

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce program, Leadership Cape, is a great program that lets young leaders brainstorm ideas that will improve the city. It's a process of problem solving, which is a good exercise to experience.

One of the ideas from last week's presentation was to build a large steel steamboat wheel on the river side of the floodwall so tourists could have an interesting backdrop for taking photographs. It would be a 10-foot wheel that would cost $6,000 to $8,000, and it would be removable for when the river rises. It could be a good addition to the riverfront area.

Another idea was to improve the landscaping in Cape Girardeau along I-55 to make the city more attractive to interstate travelers who might be inclined to pull off at an exit and take a closer look.

The initiative would allow Saxony Lutheran High School, Southeast Missouri State University, Jackson School District, Notre Dame Regional High School, the Cape Girardeau School District and the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center to adopt an interchange through a contractual agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation. Each group would be responsible for naming an adviser, who would lead students in design, maintenance and implementation. Such a plan wouldn't involve a lot of tax dollars.

Some may say Cape Girardeau has much bigger problems than boat wheels and landscaping at interchanges. But the groups weren't given the task of solving the city's biggest problems. They were given the task of finding ways to improve the community. By working through the process, Cape Girardeau will be a better place.

Leadership Cape is a success on many levels.