Nuisance process

The Cape Girardeau City Council has made many tough, even unpopular decisions in recent years.

Some people may not care for the council's decisions, but its processes for making those choices continue to be solid.

The way the city has gone about changing its nuisance ordinances is the latest example.

The city established a committee in February, consisting of city staff members, to look at adding rules governing nuisances such as graffiti, old cars left to decay, unmown grass and the like.

The nuisance ordinance revision has been a very open process, subject to public input and quite a bit of council study. The council has responded to some of the feedback.

The city finds itself in a tough position. It governs a city that overwhelmingly prefers less government interference, yet has tremendous pride in its community. The nuisance issues affect everyone's property values. It's important to maintain a clean and healthy city to continue its growth.

The city seems to be hitting the right balance by reviewing its laws, updating them and modifying them based on community feedback.

Meanwhile, on the topic of graffiti abatement, the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce is kicking around the idea of creating a "graffiti response team" to keep in the removal of graffiti. Graffiti, depending on the type and the substance damaged, can require a tricky method of cleanup. Certain chemicals can be damaging to certain surfaces, for instance.

A response team sounds like a terrific service to area businesses.

Back to the original point: For organizations to offer support to citywide efforts, they need to be included in discussions, made aware of issues and invited to participate. The council soon will vote to approve changes to the code. The city should be applauded for its deliberate process.

Leaders in Cape Girardeau continue to foster an atmosphere of cooperation and transparency.