Public works deal

Cape Girardeau officials recently announced a purchase that turns a vacant building into city property and eliminates the need for major repairs to the existing public works facility.

The former Jim Wilson auto parts building at 2007 Southern Expressway will become the new public works facility. The city plans to complete the deal March 17 and expects to move by July.

As part of the move, the city intends to sell its current public works building and property at 219 N. Kingshighway and the adjacent recycling center If everything works out as planned, taxpayers will be getting quite a bargain.

Over the next few years, the city was faced with the prospect of spending $1 million on repairs to the existing public works facility until a new facility could be built at a cost estimated at nearly $9 million.

So instead of spending more than $10 million, the city will get a new public works facility at little or no cost once the existing public works property is sold.

The city has been trying to find a way to build a new public works facility for a decade but never could afford it. The Wilson building offers nearly double the square footage for the public works department.

The businesslike calculations and quick action that made this deal possible are to be commended.