NEW SEWER MASTER PLAN WILL INSPIRE CITY GROWTH

Sewers play an important role in any city's growth and development. With that in mind, the city of Cape Girardeau recently completed a 20-year sewer master plan that will correct current problem areas and facilitate future growth.

The 1,700-page document is weighty and impressive. But it's not just a show piece. This master plan outlines specific plans of action. One of the main thrusts addresses problems with sanitary and storm sewers in the city's older sections of town. These sewer systems have long been a problem, particularly during heavy rains when sewage backed up into basements of south side residents and into Cape LaCroix Creek.

The first part of the plan focuses on "priority" projects, most of which have been included in the city's five-year capital improvements plan.

Among the most pressing sewer needs are the combined sewers in the College-Henderson Streets districts. Although engineers who drafted the plan proposed 10 years to complete this project, the city staff opted for a five-year timetable instead. Again, this indicates the city's willingness to solve this long-standing problem. This sewer district discharges directly into Cape LaCroix Creek.

This master plan also includes much "forward thinking" on the part of the city. Future projects focus on areas of the city not yet developed or currently outside the city limits. In this way, the city can "act" rather than "react" to growth.

This strategy will pay off for Cape Girardeau. A perfect example was the city's decision to extend sewers under I-55 last year. That has enabled the development of a large industrial park west of the interstate by Drury Development. The developer and the first client - Wal-Mart - have asked the property be annexed into the city. That will bring about $200,000 to $300,000 in additional revenue to the city.

This plan also incorporates a yearly maintenance program to keep city sewers from falling into disrepair. Down the road, this maintenance will save voters more dollars.

The development of the plan will depend on the willingness of voters to make an investment in the city's infrastructure. These projects will require taxes or issuance of revenue bonds. On the bright side, the price of segregating the older sewers will run $13 million to $15 million, which seems much more reasonable than earlier estimates approaching $30 million.

Recent sewer projects have allowed Cape Girardeau to catch up with growth and development. This long-range planning will not only allow the city to prepare for future growth, but will likely inspire it.