The Cape Girardeau City Council voted Tuesday night to hire a Poplar Bluff, Missouri, contractor to extend Veterans Memorial Drive and accepted easements from some property owners for the project despite opposition from Ward 4 Councilwoman Loretta Schneider.

Schneider was the only council member to vote against the two measures. Afterward, she said she voted against accepting easements because of a continuing dispute in which state Rep. Kathy Swan and her husband, Reg, allege the city is taking their land unfairly. The dispute is a subject of litigation.

The Swans have charged the city offered them well under the $39,000-an-acre appraised value for just over three acres of woods behind their home. The city offered $58,375 total for the land and put little value on the trees that would be removed from the site to make way for construction of the road, Reg Swan said recently.

A special judge ruled last month the city can proceed with the road project and appointed three commissioners to decide on a value for the contested land. The commissioners determined the city should pay $67,200, still below the appraised value of more than $119,000 reported by the Swans.

Schneider said city officials should address the property dispute before moving forward with the project. She also voiced concern over the amount of dirt that will be removed from the Swans' land to fill in ravines as part of the road project.

Schneider said she voted against awarding the $1.68 million road contract because she was not familiar with the quality of work of the contractor, R.L. Persons Construction Co.

She called it "unusual" the bid was well below the engineer's estimate of $2.24 million.

Molly Hood, deputy city manager, said the city has worked with the company before, and it has "a good track record on street projects."

During a study session before the regular meeting, Mayor Harry Rediger said, "I personally don't want to delay this project." The project will extend Veterans Memorial Drive from Scenic Drive to Hopper Road.

In other business at the study session, city manager Scott Meyer presented a PowerPoint presentation about the vehicle sales-tax renewal and use-tax measures that will be on the April ballot. Meyer said the measures would strengthen public safety and the local economy.

City officials said renewing the existing vehicle sales tax would help discourage people from buying vehicles out of state.

"It does not only protect our auto dealers and vehicle sales; it protects jobs," Rediger said.

Meyer said much of the use-tax money would go to public safety improvements, including hiring of more police officers and helping to fund development of a new police station. He added it would help establish a mental-health program as part of public safety.

"This is a major issue," he told the council. "It affects a lot of people."

Meyer said people with mental-health issues often turn to police because "they don't know what else to do."

Meyer said the city staff still is working out the details for the mental-health program.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence, Cape Girardeau, Mo.