COUNCIL APPROVES $1.59 MONTHLY TRASH-FEE HIKE

Acting on the unanimous recommendation of a citizens solid waste task force, the Cape Girardeau City Council voted 5-1 Monday to adopt an increase for residential trash pickup to $12.13 a month.

City Councilman Melvin Gateley, who commended the solid waste task force for its hard work and perseverance, said he was unable to accept such an increase from the current rate of $10.54.

"I think you (task force) did a tremendous job. But the only thing I can't accept is the 15 percent increase, so I'm going to have to vote no for that reason," said Gateley, who made a motion for the city council to appoint a subcommittee of three members to educate the public on recycling and other efficient ways to minimize solid waste costs.

Cape Mayor Al Spradling III said that item would be on the agenda for the next city council meeting, which is scheduled for July 5.

The solid waste task force recommended that the city accept the increase to defray higher costs and landfill closure and stressed the need for a modest financial boost to fund an education program in the next year.

"We recommend that the city go with the increase for a year, then phase in a volume-based system during the 1995-96 fiscal year by charging for more than two trash bags or cans," said Kathleen Sokolowski, a member of the solid waste task force.

The solid waste task force has been working on the recommendation for 18 months. "We started out looking at volume-based pickup, but then realized that if we went to that immediately it would cost more than $12.13," said Loretta Schneider, who is a member of the task force. Schneider said volume-based pickup would cost $13.69 if it were implemented today.

"I think what we really need to do is look at what we're getting for our monthly fee rather than how much the fee is," said Bob Herbst, who is a member of the solid waste task force. "We worked on this long and hard and this is the best value for the most people at the lowest cost."

Added Herbst, "There's no silver lining here. We can't look for some way to subsidize the cost of solid waste. We're in a freefall, and we're asking how are we going to cushion the splat. This is the best solution for now."

Mary Ellen Klein, the city's environmental services coordinator, used an overhead projector to show the breakdown in trash pickup costs. For personnel expense it costs $5.80, operating expenses, $2.54, depreciation expense for equipment, $1.74, interest expense for equipment, 17 cents, and the leaf collection program, 33 cents.

"There are a lot of services built into the solid waste fee that shows we're getting a lot more for our money than some might think," said Sokolowski. "The way I look at it, the increase to $12.13 is nothing more than having to buy an extra six pack of soda each month."

In other business Monday, the council:

-- Gave final approval to an ordinance adopting the annual operating budget for the city of Cape Girardeau for fiscal year beginning July 1.

-- Appointed Jacklyn Clark, Janet B. Ruopp, and Patricia Stahly to the Public Library Board.

-- Appointed David Knight and Cord Dombrowski to the Special Business District Advisory Commission.

-- Appointed Tom Higgins to the Golf Course Advisory Board.

-- Appointed Fred Elfrink to the solid waste task force, replacing Sarah Holt, who resigned her position May 23 due to other commitments.

-- Gave final approval to an ordinance to place yield signs on Perryville Road at its intersection with Lexington Avenue.