Scott City fills vacant seat in Ward 1

Bill Schwartz was appointed to fill the Ward 1 Scott City Council vacancy by Scott City Mayor Tim Porch at the city's Monday council meeting.

The Ward 1 council seat has been vacant since Rodney Holloway's death in December. Schwartz is just filling in for the two council meetings being held before the April 6 election, but he is currently running unopposed for the same office.

Ward 2 has been vacant since its previous officeholder Cindy Uhrhan was appointed to the city clerk position last month. Larry Taylor is running unopposed for the Ward 2 city council seat.

In other business, city manager Ron Askew announced the city's decision to use Elm Street for the Ramsey Creek Bridge project, if the project comes to fruition.

The city must wait to hear back from some major funding contributors before going ahead with the project that would create another route to Interstate 55 within Scott City.

Elm Street would be connected, via the bridge, to the East Outer Road on the north side of the creek and then I-55 would be accessible through Route AB.

According to Askew, the Elm Street route was decided upon because it would affect the least number of homes.

Right now, he said, the county is assured of $200,000 and there is about $1.25 million already available for the project, which will cost an estimated $2.9 million.

"The city has county funds, but we're working on three or four more contributors and trying to get federal assistance," Askew said.

He said the city should know more about the financial situation by July 1 and then decide whether to proceed. If the city has enough money, the bridge is still several years off.

"We're hoping to see the bridge under construction by 2006," he said.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182