Two Scott City Council seats contested

Over the next two years, the Scott City Council may be making plans to develop an amphitheater and a community center in the city, but first residents will decide April 5 who will help make the decisions.

Council seats in Ward 3 and Ward 4, both two-year terms, are up for grabs and incumbents Robert E. Tyler and Jordan Heisserer both have challengers in Tuesday's election.

The incumbent in Ward 1, Mike Ellison and the incumbent in Ward 2, Joe Hudson, are running unopposed in their respective races.

Both Tyler, 67, and his opponent, Ron Cummins, 46, have years of experience holding public office. Tyler has served on the council for 10 years, and Cummins said he was a member, a voice for residents in Ward 2, many years ago.

"The reason I want to come back in is because I feel like everybody needs to help the community all they can," said Cummins, who is in favor of both a community center and an amphitheater because it would give the city's young people a place for activity.

Cummins said he'd like to see a deeper partnership between the city and the school district in creating more opportunities for children in Scott City.

"A community center would be wonderful. I'm for anything that provides places for our children to go," he said.

Additionally, he said he hopes the council will agree to apply for a Safe Routes to School grant with the Missouri Department of Transportation, so youth in the district will have a safe way to get to their classes.

Cummins said he often sees children walking the railroad tracks and crossing busy intersections near Interstate 55 in order to get to school.

"That's a dangerous situation for them. I'd like to see them have a safer way to get to school," he said.

Transportation is a concern for Tyler, too, who'd like to see the Ramsey Creek bridge project through to completion. Once it's finished, residents will have another route in and out of Scott City. Currently, he said, there's only one entrance -- the exchange at Interstate 55.

"There was a time when a tanker turned over there. It had things tied up for a long time until they cleared it up," Tyler said. "Plus, it's a safety hazard. We've tried to work things out in various manners with the state highway department trying to get some modification to the exchange out there."

Tyler anticipates a council discussion to take place about a portion of the city's sewer lines, a system he'd like to see upgraded or extended, he said.

Although he wouldn't name the area, he said there's a neighborhood in Scott City that is in need of proper sewer lines and council members have discussed polling the area on the issue.

"It may be that the city would have to do what Cape [Girardeau] has had to do to form a sewer district," Tyler said. "And that would be an extended cost to that district."

Ward 4 race

The importance of community involvement has Heisserer, 23, and his challenger Randy Morse, 67, vying for the council's open seat in Ward 4.

"I've always liked being involved in the community. I try to help out anywhere I can," Heisserer said.

Heisserer was elected to his first term two years ago, and Morse, who has never held public office, is a pastor at Scott City First Assembly of God.

Morse said several years ago he challenged the clergy in Scott City to get more involved in the community, so, when he saw an opportunity for himself he couldn't let it pass.

Bringing more businesses to Scott City and expanding current ones, Morse said, is an improvement he'd like to help initiate in the city. Morse said he's worked closely with businesses in the region as well as outside Missouri, including an Austin, Texas, developer who invented the design that created laptop computers, and would like to see the city's economic development leaders connect with agencies in a similar way.

"There are people of influence in Scott City whether you realize it or not," Morse said. "I believe when our area develops and grows our schools are going to prosper and our churches are going to prosper."

Heisserer said the city has networked well with businesses. Scott City administrator Ron Eskew, he said, is part of a regional planning committee and often brings new ideas straight to the council. He said he's happy to have businesses like Bootheel Harley-Davidson in Scott City, because they stay involved with the community.

Additionally, he said, the city helps existing businesses any way they can, although the council had to make a tough decision in 2010 affecting some consumers.

Scott City joined a number of Southeast Missouri counties late last year and passed an ordinance mandating residents present a doctor's prescription to purchase pseudoephedrine products. The product is commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine.

"I actually voted against it. The main reason for that is because I think people abusing it are going to still be able to abuse it," Heisserer said.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

215 Chester Avenue, Scott City, MO