It was slow going at the polls Tuesday morning in Cape Girardeau, where voters were choosing whether to keep an ordinance that allows bow hunting for deer within city limits, selecting school board members and deciding who will serve on Cape Girardeau County's public health center board.

As of 9 a.m., only 64 people had voted so far at Westminster Presbyterian Church, according to election judges there. A short time later, 61 people had voted at St. Andrew Lutheran Church and a few people were headed in to vote at the Arena Building, which was closed briefly early Tuesday after a report of a gas smell. The source was identified as a pilot light that went out, and the polls soon reopened.

Clerks in Perry, Scott and Bollinger counties also reported light turnout. Those counties each had a use tax on their ballot, that if passed would allow the counties to again collect sales tax on vehicles purchased out of state.

One voter's car at Westminster Presbyterian Church was decked out with an opinion on the deer question.

"Control the urban deer population," read signs adhered to the back windows. "Please vote no on April 2. Give plants and small animals a chance."

Opponents of the ordinance, which was narrowly passed by the city council last summer, say there are alternative methods to hunting that could be used to control the population and that allowing bow hunting within the city is unsafe. A citizen group, Keep Cape Safe, gathered enough petition signatures after the ordinance passed to suspend it. The city's first-ever referendum was then created and a special election was later called when the council did not vote to repeal the ordinance.

A recent population density survey conducted by the Missouri Department of Conservation in Cape Girardeau found the city has an average density of 37 deer per square mile -- an amount the department said is similar to densities seen elsewhere in the state where communities have taken action to reduce the herd.

Opponents are also concerned that voters could be confused by the wording of the ballot question.

"That's been my biggest worry all along," said Stephen Stigers, who leads the citizens' group.

The ballot language asks voters to choose "Yes" if they want to repeal the ordinance, which would mean hunting would not be allowed. Voters are asked to choose "No" if they want the ordinance to stay in place and hunting to be allowed.

Stigers said he overheard a voter at his polling place question election officials about the language when he voted Tuesday morning.

Mayor Harry Rediger reminded the public during Monday night's city council meeting that a "Yes" vote means the ordinance will be rescinded and a "No" vote means it will stay in place.

Laura Woldtvedt fills out her ballot Tuesday, April 2, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. The building, which is the polling place for the Seventh and 17th Precincts, had to be evacuated due to a gas leak a short time later. The Cape Girardeau Fire Department discovered the source of the leak, a pilot light on a stove, and the polls were reopened just before 8 a.m., after being closed for approximately 20 minutes. (ADAM VOGLER)

One precinct seeing plenty of traffic early Tuesday afternoon was Precinct 16, where election officials said nearly 200 people had voted by 1 p.m. at La Croix United Methodist Church.

"We always have more come out over here," said Byron Foust, who was handing out "I Voted" stickers to people as they left. "We'll meet our 15 percent, I think."

By about 2 p.m., 180 had voted at St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark Summers predicted last week the voter turnout in the county would be around 15 percent.

Four voters who declined to give their names said they voted "No" on the deer hunting question, and provided various reasons for doing so.

"I didn't really feel strongly either way," said one man, "but I think the hunting will be very limited. I don't think it will be a problem."

The ordinance requires hunters to get permission from property owners before hunting, requires the use of an elevated stand in an area containing less than 10 acres of land and prohibits hunting on less than three acres of land. The ordinance also states certain rules for firing arrows near property lines and onto private and public property, and requires that hunters perform a "reasonable search" for a deer they injured or killed.

Injured deer and the problems they could cause were reason for Phil Hinkle to vote "Yes" for repealing the ordinance.

"A wounded deer is more of a danger to the community and other property than anything in the form of a live deer," Hinkle said.

Another voter said she felt like a citizen committee that recommended to the city council a deer population management program begin, and the council itself, did enough research to convince her that a program was needed, so she voted "No."

If the ordinance is not repealed, it will go into effect after the city council approves election results Friday, although hunting would not be allowed until the opening of archery season in Missouri, which is Sept. 15.

About 25 Missouri communities, including suburban cities near St. Louis and Kansas City, already allow urban deer hunting.

Look for more election coverage later at www.semissourian.com and in Wednesday's Southeast Missourian.

eragan@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

1820 Perryville Road, Cape Girardeau, MO

804 N. Cape Rock Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO