The Cape Girardeau City Council celebrated the final meeting for two of its members Monday night, while preparing to replace a third.

Councilwoman Meg Davis was recognized for her four years of service in Ward 2, while John Voss was recognized for his eight in Ward 1. Mayor Harry Rediger presented plaques to each member and listed some of the major achievements that happened throughout their years of service, which included the Broadway Corridor project, completion of the River Campus and various capital improvements.

"It's been a great run," Rediger said.

Two new council members will take the place of Davis, who is moving out of the ward, and Voss, who reached term limits, after elections today. They will be installed to the council Monday.

Voss took a moment to thank the city staff and the other council members and share some advice for the new members.

"Whoever steps up on that podium has big shoes to fill," he said, indicating the raised seating area where members sit in the council's chambers. "Take it seriously."

While the council waits to see who will be filling those shoes, it will play a more proactive role in the replacement of Ward 3 representative Trent Summers. Summers, whose term was set to expire in 2016, resigned from his seat March 31 because he's moving out of the city.

The council has 60 days from his resignation to appoint a temporary representative for the ward until one can be elected to serve for the remainder of the term. Rediger said the council needed to be "very thorough and very deliberate" in selecting the temporary replacement, as it would give that person an advantage if he or she chooses to run in the election as well.

The last time the council had to select a temporary representative was early last year after Kathy Swan resigned as Ward 6 representative to serve as a state representative. The mayor said they were fortunate to find Ray Buhs to serve as interim Ward 6 councilman because he had no interest in running in the election for the position.

Councilman Wayne Bowen, who was elected to replace Swan and represent the ward for the rest of her term, suggested the city create two forms and divide the interested candidates into two groups: those who wish to only serve temporarily and those who wish to serve in the temporary position, then run in the election.

Council unanimously agreed to make both forms available for interested candidates to pick up from city hall Wednesday. It also approved a deadline of April 18 in order to have the forms submitted for council review at its next meeting April 21. Rediger said the issue would be "thoroughly discussed" but there was no guarantee a decision would be made.

Also honored at Monday night's meeting was assistant police chief Roger Fields, who died March 30. A moment of silence was held in his honor and the mayor read a proclamation thanking outside law enforcement agencies for supporting the Cape Girardeau Police Department after the loss of the veteran officer. Bowen said many agencies paid their respects at his funeral, and Rediger said Missouri State Highway Patrol officers patrolled the city during Fields' funeral to allow each member of the city's police department to attend.

Other business

The council unanimously approved a resolution allowing police chief Wes Blair to enter an agreement with law enforcement agencies in Sikeston, Charleston and Poplar Bluff to establish the Southeast Missouri Street Crime Task Force. Blair said the goal of the task force was to "drive the criminals out of the region altogether" rather than pushing them from one town to the next. The task force will focus on narcotics trafficking and violent street crimes as identified by local police chiefs.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.