The Cape Girardeau City Council approved an emergency reading of a measure to allow electrical work to begin at the Greater Cape Girardeau Business Park.

The council completed all three readings on the ordinance -- minus the vote of absent member Wayne Bowen -- to execute a temporary construction easement to Union Electric Co., doing business as Ameren Missouri, to serve the business park. The 50-foot-wide easement will extend necessary electrical service and infrastructure to the park.

City attorney Eric Cunningham said the city charter authorizes such emergency measures under specific circumstances.

"In this case, it's to preserve public property because construction needs to be done very rapidly," he said.

It was announced in April that Pepsi MidAmerica will be the park's first tenant. It is expected to open next summer.

Mayor Harry Rediger said the work is a "very significant" step for the Pepsi customer service center and future tenants.

"This is a step forward in moving ahead in infrastructure for businesses that will be moving in at the business park," he said.

The council also approved the first reading of an ordinance accepting general warranty deeds and temporary construction easements from various property owners for the Safe Routes to School 2011 sidewalk project. The Safe Routes to School program encourages children to walk or bicycle safely to school by building and expanding sidewalks. The city already has received multiple new sidewalks from the 2008 program.

The 2011 project will build a 6-foot-wide sidewalk along the east side of Kingsway Drive, between Janet Drive and Kurre Lane. It will serve students from Alma Schrader Elementary School. City engineer Casey Brunke said the project is now under the review of the Missouri Department of Transportation, but after receiving its approval can move forward to submit bids for the construction contract.

The council moved to accept another grant geared toward safety, this one for the Cape Girardeau Fire Department. In late September, battalion chief Brad Dillow learned about a grant opportunity provided through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and submitted an application on behalf of the city. It received an award of up to $13,188.39 to purchase water rescue and personal protective equipment. The grant requires no matching funds from the city.

Fire chief Rick Ennis said the grant will pay for Swiftwater rescue equipment, including wet suits, dry suits, gloves and other personal safety equipment. The grant allows the department to expand and replace worn out equipment.

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation will purchase all equipment directly per city specifications and donate the equipment to the city. Once the equipment is received, a demonstration of the equipment and acknowledgment of the donation will be held at Firehouse Subs, 3047 William St. in Cape Girardeau.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.