County to seek block grant for road improvements

As part of continued efforts to improve two county roads, the Cape Girardeau County Commission voted Monday on a resolution to seek assistance from the Community Development Block Grant Program.

A unanimous vote followed a public hearing.

Margaret Yates, grant administrator with the SEMO Regional Planning Commission, is helping the county with its application. She said the hearing was part of the application process and to allow the public to weigh in on the project, although no one spoke Monday.

The county wants to improve part of county roads 346 and 347. It would do much of the work with its crews, and any assistance from the block-grant program would pay mostly for materials.

The work is related to a local company's expansion.

"This is in regard to Capital Sand Co. that's opened a sand quarry in that area, and the traffic has picked up, like we all anticipated," associate commissioner Paul Koeper said. "The roads really need to be upgraded and improved."

He said the county still is seeking easements in the area needed for the project. The roads generally are expected to remain in the same alignment, although some grade changes are expected.

Yates said review of the application could take about a month.

This is not the first step the county has taken toward an attempt to improve the county roads. The Delta Regional Authority recently announced plans to award $11 million to projects in Southeast Missouri, including Cape Girardeau County's road improvements.

The Delta Regional Authority's investment is $200,000; the leveraged public investment is $1,254,138; and private capital investment is $600,000.

Once Capital Sand is able to expand, it's expected to create an additional 25 jobs.

Other business

Commissioners unanimously approved a 2016 contract with Cape County Private Ambulance. The contract was for $100,000, to be paid in monthly installments. Commissioners said this price was a few thousand dollars less than the contract price approved for 2015.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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