OPTIONS VARY FROM DOING NOTHING TO REMOVAL

Cape Girardeau's first roundabout could be its last unless the city can find a way to accommodate the growing list of concerns drivers and council members have about the new intersection at Gordonville and Silver Springs roads.

The roundabout was built as part of the Transportation Trust Fund improvements, but the entire road won't open to traffic until the roundabout is reconstructed or redesigned, said City Engineer Mark Lester. Now the section from Gordonville to William remains closed.

During a study session Monday evening, the Cape Girardeau City Council talked about making improvements to the roundabout. No action was taken, and the issue will be studied further.

Before construction on the roundabout was approved by the council, members did know that it was being proposed. The cost of the construction was paid through the Transportation Trust Fund, which is a collection from the half-cent sales tax that pays for major street construction and road repair.

The options for improving the roundabout included doing nothing since the roundabout, which is 16 feet in diameter, is doing exactly what it was designed to do, adding a two-inch concrete overlay as a curb or removing it completely.

Since its construction, the city has had complaints about the roundabout. Speak Out callers to the Southeast Missourian have debated its merits. The city has even sent out press releases to the media explaining how motorists should drive through the roundabout.

But city staff members say the roundabout is what it was designed to do and that the public just needs time to adjust.

Federal studies

Federal studies show that roundabouts reduce vehicle deaths by 90 percent. Mistakes at roundabouts are just fender-benders while mistakes at stop signs can be catastrophic, said Richard A. Retting of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Retting was quoted by the Associated Press after a study was released this spring saying that most intersections converted to roundabouts had fewer accidents and fewer injuries to drivers.

Roundabouts, while popular in Europe, have been slow to catch on in the United States. Roundabouts are less expensive than installing traffic signals, experts say.

Councilman Frank Stoffregen said he would prefer the city rip out the roundabout and make the intersection a four-way stop.

Other council members asked about reducing the diameter of the inner circle, making it easier for drivers to maneuver the roundabout.

Stoffregen admits it wouldn't be cost-effective to remove the roundabout, since the estimated cost would be about $111,000.

Price estimates for other projects ranged from $180 for painting a white strip around the circle to $15,000 for removing part of the brick apron and adding a roll-top curb or $40,000 to taper the existing apron.

Most of those suggestions would require the intersection to be closed for as little as two days to as long as five weeks, according to the report.

In other business, the council approved a four-way stop at the intersection of Mount Auburn and Hopper roads.

"We're walking on borrowed time for people crossing that intersection," said Stoffregen. He asked that the council consider the ordinance in an emergency situation and hold all three readings at once. The ordinance passed unanimously.

CAPE GIRARDEAU CITY COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN

Monday, May 21, at 7 p.m.

City Hall, 401 Independence

Study session at 5 p.m.

Public hearings

• Held public hearing regarding the city's submission of an application to the State of Missouri for the Community Development Block Grant Program for funding for the Good Hope-Jefferson Neighborhood Restoration Project.

Consent ordinances

(Second and third readings)

• Passed ordinance accepting a water line easement from M. Dale and Janie M. Beaird for improvements in Golden Eagle Subdivision.
• Passed ordinance amending Schedule C of Section 26-121 of the City Code by repealing stop signs on Hopper Road, Highland Drive, Hunze Drive, Glenview Drive and Pheasant Cove, and by placing stop signs on Old Hopper Road, Hunze Drive, Glenview Drive, Pheasant Cove, Stag Pointe and Highland Drive.
• Passed ordinance accepting a water line easement from Drury Southwest Inc. and a general warranty deed from DSW Development Corp. for a portion of Richmond Drive, all for improvements to serve Cape West Mobile Home Park.
• Passed ordinance vacating the city's interest in a portion of Helena Street right of way.
• Passed ordinance accepting a temporary construction easement from Timberline International Forest Products Inc. for access to construct a rail spur in the Greater Cape Girardeau Industrial Park.
• Passed ordinance amending Schedule F of Section 26-257 of the City Code establishing no parking on William Street and on Bessie Street.
• Passed ordinance amending Section 15-16 of the City Code relating to selling or soliciting contributions on city streets.

New ordinances

(First reading)

• Passed ordinance appropriating funds for Cape Girardeau School District No. 63.
• Passed ordinance approving the record plat of Mitchell Kinder First Townhouses.
• Passed ordinance approving the record plat of Mid-City Business Centre Second Subdivision.
• Passed ordinance approving the record plat of Universal Real Estate Inc. Townhouse No. 1.
• Passed ordinance authorizing the acquisition of property for the Kingshighway/Commercial Street channel construction project.
• Passed ordinance amending Schedule C of Section 26-121 of the City Code by repealing stop signs on Hopper Road and Mount Auburn Road, and amending Schedule E of Section 26-283 by enacting a four-way stop at Mount Auburn Road and Hopper Road and adding a crosswalk. (Emergency reading for safety concerns.)

Liquor Licenses

• Granted approval of a temporary liquor license for Cape Girardeau Owners and Pilots Club for an event to be held at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport July 13-15.

Granted conditional approval of the following new liquor licenses:

• Retail liquor by the drink and Sunday sales license for S. Stock LLC, dba Broussard's, 120 N. Main, Stephanie Rana Melvin Stockard, managing officer.
• Original package liquor and Sunday sales license for Phillip T. McClellan, dba CRS, 102 Mason, Phillip Ted McClellan, managing officer.
• Original package liquor and Sunday sales license for Semo Gas Inc., dba Street Station, 1101 William, Toni Majeed, managing officer.
• Granted conditional approval of the following liquor licenses

Original package liquor and Sunday sales:

• Bi-State Oil Co., dba Bi-State Southern, 920 N. Kingshighway and 400 Morgan Oak, Robert P. Blank, managing officer.

Original package liquor:

• Yusra Yunis, dba U Kwick Stop, 1700 Broadway, Yusra Yunis, managing officer.

5 percent beer by the drink:

• Chan Po Chun, dba Chan's, 1159 N. Kingshighway, Chan Po Chun, managing officer.
• Salamy Twins, Inc., dba Phoenicia Restaurant, 1000 N. Sprigg, Emad Salamy, managing officer.

Beer by the drink and Sunday sales:

• Cape Girardeau Missouri Parks Development Foundation, dba Shawnee Park Sports Complex, 1157 S. West End Blvd., Daniel D. Muser, managing officer.

Retail liquor by the drink and Sunday sales:

• Outback/Missouri-II Limited Partnership, dba Outback Steakhouse 2615, 101 Cape West Parkway, Andrew P. Hancock, managing officer.

Other

• Accepted the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission to deny the request of Elsworth and Flossie Marie Statler and Lisa Martin for a special-use permit for a manufactured home at 2299 Boutin Drive in an R-1, single-family residential district.
• Accepted the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission to deny the request of Michael F. and Dawn Kirby to rezone 2613 Perryville Road from R-1, single-family residential district, to R-4, multiple-family residential district, and for a special-use permit for a community unit plan for the complex at the same location.
• Accepted the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission to deny the request of Dane Evans to rezone 545 Asher St. from R-3, two-family residential district, to C-3, central business district.
• Passed motion to refer to the Planning and Zoning Commission the re-application of Paul E. Statler Trust and The Rebel Group LLC to rezone the southwest corner of the intersection of South Silver Springs Road and Shawnee Parkway from R-1, single-family residential to C-2, general commercial district.
• Held discussion during study session on notifications of Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council hearings on rezoning and special-use permit requests
• Held discussion during study session regarding the roundabout at Gordonville and Silver Springs roads.