KASTEN, GATELEY TO CAP OFF COUNCIL CAREERS

When Dr. Melvin Kasten and Melvin Gateley take their seats tonight in the city council chambers, it will be for one of their last meetings as members of the Cape Girardeau City Council.

Both men have served as city council members since 1992, ranking them as the senior members of the city's elected body.

Kasten has been absent for much of the year while recovering from heart surgery; he returned last week for the joint meeting of the Cape Girardeau City Council and Jackson Board of Aldermen.

Kasten and Gateley are nearing the final days of their terms. Neither could file for re-election because they have already served two consecutive terms on the council.

Kasten serves Ward 4, and Gateley serves Ward 5. Both wards have contested races for Tuesday's municipal election. The council will meet again at 3 p.m. Friday to swear in new members.

When the City Charter was amended in 1992, it created a two-term limit for council members. Both Kasten and Gateley were first elected in 1992 and again in 1996.

But leaving office doesn't mean an end to their careers as public servants.

Kasten plans to spend time working with the county medical society and traveling with his wife, Mary, who serves as state representative. She is retiring at the end of her term.

Melvin Gateley said leaving office doesn't mean he will disappear from supporting the city. He will continue to serve on the Vision 2000 board and help with the transition to Vision 2020.

The group is already planning a culminating activity and parade, he said. Gateley is one of the original members of the Vision 2000 group, which began in 1987.

"I was working with the group and someone said If you're going to do all this stuff for the city, why not run for council?' So I did," Gateley said.

He ran as an at-large candidate in 1992 and as a candidate for Ward 5 in 1996.

The best part about being an elected official is "doing all the positive things for people and for the city," Gateley said. "It's a tremendous feeling for people to ask you to help them."

Gateley is quick to offer his help. He wants people to realize that their city government is making decisions for them, based on what they think best serves the people. "I let them have a voice, and it's been easy to do," he said.

Kasten said the job isn't tough if you consider your work to be helping the city.

Serving on the council, or in any elected post, means studying issues and making decisions based on what's best for both the individuals and for the city, Gateley said.

During their tenure, Kasten and Gateley have seen vast improvements in the city -- separating the storm water and sewer lines, improving streets through the Transportation Trust Fund, and renovating the water plant. "You feel like you are helping," Gateley said.

Kasten said the greatest accomplishments during his term in office have been building the Osage Community Centre and improving the streets. "We've done quite a bit," he said.

Gateley not only helped to make changes within the city's infrastructure, but he helped to restructure the council meetings. One of his very first motions as a new councilman in 1992 was to request that the council say the Pledge of Allegiance before each meeting.

"I thought it would be good for the people who are watching at home. This is government," he said. The council meetings are broadcast live on Cable Access Channel 5.

He also requested that the council shorten its meetings by adopting an agenda and sticking to it. Prior to that, the council "would just bring up things and the meetings would just go on all night long," he said.

The average council meeting lasts about 45 minutes now. A study session is held prior to each meeting so that council members can discuss issues and ask questions of city staff.

Gateley and Kasten offered several bits of advice to new council members.

Kasten said the job isn't hard, "but you have to work for it." Some of the work is easier if people know you, he added. "Cape Girardeau has been good to our family."

His wife, Mary, has also devoted plenty of years to public service with school board offices, a seat on the university's board of regents and as representative.

Gateley said being elected to the council can involve work like any other job. He advises: "Be involved because it is a serious matter of life issues for people's welfare."

The quickest way to learn about what's happening is to stay aware of the agenda, what issues are being discussed and study those, he said. "Take an active role and be a good listener."

Council members shouldn't be "wishy-washy," Gateley advised. But rather open-minded and willing to change a decision should new information be presented.

Kasten said he will miss the camaraderie of the council the most. "It's been fun," he said.