PLANNING COMMISSION LOOKS AT TRANSPORTATION TAX PLAN

The city commission that helped draft a proposal for extending the Transportation Trust Fund program thinks voters will be impressed to learn how many improvements have been made.

Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission watched a 15-minute presentation Wednesday night, prior to their regular meeting, outlining what work has been done and what is proposed for the extension of the Transportation Trust Fund program.

City officials have set an election Aug. 8 for voters to consider a 5-year extension to an existing half-cent sales tax that would fund street improvements and widening in the city.

Revenue from the tax extension is expected to be about $20.6 million over the five year period. The project costs are anticipated at roughly the same amount.

A $3 million contingency is built into the program to cover any unexpected inflation costs throughout the course of the program.

The current program was first approved in 1995 but the tax is set to expire Dec. 31. In that program, voters approved 20 major street improvements throughout the city. Of those 20 projects, nearly all have either been completed or are under construction or design phases. All the work is being done under a "pay-as-you-go" plan that means money must be collected from the tax revenue before a project can begin.

City officials hope to have all the projects under construction before the year's end.

The presentation "really shows the improvement to the city," said Tom Mogelnicki, a member of the commission.

Photographs and charts displayed during the PowerPoint presentation show "a lot of improvements are being made," Mogelnicki said. "It shows that a lot has gotten done and we'll be able to do more with the passage."

Commission members helped draft the list of projects being considered in the sales tax extension. An original list of nearly 50 projects was dwindled to the 13 being proposed after months of study and review.

Harry Rediger, a commission member, said many of the people who had already seen the presentation have had good things to say.

In some cases, the presentation has helped explain things to people who were uncertain about the need for an extension, said Charlie Haubold, chairman.

More than 30 similar presentations have been scheduled with civic clubs and organizations. A public meeting is being planned for later this month.

Much of the information being presented was first shown in April when the city and Vision 2000 sought input on the projects being suggested for the program.

Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission

7 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall

Applications

* Unanimously approved the request of G. Keith Deimund Trust to rezone Lots 1, 2, and 3 of Mount Auburn Subdivision No. 7 from R-2, single family residential district, to R-3, two-family residential district.

* Unanimously approved the request of Jerry and Judy Davis to rezone Lots 4, 5 and 6 of Block 2, Oak Park Subdivision, and Helena Avenue from Broadway to Lacey Street, from R-2, single family residential district, to C-1, local commercial district.

* Unanimously approved the request of Douglas J. and Elizabeth A. Hileman for a special-use permit for a home-based business at 1744 Luce Street in an R-3, two-family residential district.

* Denied the request of Larry W. Stone to rezone 327 S. Lorimier St. from R-4, multiple family residential district, to C-2, general commercial district, and for a special-use permit for mini-storage units at that location.

Subdivision plats

* Approved record plat of a resubdivision of a part of Lot 3 of Randol Commercial Park.

* Approved request of West Cape Development for a variance to street width of Shamrock Circle from 30 feet to 36 feet in Crites 10th Addition and from 40 feet to 36 feet in Crites 11th Addition.