NEW UTILITIES MANAGER HEADS UP CITY WATER SYSTEM

The Cape Girardeau City Council introduced Kevin Priester as the new utility manager for the city's water system Tuesday.

Priester has been the production superintendent at the water treatment plant since the city purchased the system from Union Electric Co. in 1992.

He was introduced at the a study session prior to the council's regular meeting.

Priester took over his new position Jan. 9 following the departure of Tom Taggart, who managed the system since the city took over ownership. Taggart left to pursue other interests.

Priester has been heavily involved during recent years in the planning phases of major improvements to the system and a renovation of the water treatment plant. Work on the treatment plant will begin this year.

"I hope to keep going forward with the work that has already been started," Priester said.

Like Taggart, Priester is an employee of Alliance Water Resources, the private company which runs the system for the city.

Prior to coming to Cape Girardeau and Alliance, Priester was a utility supervisor for the city of Edwardsville, Ill.

In official action, the council gave final approval to seven road improvement projects.

Those projects:

-- Widen Broadway from Clark Street to Perry Avenue.

-- Improve Mount Auburn Road from Route K to Independence.

-- Improve Bloomfield Road from west of South Kingshighway to Siemers Drive.

-- Improve Bloomfield Road from Christine Street to Sprigg Street.

-- Widen Hopper Road from Oak Ridge Court to Interstate 55.

-- Improve Hopper Road from Mount Auburn Road to Kage Road.

Work on all of the projects will begin this year. They are being funded through a half-cent sales tax approved by city voters in 1995.

The council also granted preliminary approval to a project to improve Delwin Street from Leroy Drive to Janet Drive.

A proposal to extend Kent Street from the end of the existing pavement to Lexington Avenue was defeated on a 3-2 vote. Because of the absence of two council members, the measure fell one vote short of the four needed for passage.

Cape City Council

Tuesday, Jan. 19

City Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Consent ordinances

(Second and third readings)

-- Approved an ordinance amending Chapter 30 of the Code of Ordinances by designating the Freeman House, 24 N. Middle St. as an historic landmark.

-- Approved an ordinance granting a special use permit to Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel for purposes of constructing, maintaining and operating an addition to the church and a temporary construction crew camp at 1904 W. Cape Rock Dr.

-- Approved an ordinance granting a special use permit to Mary E. Skelton for purposes of maintaining and operating a bed and breakfast at 635 S. Sprigg St.

-- Approved an ordinance reaffirming the action of the City Council declaring it necessary to improve, providing for the improvement, directing the city manager to enter into a contract to do the work and providing for the manner of payment for the work of Broadway from Clark Avenue east to Perry Avenue, approximately 2,600 feet.

-- Approved an ordinance reaffirming the action of the City Council declaring it necessary to improve, providing for the improvement, directing the city manager to enter into a contract to do the work and providing for the manner of payment for the work of Mt. Auburn Road from Route K north to Independence Street, approximately 2,370 feet.

-- Approved an ordinance reaffirming the action of the City Council declaring it necessary to improve, providing for the improvement, directing the city manager to enter into a contract to do the work and providing for the manner of payment for the work of Silver Springs Road from Route K to the end of the existing pavement south of Independence Street, approximately 2,100 feet.

-- Approved an ordinance declaring it necessary to improve that part of Bloomfield Road from west of South Kingshighway to Siemers Drive, not including the Interstate 55 bridge, for a distance of approximately 6,500 feet.

-- Approved an ordinance declaring it necessary to improve that part of Bloomfield Road from Christine Street to Spring Street, for a distance of approximately 950 feet.

-- Approved an ordinance declaring it necessary to improve that part of Hopper Road from Mt. Auburn Road to Kage Road, for a distance of approximately 3,528 feet.

-- Approved an ordinance declaring it necessary to improve that part of Hopper Road from Oak Ridge Court to Interstate 55 for a distance of 1,700 feet.

-- Approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of special tax bills for the demolition of dangerous buildings under the provisions of Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances.

-- Approved an ordinance detaching from the city of Cape Girardeau certain land abutting the city of Jackson.

New ordinances

(First readings)

-- Approved an ordinance annexing land to the city of Cape Girardeau upon the request of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.

-- Approved an ordinance annexing land to the city of Cape Girardeau upon the request of David E. Howard, James and Christina Green and Mark and Kellie Phillips.

-- Defeated, 3-2, an ordinance declaring it necessary to improve that part of Kent Street from the termination of the existing pavement in Woodland Hills subdivision to Lexington Avenue, approximately 450 feet.

-- Approved an ordinance reaffirming the action of the City Council declaring it necessary to improve, providing for the improvement, directing the city manager to enter into a contract to do the work, and providing for the manner of payment of the work, of Delwin Street from Leroy Drive to Janet Drive, for a distance of approximately 345 feet.