PLAN HEAVY ON WATER, SEWER WORK

Cape Girardeau's $73.9 million, five-year capital improvements plan lists 121 projects involving everything from streets to sewers.

The largest category is $42.3 million for water, sewer and solid waste projects.

The category includes sewer improvements costing $27.9 million, $5 million for expansion of the city's water system and $929,000 for completion of the Cape LaCroix/Walker Creek Flood Control Project.

Also on the list is $220,000 for construction of a new water tower in fiscal 2001.

The second largest category is transportation and public works, where the city plans to spend $26.3 million over the next five years.

Included in this category are $18 million for street and bridge projects, $6 million for airport projects and nearly $2 million for public works improvements.

The plan includes construction of a new public works building at a cost of $1.65 million, slated for the 1998-99 year.

The city plans to spend $1.35 million on parks and recreation projects, including $655,200 for completion of the Cape LaCroix hiking and biking trail.

The city wants to spend $4 million on community development projects, including $919,000 for construction of a new fire station along the new Sprigg Street extension north of Bertling.

It would replace a fire station on Emerald that is more than 40 years old.

Construction of a new fire station is slated for fiscal 1997-98.

The plan also includes $2.7 million in improvements to the city's other three fire stations and construction of a fire and police regional training center.

The $1.33 million center would be used to train firefighters, police and industrial employees throughout Southeast Missouri. The project is on the drawing board for fiscal 2000 and 2001.

The community development category also includes $250,000 for construction of new offices for the Convention and Visitors Bureau in the next fiscal year.