A corporation official who opposed a five-year, one-half cent transportation sales tax the last time it appeared on a Cape Girardeau ballot says he is willing to consider supporting a similar proposal for the June 6 ballot.

"We want to see where it's going," said Ernest Beussink of Six-Thirty Inc. "If we like what we see, we'll support the new proposal. We'll be watching the priorities."

The latest proposal calls for a half-cent, seven-year sales tax. The tax would generate $24.3 million for transportation projects."

Cape Girardeau voters have twice defeated transportation tax measures.

The last time Cape Girardeans were asked to vote on a transportation sales tax, only 3,900 voters went to the polls. More than 2,000 of them voted against a five-year tax proposal that designated funds for 21 street maintenance and construction projects in the city.

That was almost eight years ago, in August 1987. A year earlier, a transportation tax issue also failed -- but by only 171 votes out of more than 6,000 cast.

The 1987 issue was opposed by Six-Thirty, which ran ads suggesting that some of the proposed road projects be re-evaluated. Beussink was secretary/treasurer of the corporation at the time.

"We're pleased that the city will bring in public input for the 1995 proposal," said Beussink. "If it is a good program, the public will pass it."

Public input will be sought during two public hearings this spring. Comments also will come from the city's Planning and Zoning Commission and the Surface Transportation Committee of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

Jim Rust, director of the chamber board, said that body will address the proposal during its March board meeting.

"The board is behind improvements for infrastructure, and streets are included," Rust said. "But we want to take a look at the proposal and its priorities before we make any recommendations."

The chamber board will discuss the proposal during its March 7 board meeting. Infrastructure was listed 7th among more than 20 chamber priorities during a recent survey.

The chamber board supported the 1987 transportation tax. Recently, the board approved the Surface Transportation Committee's recommended support for the completion of the Lexington Avenue arterial project and plans to extend Sprigg Street to the route.

A list of road and bridge projects have yet to be drawn up, but City Manager J. Ronald Fischer and Mayor Al Spradling III say most of the projects are included in an "unfunded needs list" attached to the city's five-year capital improvements plan. There are 31 projects on the list.

TRANSPORTATION TAX

- Similar tax measures have failed twice before in the city, in 1986 and in 1987.

- City officials want public input on priorities for street improvements.

- The Surface Transportation Committee of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and the city's Planning and Zoning Commission also will be involved in the priorities list.

Unfunded needs list

Listed are projects identified in the city's five-year capital improvements plan as major long-range improvements for which funding isn't available. The projects aren't listed in any order of priority.

bullets:

Perryville Road, city limits to Route W and Cypress Drive.

Bloomfield Road from Kingshighway to Siemers Drive and from Siemers Drive to Benton Hill Road.

West End Boulevard from Lexington to Southern Expressway, widening to four lanes.

North Sprigg from Lexington to Route 177.

Mt. Auburn Road extension from Route 74 to Southern Expressway.

Silver Springs Road extension from Bloomfield to Southern Expressway.

Siemers Drive from Bloomfield to new Route 74.

Broadway from Caruthers to West End, widening to four lanes.

New Madrid Street from Henderson to Perryville Avenue, including intersection realignment at Henderson.

Vantage Drive from Percy Street to Route W.

Kingshighway/Maria Louise/Cape Rock Drive intersection.

Independence Street from Kingshighway to West End Boulevard, widening to add center turn lane.

Broadview from Independence to North Kingshighway.

Clark Avenue from Lombardo to Marietta.

16. Kage Road from Mt. Auburn to Hopper.

Hopper Road from Mt. Auburn to Kage.

William Street from Sprigg to Main widening.

Sprigg Street, Independence intersection reconstruction.

Rodney Street, Cape La Croix Creek Bridge.

Curb and gutter restoration, city-wide.

Sidewalks, construction/reconstruction, city-wide.

Street lighting improvement.

Additional trees per Major Street Plan.

Airport, additional airport improvement program projects per Airport Master Plan.

Airport, corporate parcel and utility road extensions.

Airport, land acquisition.

Airport Industrial Park.

Airport, new wastewater treatment facilities.

Public Works ADA upgrade ($20,000).

Public Works free-standing communications antenna ($82,500).

source: Cape Girardeau five-year capital improvements plan