MAYOR SAYS FLOOD BUYOUT UNLIKELY

Cape Girardeau probably can't afford a federal buyout of flood-prone properties, Mayor Al Spradling III said Monday night.

Spradling said the council could make a decision at its next meeting. The buyout can't proceed without city approval.

Spradling said the city will have to pay 50 to 75 percent of the cost of buying various properties. It could cost the city at least $300,000 to buy and demolish 40 structures, officials have said.

He said the council wants to see some updated cost figures before making any decision.

No federal or state money is available to pay any of the local cost of such buyouts, the mayor said.

Spradling said there isn't any money in the city budget for buyouts. "I don't know where the money is going to come from."

A number of Cape Girardeau property owners want the buyout.

One of those is Harvey Henry, who owns property on Meadowbrook on the city's south end.

Henry urged the City Council Monday night to approve the buyout for the Meadowbrook area.

But after the meeting, Spradling said that if there is a buyout, the city would give top priority to properties in Red Star and Smelterville because they flood first.

CAPE GIRARDEAU CITY COUNCIL ACTION

Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.

City Hall, 401 Independence

Public hearings

Request of Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Hoelscher to designate Hunze House at 312 Bellevue as a historic landmark.

Consent ordinances

Placed a stop sign on Schonoff Lane at Gordonville Road. Second and third readings.

Corrected street name on Mount Auburn I and II subdivision plats. Second and third readings.

Accepted easements for phase one sewer improvements. Second and third readings.

New ordinances

Designated Hunze House as a historic landmark. First reading.

Amended trunk sewer boundaries. First reading.

Approved plans for construction of lateral sewers. First reading.

Approved record plat of Haven Wood Subdivision. First reading.

Accepted easements for sewer improvements. First reading.

Accepted water line easement from Randol Farms Development Co. First reading.

Approved revised record plat of Randol Farms Estates. First reading.

Approved record plat of Etherton Subdivision. First reading.

Approved record plat of Schmidt's First Subdivision. First, second and third readings.

Approved record plat of Randol Farms Seventh Subdivision. First, second and third readings.

Resolutions

Entered into a license and indemnity agreement with Amoco Oil Co. for improvements on Broadway Street right of way. Reading and passage.

Executed a contract with Brenda Kay Construction for the taxi way expansion project at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Reading and passage.

Executed a wrecker service agreement with Seabaugh's Auto Repair and AAA Wrecker Service. Reading and passage.

Approved an agreement with the Cape Girardeau Redevelopment Corp. Reading and passage.

Approved agreement with Burns and McDonnell Engineering for the water treatment and distribution system improvements. Reading and passage.

Executed an agreement with the Safe House for Women for emergency shelter grant funds from the state of Missouri. Reading and passage.

Executed an agreement with the Salvation Army for emergency shelter grant funds from the state. Reading and passage.

Executed an escrow agreement and letter of credit for Etherton Subdivision. Reading and passage.

Appointments

Reappointed David Pfeiffer to the Board of Appeals.

Reappointed Jack Lamkin to the Special Business District Advisory Commission.

Rejected bids and authorize rebidding of Independence Street right turn lane project.

Set public hearing on plan to use Kingsway Drive to create a right turn exit lane for northbound Kingshighway onto Cape Rock Drive.

Accepted lateral sewers for the Route W Commercial Center.

Accepted water main project at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Accepted street improvements in Lexington Place Subdivision.

Released $5,600 escrow for stormwater improvements in Plaza Acres Subdivision.

Accepted water main extension to serve property along County Road 618.

Accepted improvements and reimburse $5,000 for construction of Kenneth Street as a collector street in Randol Farms Estates Subdivision.

Rejected all bids for the seismic protection system for the water system.

Reactivated the Cable Television Citizens Committee to examine programming possibilities and possible third-party operation of the local cable access channel.