SOME CAPE VOTERS UNDECIDED ON TAX (TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX; ON THE ROADS AGAIN; LAST IN A SERIES)

Cape Girardeau voters who live on or near roads that would be affected by the transportation sales tax are still undecided on the measure.

"I just got my letter from the city explaining what it's about, but I haven't made up my mind yet," said Emily Schmidt, who lives on Independence. Independence is one of several streets city officials have designated for improvements if the transportation tax passes.

Work on Independence includes widening and reconstruction between Kingshighway and West End Boulevard. There also would be improvements from West End to Water Street and reconstruction of the Sprigg Street intersection.

"I've looked at it, but I need to think about it more," Schmidt said. "If it doesn't pass, it wouldn't bother me at all."

Betty Sargent, who lives on Kage Hills Drive, said she doesn't have strong feelings for or against the transportation sales tax.

"Kage Road and Hopper Road need some attention, and I guess eventually some work will have to be done on them," she said. "I drive on those roads everyday, so the transportation tax will have a direct effect on me. I really don't feel that strongly about this issue, but I plan to vote."

Both Kage and Hopper roads are among the 20 projects included in the list endorsed by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and the city's Planning and Zoning Commission.

Gladys Kelly, who lives on Mount Auburn Road, said she needed more information and input from friends before deciding which way she will vote Tuesday.

"I've been putting off making a decision until I know how other people feel about it," Kelly said.

Norman Kirn, who lives on Perryville Road, said he planned to spend some time over the weekend gathering data on the transportation sales tax.

"I don't feel like I'm versed on it enough to make a decision," he said.

Ralph LeGrand said he would only vote for the tax if a house he owns on Melody Lane were included in the city's asphalt overlay program. The transportation tax would expand the overlay program to pave the remaining two miles of gravel roads with asphalt at a cost to residents of $10 a front foot.

"Right now I'm going to have to pay $25 a front foot for pavement," LeGrand said. "If I can't get the same deal that others who live on gravel streets are getting, I'm not going to want to pay any more than I'm paying right now."

The city is extending Lexington through Melody Lane and has no plans to apply asphalt to the existing gravel road. Thus LeGrand will be assessed his share of the Lexington Street extension project.

That project already is under way as part of the Capital Improvement Plan. It is not included in the proposed transportation sales tax projects.

Louis Haynes, who lives on Farrar Drive, said registered voters should make their opinions count at the ballot box. "If people who are not happy with the condition of roads in their neighborhood or around town don't vote, they really have no reason to complain," he said. "You won't see any results if you don't go out and vote."

Haynes, who is a member of the Vision 2000 Committee, which held 12 public meetings to discuss the transportation tax, said he plans to vote yes.

The last time the transportation sales tax came up for a vote, in 1987, it failed by just 332 votes. The measure also failed in 1986 by just 171 votes.