CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WEST-END SPAN FINANCING

Aside from construction of the arterial route itself, connections with the new Highway 74 bridge route through south Cape Girardeau are a top priority for city officials.

Mount Auburn Road, a business-lined, north-south arterial on the city's west end, will connect with the planned bridge route just east of Interstate 55.

But now the city must decide how to finance the connection either by assessing all the costs to abutting property owners or split the burden between the landowners and the city.

The Cape Girardeau City Council tonight will discuss that issue as officials are ready to begin final engineering design and right-of-way acquisition for the Mount Auburn extension.

In a letter to council members, Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink said the city typically charges all the costs of commercial and neighborhood residential streets to property owners.

"The city has typically borne a share of the cost on arterial streets and collector streets through residential areas," Stoverink added.

For example, the cost of Lexington Avenue, the most recent arterial street to be built in Cape Girardeau, is being shared.

The Mount Auburn extension is an arterial street, but, Stoverink said, the street likely will develop commercially. Also, north of Bloomfield Road, construction of Mount Auburn was fully assessed to abutting property owners.

"This was several years ago, however," Stoverink said, "and we have not had any arterial streets through a commercial area such as this in recent years."

Stoverink said the city administration recommended that the costs of the Mount Auburn extension be tax billed to abutting property owners.

"In establishing this policy, the city council needs to consider that special assessments are allowable under law based on a determination of benefit to the properties being assessed," he added.

In other business, the council will consider an ordinance to issue municipal bonds to fund improvements at the city's wastewater treatment plant.

A low-interest loan is available from the state to finance the improvements, but the city first must issue bonds. The Missouri Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority then will purchase the bonds.

The Clean Water Commission is expected to increase the amount of interest subsidy provided on the loans.

"Instead of 50 percent as previously provided, the state will subsidize up to 70 percent of the interest," Stoverink said. "The result will be that the city of Cape Girardeau should have net total interest costs of approximately 2.25 percent to finance these improvements."

Stoverink said the state has included the city in its proposed financing for projects in August.

"The city will be issuing the $500,000 of authorized sewer bonds remaining from the 1985 approval of the voters for bonds to be issued for improvements at the sewer plant," he said.

The bond funds will be combined with the remainder of a previous state loan to finance a pathogen reduction and sludge storage building.

Other agenda items for tonight's council meeting include:

20A resolution authorizing a lease agreement with Mary Bergen to operate the restaurant in the terminal building at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport. Bergen will rent the restaurant for $200 per month, with six months of free rent for "start-up."

20Public hearings regarding 3-inch asphalt overlays for Brenda Lane and Scotts Lane and concrete paving and curbing for Cape West Parkway between Campster Drive and Siemers Drive.

20A public hearing regarding the request of Wanda A. Pipkin for a special use permit to operate a veterinary clinic at 1425 Kurre Lane in commercial district zone. The city's planning and zoning commission recommended the permit be granted.

20A resolution authorizing a contract for improvements to the entrance road at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport. Penzel Construction's bid of $396,175 was the lowest of two bids. Gregory Construction submitted a bid of $426,931, and the engineer's estimate for the work was $368,405.

20A retail liquor by the drink license applications for Rodney Pobst, doing business as River's Edge, 701 N. Main.

20A temporary beer by the drink license for the Noon Optimist Club of Cape for an event Aug. 20-21 at the A.C. Brase Arena Building.