LICENSE REQUEST REVIEWED

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The City Council Monday discussed for the third time in two years a liquor license application for the former Sprigg Street Tap at 316 S. Sprigg.

The council voted in 1989 and again last November against granting a liquor license to John and Jerrianne Malone Wyman, who wanted to reopen the tavern.

But Phillip McClellan now has applied for a liquor license at the facility. The matter prompted Councilman David Barklage to ask the city staff to draft a resolution that would prohibit repeated liquor license applications after previous licenses were denied.

The Wymans' requests were denied after members of the True Christian Pentecostal Witnesses church objected to the closed tavern being reopened. The church is near the tavern site.

Barklage said he thought repeated applications give "special interest" applicants an advantage over citizens who are forced to prepare on short notice to protest the license. He said there should be a mandatory interim before someone can resubmit a rejected application.

"We ought to look at a six-month or year limit on liquor licenses and something similar on rezoning requests," Barklage said.

"These issues are controversial, they take up a lot of time, and they serve special interests. It's very unfair to the citizens who are opposed to the license."

Councilman Al Spradling III said he thought six months was an adequate minimum time period before a rejected application can be resubmitted. He said the citizens near the proposed tavern and the church members should have the opportunity to oppose the license.

"The residents are trying to upgrade the neighborhood, and I know it's been a tavern for many, many years, but I also know those people have problems with it," he said.

The city staff will prepare a resolution on the matter for the council's consideration Wednesday.

In other business Monday, the council discussed whether fees for city building permits and building code appeals should be increased to better offset administrative costs.

City Planner Kent Bratton said he thought the city was "pretty well where we want to be" in terms of its fees. Assistant Manager Al Stoverink said the fees now recoup about 50 percent of the administrative costs for processing the permits and appeals.

But Barklage said he thought the city might want to establish fees based on a percentage of administrative costs rather than a set fee.

The council also discussed a recommendation by the city's Historic Preservation Commission that the city apply to the Missouri Certified Local Government Program. The program provides resources for establishing and developing historic areas for member cities.

Councilwoman Mary Wulfers also asked that the renovation plans for City Hall be amended to include four, 52-inch ceiling fans in the council chamber/municipal courtroom area of the building. The remaining council members consented to the suggestion.

In other action at Wednesday's meeting, the council will consider:

A law accepting property transfers from Charles F. and Joyce Blattner and Jerry and Martha Erlbacher; Drury Development Corp.; First Exchange Bank; and Joe David James Jr. for the Cape LaCroix/Walker Creek flood-control project.

A law authorizing special warranty deeds to H.W.I. Building Corp. for land in the Cape Girardeau Industrial Tract.

Reappointment of F. R. "Rock" Wilferth to the Cape Special Road District.