CITY ISSUES REVIEWED AT COFFEE

Construction work on the Cape LaCroix Creek/Walker Branch Flood Control Project is expected to start in July or August.

"Everything is ready for the start of this project," said Cape Girardeau City Manager J. Ronald Fischer Friday. "Work will start in an area south of Bloomfield Road, and go north, behind Schnucks grocery and Kmart."

Fischer, one of two speakers during the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee, outlined the plans for the flood control project and reviewed other city projects, including the Lexington Road project and municipal airport improvements.

Douglas K. Leslie then discussed the new Missouri Senate Bill 530, concerning future landfill requirements.

In other activities during the Friday coffee, Maurice "Moe" Sandfort received the 1991 Cobblestone Award, which is presented annually by Willard H. "Dutch" Estes to a person who exhibits civic dedication. Mary Spell, of St. Francis Medical Center, was named "Business Person of the Month."

"We've been working toward a flood control project in the LaCroix/Walker creek areas for 20 years," Fischer told the large gathering at the Drury Lodge Friday. Thanks to the work of Sens. John Danforth, Kit Bond and Rep. Bill Emerson, the project is now a reality."

The Corps of Engineers is scheduled to let bids on the LaCroix Creek segment of the $35 million flood control project June 17. The city's share of the project is $10 million, with the local funds to be retired with receipts from a quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1988.

Fischer added that the designs have been completed for the retention area north of Cape Girardeau.

"The Lexington Road project is an exciting one for transportation in the city of Cape Girardeau," said Fischer. "Work is continuing on the project, and within four to five years Lexington will provide a primary traffic artery in that portion of the city."

Route W will tie into Lexington Street just before Lexington crosses Cape LaCroix Creek, over a new bridge to intersect with North Kingshighway. The project will include intersection work so that Mount Auburn Road and the extension of Lexington come together at North Kingshighway. Traffic signals will be installed at the new intersection.

Fischer also reported on the improvements to the airport terminal. "Funding is now available for the airport terminal remodeling," he said. "This will be a million-dollar improvement."

Leslie, of the Cape Girardeau Public Works Department, discussed the city's efforts for compliance with the new solid waste laws, which call for solid wastes to be reduced by 40 percent in landfills by 1998.

"In January of this year, tires, batteries, waste oil and appliances were banned from landfills," said Leslie. "In January of 1992, grass, leaves and brush will be banned from landfills, and in January of 1994, hazardous wastes from households will be banned."

Leslie said the city was already working with some recyclers in Illinois to take care of part of the problem.

"Many of the tire and used tire shops are making arrangements with recyclers to dispose of tires," he said.

"The leaves will be a problem area," said Leslie. "Last year, we picked up more than 1,600 truck loads of leaves."

He added that leaves resulted in a space problem for landfills. "They won't decompose," he said. "We'll have to compost the materials before they're placed in the landfill.

"Cape is like many other cities who are struggling to comply with the regulations," he said. "It's a difficult task but the public has been educated on waste problems and will be a big help in our efforts."