Key Decisions
- The council adopted the agenda unanimously.
- Bill 2610 passed on consent, authorizing a memorandum of understanding with Cape Girardeau County, City of Jackson, and Southeast Missouri State University regarding a joint emergency operations center.
- Bill 2611 passed on consent, vacating the city's interest in a portion of Frederick Street right of way.
- Bill 2613 passed on consent, authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Corporate Flight Management Inc. to provide air carrier service at Cape Regional Airport.
- Bill 2614 passed unanimously on first reading, accepting a permanent utility easement from CNL Quality Construction LLC for Lot 24 of Rock Garden Subdivision for a sanitary sewer line relocated due to rock during construction.
Budget & Finance
- The city received a clean annual audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, with unmodified opinion and no deficiencies or instances of non-compliance.
- Federal expenditures totaled $3.5 million during the fiscal year, including over $980,000 from ARPA grant funds.
- The city's net position increased by $26.6 million, reflecting positive balances in all three categories of net position.
- The auditor noted approximately 300 hours of work went into the audit, which found no issues with internal controls, compliance, or financial reporting.
Coming Up
- CID and Chapter 353 public hearings for Sears Grand redevelopment scheduled for March 2.
- City council consideration of CID and 353 ordinances for Sears Grand project on March 2 and March 16.
- Chapter 100 ordinances for Sears Grand redevelopment to be considered March 16 and April 6.
Other Business
The council received a study session on the redevelopment of the Sears Grand Building and surrounding area. The vacant 142,000 square foot building will be redeveloped into a multi-tenant commercial space with partial demolition, exterior renovations, and parking lot improvements. The developer estimates $23-27 million in private investment. The project would use Chapter 353 property tax abatement, a Community Improvement District (CID) 1% sales tax, and Chapter 100 sales tax exemption on construction materials. The CID would generate funds to reimburse up to $1.5 million in eligible project costs and dissolve once obligations are met. Total estimated value of incentives is $11 million. The city is expected to receive approximately $330,000 annually in new sales tax from new tenants and $13 million overall from all tenants.
The Planning and Zoning Commission forwarded positive recommendations for one rezoning request at 803 Independence Street (from C1 to R4) and three subdivision plats: Laurentious Larkspur, Q's Corner, and Broadway on the Hill.
Lauren Jones provided an update on her service on the River Campus Board of Managers. She reported progress under new Southeast Missouri State University President Dr. Brad Hodson, including designation of four to six annual one-week blocks for non-university events, hiring of a new productions manager, and renewed commitment to restoring the touring series. Jones proposed policy updates to improve accessibility and transparency, including clarifying governance boundaries, activating a 500-seat theater configuration, and modernizing rental structures. She noted several local organizations now prefer other venues due to cost and ease of working with River Campus.
Recaps are based on the official meeting recording and may contain errors or omissions. Always refer to the full recording for authoritative information.