Commander Premier eviction can proceed

BENTON, MO (KRCU) - Commander Premier Aircraft Corporation was scheduled for a hearing in Scott County Court on Monday.

Once again, representatives from Commander did not show up.

Judge Scott Horman awarded possession of the airport hangar to the city. The city now must wait ten days before physically removing Commander Premier from the property.

Cape Girardeau City Manager Scott Meyer says the hearing was a big step towards evicting the bankrupt manufacturer from the city-owned hangar.

"Commander, CPAC, didn’t show up so they had a default judgment which means that they were ready for us to file the paperwork to move toward eviction. Since they defaulted there was no need for a trial then, they signed the order, so now then there’s just some procedural things that we do and then we can execute on eviction," Meyer said.

This is not the first time Commander was a no-show in court. The company failed to send a representative before a bankruptcy judge in Texas earlier this month.

Meyer says all of Commander’s belongings are still in the airport hangar.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Cape Girardeau files papers to evict Commander Premier

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The City of Cape Girardeau has filed court papers to ask for the eviction of Commander Premier Aircraft Corporation from a city-owned hangar.

The papers were mailed to the Scott County Court on Thursday.

Cape Girardeau City Manager Scott Meyer says there is still no timeline for when Commander will be out of the hangar.

"It’s still rather complicated whether or not there is a claim of ownership of the equipment by other lien holders and things like that. That is a questions that may speed that up or slow it down. So really it’s still unknown," Meyer said.

Meyer says he expects a hearing to take place within 30 days.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Kelly Green takes over as Cape Girardeau Development Services Director

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Cape Girardeau city engineer Kelly Green is the city’s new Development Services Director. Green officially took over the role on September 5.

The position manages economic development and engineering for the city. Green says her goal is to streamline the city’s customer service for developers.

"One way I think that we can do that is start looking at more of a one-stop shop," Green said. "Right now it can be very confusing to developers. They don’t know which division they need to go and talk. And if they would have one location and one person to come and talk to kind of help guide them through the process, I think that would be very helpful for them. And that’s my primary goal."

Green says a developer can be anything from a homeowner who wishes to add a new room … to a big-box retail chain.

The position has been vacant since Ken Eftink resigned last month.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Judge rules against Commander Premier

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Commander Premier saga is one step closer to a conclusion.

A bankruptcy judge in Texas sided against the airplane manufacturer and in favor of the City of Cape Girardeau Tuesday. Commander Premier did not send representatives to appear in front of judge Bill Parker.

The decision opens the door for the city to proceed with Commander’s eviction from the city-owned hangar at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Over the weekend, Commander Premier executives sent an open letter to the Southeast Missourian, which stated that residents pressured city officials to take action against the cash-strapped company.

City manager Scott Meyer was intrigued by Commander’s strategy.

"It’s just kind of interesting that Commander had time to kind of lay it on the backs of Cape Girardeau citizens. They had time for all of that," Meyer says. "But they didn’t have time to appear in front of the judge and make and their case. It’s just kind of interesting what they chose to spend their time doing."

Meyer says the city should be able to proceed with the eviction within 14 days.

Commander Premier has not paid rent at the hangar since 2007.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Cape Girardeau looks at rental unit inspections

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Like many college students, Casey lives in a house that was converted into multiple apartments. It’s an old building with an old air-conditioning unit. Her bed is only a few feet away from a flimsy door that leads into somebody else’s apartment. It’s the only thing separating her from her neighbors. 

Listen to the story.

And that’s not the only thing wrong with her apartment.

“When I was first moving into my apartment, there were a ton of different damages that was done,” Casey said. “There was a window that was broken, doors that didn’t fit on the hinges. Broken doors that they refused to fix or said they didn’t need to be fixed. And there was like mold on tile and things like that. They said there wasn’t a problem.”

Casey, which is not her real name, had her concerns put into her contract.

She figured that the written agreement would be enough but “it took a month for the window to be fixed, they still haven’t fixed the door,” she said.

And Casey isn’t the only one dealing with headaches caused by unresponsive landlords.

Fourth-seven percent of Cape Girardeau’s residents rent, according to the city government. Many are calling for something to be done about unsafe and often unsightly rental units.

A citizen’s initiative in 2007 asked the city to develop a rental inspection system.

While tenants like Casey like the idea of rental inspections, landlords are digging in to stop the ordinance.

At a public forum with landlords and rental managers in late June, many made their frustrations known. Some say the city needs to enforce the laws already on the books.

Laura Ritter says the ordinance is nothing more than a cleverly veiled tax.

“I’m not in favor of it because I feel like we already have the ordinances on the books now, we already have an inspector so we already have everything in place,” Ritter said. “I think this really is a revenue-created issue, somewhat like even a tax to us landlords. We’ve already got everything in place to deal with all the problems to we have here in Cape.”

David E. Soto owns and operates Soto Property Management, which operates mid- to upper-level rental properties.

Showing me around a fairly new property off Lynnwood Hills Drive, Soto said he feels no compassion for landlords with dilapidated units. But he is afraid that the city’s actions are too broad-stroked.

“If there are problem properties, I personally would like to see them get taken care of. It affects my business when I have properties in that neighborhood. It’s going to affect the rental rate on that. So it does affect me. But again just to put the broad brush of accusing everybody of having to inspect … it just seems like it is too much,” Soto said.

Soto adds that the ordinance’s fees would simply be passed on to tenants in the form of higher rent.

City Manager Scott Meyer says the city does not know the inspections’ cost and he is still weighing two different licensing fees. One would be a flat fee and the other would be based on gross revenue.

“We haven’t landed on anything,” Meyer said. “But I do think that the landlord association has met. That’s one of the things they have focused on. And we certainly are considering it.”

Nevertheless, in Casey’s apartment little has changed. The halls of her apartment are not filled with debate. Rather, they are filled with worries about work, school and mold.

“I do my best to kill it off. But they’re not paying for that. And I can’t take it off of my rent check without them saying that I still owe them money, and then tacking on charges because I did not pay the full amount of rent,” she says.

Tim Filla, KRCU

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Smoke to be pumped through Cape sanitary sewer lines

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Harmless smoke will be pumped through sanitary sewer lines near the Southeast Missouri State University campus to identify leaks and defects beginning on August 5. Work will be completed in approximately 10 to 14 days.

People and animals will not be harmed by the smoke. No smoke should enter if all sewer piping for a building is properly connected and in good, working condition.

To reduce the chance smoke will enter your home or business, briefly run water from all fixtures, including in floor drains, to ensure that all traps are full. If smoke does enter your building it will quickly dissipate.

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Homeowners, city officials consider on-street parking restrictions

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Citizens gathered at city hall Tuesday night to give their two-cents about possible changes to on-street parking near the university. Daytime parking restrictions are looking more and more likely.

The streets addressed at the meeting were Normal Avenue from Henderson to West End; Park Avenue; and the stretch of West End from Broadway to Highland Drive.

A parking permit system which requires decals gained traction with citizens. But the city council rejected the idea because it would restrict access to a public thoroughfare.

Those who wanted parking limitations settled on a daytime restriction from around 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

But homeowner Paul Giebler of Park Avenue is weary of such restrictions.

"Well I’ve gotten two tickets because I’ve had people come in to work on my house that are in the drive way and I had to park my car on the street, policemen comes by and I get two parking tickets just like that," Giebler said.

While many seemed to favor daytime limitations, others were upset with people leaving cars overnight.

While the proposals are not final, city manager Scott Meyer says he wants to complete something before classes begin in the end of August.

Tim Filla, KRCU

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Cape Girardeau won't participate in tax holiday

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Missouri’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday will take place August 5 through August 7. Several local communities will not participate this year, including Cape Girardeau.

The holiday exempts sales tax on many back-to-school items, such as clothing, computers and school supplies.

Chamber of Commerce Director John Mehner says that consumers will be faced with the choice of buying in Cape Girardeau or purchasing items elsewhere.

"Cape is certainly going to have a ton of options and a ton of places to shop within the city, so there are going to be an awful lot of offerings there regionally that you can’t get some other places," Mehner said. "But for those that are strictly trying to look at dollar amounts, it can make a 3 or 4 percent difference, which if you are buying a computer, that can make a difference."

Cape Girardeau City Council voted not to participate in 2009.

City Attorney Eric Cunningham says it comes down to economics.

"Approximately $60,000 would be lost the City of Cape Girardeau if the city decided to participate in the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. And the City Council did not want, in these economic times, to lose that kind of money," Cunningham said.

Even though some communities will not participate, the state’s 4.225% sales tax will still be waived during the Back-to-School Tax Holliday.

Other Southeast Missouri communities chose to opt out, including Farmington, Ironton, Malden, New Madrid and Ste. Genevieve.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Cape Girardeau may require licenses for landlords

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) -Cape Girardeau city officials want to issue licenses to landlords. They also want to inspect rental property at least once every three years.

Assistant City Manager Ken Eftink says that the city will work with the City Council to develop the guidelines that will be used to determine the licensing procedure and inspection criteria.

"It’s more of a neighborhood protection program," Eftink said. "If you have one house on the block that is in poor condition or has other problems, it really brings down the value of the other properties on that block. So to protect that neighborhood, you try to make sure that all the houses on that block are being properly maintained."

The city currently does not have a licensing system in place for landlords.

Eftink says that the inspection will include a checklist of basic items that should be in good condition, such as the foundation, windows, doors, chimney, and roof.

The city will likely hire two addition employees to act as inspectors. Eftink says the licensing fees should cover the cost of the program.

The City will work with City Council over the next few months to hammer out the details of the program.

The city will take input at a public meeting on Thursday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Osage Center.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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City sends final notice to Commander

Cape Girardeau City Manager Scott Meyer sent a letter to Commander Premier Aircraft Corporation, instructing the company to vacate city property within 30 days.

Commander Premier has failed to pay rent to the city for over three years. According to the letter dated May 16, the company has also failed to provide required insurance documentation.

Meyer’s letter says that if Commander does leave the premises within 30 days, then the city has the right to enter the property and remove all parties.

The letter also states that eviction does not end Commander’s financial obligation to the City of Cape Girardeau. Commander must still pay back rent. Interest will continue to accrue.

The aircraft manufacturer has been housed at a city-owned hanger near the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport since 2007.

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