Cape Girardeau leaders urge voters to approve water referendum ahead of Tuesday election

Mayor Kinder and members of the Cape Girardeau City Council urged residents on Aug. 4 to vote in favor of a city water referendum scheduled for the next day, saying the city's water utility lacks revenue needed for expansion and future improvements.

The appeal came during council communications and remarks before the regular meeting. "I just want to encourage all citizens in the city of Cape Girardeau to support the, the water referendum that's on the ballot tomorrow," Councilmember Dan Preston said. "Nothing is more important to the current times and the future of a community than good, clean, fresh, healthy water."

Why it matters: City leaders said the municipal water utility does not currently generate sufficient revenue to fund needed expansion and improvement projects. Mayor Kinder said the council and administration began planning after a 2022 facility report and stressed the referendum is intended to prevent potential "catastrophic potential problems" if no action is taken. "This whole ballot issue, really is is dependent upon the situation on the ground," Kinder said. "What we are trying to do is prevent, the city experiencing some pretty catastrophic potential problems. We know those are coming, if we do not act."

Council members and supporters also thanked local media and a citizen-led "YES" committee for outreach work. Councilmember (unnamed in the transcript) thanked "JJ and Casey, Kevin Grieser, the members of the YES Committee, and everyone else that has made an effort to get the word out, answer questions, and clarify things." The council repeatedly encouraged all eligible voters to exercise their right to vote, and several members said they hoped the measure would pass.

What was said about costs and rates: Council members emphasized the city has worked to answer public questions and to correct misinformation. One council member noted that even with an increase, "water rates in Cape Girardeau are gonna be significantly lower than many other cities in Missouri."

Discussion versus action: The meeting record shows only public appeals and council comments encouraging a yes vote; no ordinance or formal council action on the referendum occurred at the Aug. 4 meeting. The council repeatedly urged residents to seek information from city officials and town-hall meetings before voting.

Looking ahead: The referendum remained on the ballot the day after the meeting; council members said they would be available to answer questions following the election returns.