City Manager’s Report 4/14/2025
A Word from City Manager, Dr. Kenneth Haskin

Our primary role as public servants is simple: we’re here for you. Being here for you means listening to your concerns, understanding your needs, and doing our best to make decisions that reflect the values and priorities of our community.

City Council and I are excited to introduce Text My Gov — a convenient, smart text messaging service designed to keep you informed and connected with the city.

We are thrilled to offer reliable support with 24/7 access to City services. Just Text “Hi” to 573-314-5575 to begin. You can ask a question, find specific information, or report a problem to us. Residents can text a keyword or phrase anytime and receive automated responses to common questions like facility hours, public meeting information, and more.

You can also easily report problems such as potholes, code violations and nuisance issues and you have the option to attach a photo.

This is just one of the many ways we are working to improve open communication and make staying informed simple and accessible for all of our residents. We know you’re busy, and we want to make it easy for you to stay involved, even while on-the-go.

You can also sign up for alerts to receive important city news and updates directly to your cellphone by texting Cape to 91896. Reply “YES” to opt- in.

Keeping communication open helps us build a stronger, more connected community. Save these contact numbers in your phone, and check out cityofcape.org/connect for more details. We would love to hear from you!

Community and Infrastructure Updates:

Our water treatment plant is facing real challenges, and Council is committed to keeping you informed as we continue working to address these critical issues. Staff has been focusing on preventative maintenance and long-term infrastructure improvements to offset aging systems and keep up with growing demands.

We have been able to repair Clarifier 1, upgrades to the lime system are actively underway, and the hydraulic bottleneck project to increase capacity is currently under construction. These are just a few examples of how we are working to take steps to ensure a more resilient water system. For the City to continue providing reliable, clean water to our households, medical facilities, schools, and business community, and to support staff as they continue to address emerging issues, additional funding is needed.

City Council is carefully reviewing and considering a provision as part of the next ballot initiative that would amend the City Charter such that the annual limitation of fee increases for water, sewer or solid waste per fiscal year does not exceed 15%. 

For example, in a fiscal year that a 15% maximum increase, per the Charter, is adopted for water fees, an average monthly increase is projected to be approximately $2.39 for most residential customers. For commercial customers, an increase of 15% is projected to be approximately $2.67 per month.

While no one on the Council takes the idea of increasing taxes or service rates lightly, this adjustment is critical to protect the reliability of our water system and ensure that we can continue meeting the current and future needs of our growing community. The health and safety of our residents remain Council’s top priority. Your voice is import, let me know what you think!

We are very grateful for our voters approving the Transportation Trust Fund Sales Tax last week. The community was very involved in developing TTF7, and this success will keep projects funded through 2030.

Our streets crews have been hard at work cleaning up in the aftermath of the recent storms. City contractors are currently out on Cape Rock Drive, Lexington Avenue, South Sprigg Street, and a few other places. With more concrete replacement on Perryville Road starting soon, our engineers are working to plan lane closures and detours with your commute in mind. We know work zones are an inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience and caution. Read more about current, recent, and upcoming street projects listed at cityofcape.org/streets.