At Rotary meeting, Isle of Capri execs field questions on casino's effect

Members of the Cape West Rotary Club asked executives with Isle of Capri how their plans for a Cape Girardeau casino would affect existing community organizations and businesses.

Ron Burgess, senior vice president for Human Resources at St. Louis-based Isle of Capri, spoke to about 50 Cape West Rotary Club members Thursday at the Elks Lodge. Most members said they did not attend last month's casino presentations before the Cape Girardeau City Council.

"Regulatory powers will pay attention to how the community feels," Burgess said. "You do have a role to play."

A recent petition drive has forced a vote on casino gambling in Cape Girardeau in November.

Burgess said Isle of Capri's proposal would bring new jobs and tax revenue if the city is awarded a gaming license by the state later this year.

At Isle of Capri's Boonville, Mo., casino, which is similar in size to what the company is proposing in Cape Girardeau, the operation provides 500 jobs with an annual payroll of $14.6 million and pays about $2.5 million annually in property taxes.

Burgess said current property taxes collected on the proposed site, north of Cape Girardeau's existing riverfront park area, is about $9,736.

Rotary members asked how a new casino would affect local bingo operations by civic groups such as the Optimist and Kiwanis clubs, as well as local churches and veterans groups.

"There's a lot of money made on bingo in this community that goes to support programs for our youth," said Tom Reinagel, who designed and built Bingo World in Cape Girardeau in 2001.

"I want to make sure it remains viable," Reinagel said of Bingo World. "I think it may have an impact, but I hope it will be short-term."

Burgess said Isle of Capri's intention when moving into any new community is to add to it, not take away from it.

Isle of Capri communications director Jill Haynes said Isle of Capri was made aware of the bingo situation earlier this week and that company officials are discussing what they can do to help.

In the last two years, Isle of Capri distributed $500,000 to Missouri-based charities, Burgess said.

Show Me Center director David Ross asked how Isle of Capri's plans for a 750-seat amphitheater would affect his venue. Burgess said the company would like to cooperate with the Show Me Center and wanted to make sure casino patrons had easy access to the venue.

The acts likely to be booked at the casino are not the same type of acts that would fill larger venues like the Show Me Center, Haynes said. Groups such as .38 Special and The Commodores did a concert series this summer, stopping at several Isle of Capri properties, Haynes said.

Retired engineer Ralph Maxton asked several questions about the feasibility of Isle of Capri's proposed Cape Girardeau site, a 20-acre tract on North Main Street, between Mill and Mason streets.

"I can't envision that being the best location. That is a main line railroad running right through that property, and the sea wall will block the view of the river," Maxton said. "I also can't see running all those cars from I-55 down Broadway."

Maxton said he's neutral on the casino issue. "If it comes, fine; if not, fine," he said.

Burgess said the proposed development is land-based and does not include a boat. The casino floor will sit on shallow chambers filled with water in order to meet the state gaming commission's requirement, Burgess said. The railroad will continue to run along the edge of the development, Haynes said.

Along with 1,200 gaming positions and an amphitheater, the proposed development also includes four restaurants.

Burgess estimated the development would bring 1 million people to downtown Cape Girardeau annually.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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