VOTE COULD LEAD TO PORT GAMBLING VOTE

BENTON -- Scott County voters will be asked to authorize riverboat gambling in an election Nov. 2 that could lead to establishment of a floating casino at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port near Scott City.

Riverboat gambling also will be on the election ballot in Cape Girardeau that day. It marks the second time around in Cape Girardeau; voters rejected the issue in June.

Scott County commissioners said Thursday that they had been asked by port authority board members to put the issue on the ballot.

"We've already agreed to put it to the voters and let them make a decision," said County Commissioner Joe Spalding of Benton. But he said that official action putting the issue on the ballot may not come until September.

Port authority commissioners Morty Potashnick and William Bess, both of Sikeston, and Fred Surman of Chaffee met with the Scott County Commission Tuesday, along with two representatives from Promus a Memphis, Tenn.-based company that operates Harrah's Casino Hotels.

Promus is proposing to dock a floating casino at the Mississippi River port, said Bob Kielhofner, Scott County clerk.

Plans call for the gaming company to enter into a five-year lease with the port authority, he said. The floating casino would employ about 700 people and have an annual payroll of about $14-$15 million.

The company is talking about spending $30 million in development costs, Kielhofner said.

"They are projecting they would do $50 million worth of gross business in a year," he said. Based on that figure, the venture would generate an estimated $10 million annually in taxes for the state of Missouri and the county, said Kielhofner.

Promus officials indicated the company "was willing to do a lot of infrastructure work," Kielhofner said. That work includes dredging and enlarging the harbor.

The gambling boat would be stationed on the Scott County side of the harbor. The regional port encompasses land in both Cape Girardeau and Scott counties.

Kielhofner said Promus officials indicated that if voters approve riverboat gambling in November, a floating casino could be in operation at the port by August 1994.

The company has offered to pay the cost of the election, which Kielhofner estimated would total about $15,000 to $16,000.

Since the floating casino is proposed for an unincorporated portion of Scott County, a countywide election is required, Kielhofner said.

The idea of a port authority leasing land for riverboat gambling is not unique. Kielhofner said a similar venture has been proposed in St. Louis County.

Promus officials in Memphis declined comment Thursday on the Scott County venture.

Mysie Keene of Jackson, chairman of the port authority board of commissioners, refused Thursday to speak of the prospective tenant by name. She said names of prospective tenants are confidential.

"We are working with a prospective tenant but no agreements have been reached," she said.

The nine-member port authority commission, comprised of members from both Cape Girardeau and Scott counties, has not voted on requesting an election on riverboat gambling.

But she acknowledged that port authority board members from Scott County had approached the county commission with such a request.

Keene also said that all of the port authority's members are "enthusiastic" about what they view as an economic development project for the region.

The project would means jobs and increased tax revenue, said Keene.

"If this prospective tenant does decide to locate at the port, it will be a tremendous move forward in the economic development of the port," she said. "It will be the biggest thing that ever happened."