RIVERBOAT SELECTION PROCESS TO BEGIN

Members of the Cape Girardeau City Council are likely to have a preliminary discussion next week about establishing a process for selecting an operator for a riverboat gaming development on the Mississippi River.

The council is scheduled to meet next Tuesday to certify the results of Tuesday's election where citizens approved the local option for riverboat gaming, and to also meet with the airport advisory board.

Mayor Gene Rhodes and Councilman Albert Spradling said Wednesday they hope to discuss the process briefly at the meeting so it can begin as soon as possible.

"Personally, I would like to have a decision made by the end of the year," said Spradling. "I would hope we could establish a date for when we would like all presentations and information from interested operators filed with the city. I would hope that would be on a short fuse, possibly by our first meeting in December."

Rhodes added, "There is no question we need to get moving as quickly as possible. We need to get the ball rolling and need to discuss it Tuesday. Somebody may have some ideas on what to do, because we are all breaking new territory here."

Once an operator is approved by the city council, the company can submit an application to the Missouri Gaming Commission for a license.

But not every member of the city council sees the need for urgency. Mary Wulfers, who was active with the group that opposed the gaming issue, said who the boat operator will be is "an awfully big decision, and one I am in no particular hurry to make. I know there are those in a hurry, but I refuse to oblige them.

"I know there are many greedy people interested in coming to set up shop here in Cape Girardeau."

Wulfers said she hopes the Citizens Against Riverboat Gambling organization will be successful in challenging the results of Tuesday's election, possibly through another election to try and reverse the decision.

"I have a perspective against it," said Wulfers. "I'm not so sure yet that the fat lady has sung. I think we need to wait and see."

Wulfers also suggested that it might not be possible for the council to move as quickly as some members and proponents of the issue are wanting.

"If it comes down to it, I imagine that selection process will take place way down the road. As far as I'm concerned, the further down the road, the better," said Wulfers.

Councilman Melvin Gateley said he wants to be sure proper city procedures are followed for making the decision, but is willing to consider the issue when the staff places it on the council's agenda.

Assistant City Manager Doug Leslie said he anticipates the staff developing possible specifications for accepting proposals and a process for taking proposals. "I don't know what the time frame will be, but I assume it will move quickly if that is what the council wishes," said Leslie. "At this point, I don't know how long the process will take.

"The applicants need some time to prepare proposals and have them reviewed by the council. Those steps will take some time. We do have some information from some of the other cities that have been through this and will be reviewing their processes. But this is not something that is widespread and no one has a lot of experience with it," said Leslie.

Spradling agrees that the council is entering relatively new territory and the final process will likely require several special meetings by the council as it attempts to find the best operator for the city.

After Tuesday's election returns were in, Dan Davis, a consultant for the Boyd Gaming Corp., said the company plans to submit a proposal to the city council. Last June's first campaign was entirely financed by Boyd and the company also provided some late support for this election.

If selected, the Boyd company has promised a $37.5 million development in downtown Cape.

But several council members Wednesday said they wanted to hear proposals from any companies that are interested and do not believe the Boyd company is an automatic choice.

Said Spradling: "I don't think anybody has earned special treatment at this point. Obviously Boyd is one group that has been vocal and out front, and certainly we know about them, but now we have a new playing field and everybody has an equal chance.

"It will depend on who will be best for the city; who will have the staying power in the business and who is willing to make an investment in the community. Until we know who is out there and what will be offered, it is premature to make any indication that one group has an inside track just because they were involved in the campaign."

Gateley said he anticipates several groups might look at Cape Girardeau and he wants to find "the best qualified one. The better their package for the advantage of our citizens is what we are looking for."

Gateley said he is aware of Boyd's interest in the city, but said he has no one group in mind. "As a council member I will be open-minded and take a good look at each and every group that might submit an application," he said.

Rhodes said he believes the Boyd company "should have very serious consideration, but should not have it handed to them. But if two proposals are exactly the same, I think the ball would tilt to them."

Rhodes said he has been impressed by what Boyd has proposed and looks forward to seeing their final offer and comparing it with others.

"I have met with representatives of the Boyd Group several times and my comment has always been I will wait until the citizens tell me what to do, and then I will do my very best to work out the best deal for the city of Cape Girardeau," explained the mayor.

"I want the best deal for Cape in the long run, not the short run. That is always my goal -- doing what is best for the city as a whole, regardless of what we are considering."