THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE BEFORE RIVERBOAT GAMBLING ARRIVES

Cape Girardeau voters elected Tuesday to allow a riverboat gambling operation to locate in this city. While it remains far from certain this punctuates the election phase of this story (since the opposition might explore some recourse to the Tuesday outcome), it seems most important now that responsible steps be taken to ensure this development is handled in a way that provides a fair shake both for the business involved and the citizens of Cape Girardeau. We repeat our desire that the city view this as a rewarding economic opportunity and with the prospect of making the riverboat gambling venture here the best in the nation.

Obviously, this issue has been hard-fought in Cape Girardeau. No race in recent memory has provided the poignancy seen on so many streets where neighbors displayed yard signs of differing viewpoints. And though there were isolated calls for business boycotts and incidents of name-calling, the debate, for the most part, assumed the high road: a position was stated one way, an opposite position was stated, and the voters decided. While the people involved, many unaccustomed to the tough nature of political campaigns, had their skin thickened a bit, the principles emerge from this effort a bit wiser and perhaps more fully in tune with their own beliefs. We see no lingering ill effects from the debate that has gone on.

As has been the case in Missouri's metropolitan areas and Jefferson City, where riverboat gambling was approved earlier, the election actually signals a beginning of work, not a culmination. The Cape Girardeau City Council must now get busy in drafting the best arrangement possible for its constituency, exploring vendors that will best serve this industry in Cape Girardeau and ultimately making a recommendation to the Missouri Gaming Commission for consideration of licensing. The Boyd Group of Las Vegas has shown itself to be a premier organization and one that has a sincere interest in coming to Cape Girardeau, but that should not deter the council from looking at all alternative bids from riverboat gambling operators and choosing one that provides the most and the best for citizens here.

Beyond that, the city governing board should look ahead and anticipate problems that might arise from a tourist attraction with the potential to draw a million visitors a year. Security concerns will be foremost, not because of the nature of the business but because of the influx of people and the problems inherent to busy areas. In addition, the city should expect challenges in managing traffic and divine a plan to address this probability. While we don't encourage the managers of local public coffers to count money before it is deposited, it would be prudent to foresee possible uses for revenues that will undoubtedly increase.

Cape Girardeau is an outstanding community. Why shouldn't we expect the best from this enterprise? Why can't we make riverboat gambling a model for the rest of the nation to emulate? With proper planning and direction and the selection of a reputable vendor, this business can prosper and allow Cape Girardeau to prosper in a manner that is safe and unobtrusive to those who don't care for the activity. There is work to be done.