LETTERS: DRURYS HAVE GIVEN MUCH TO CITY

To the editor:

As a resident of Cape Girardeau and an employee of Drury Southwest, I would like to comment on the City Council's recent rejection of the request for a sixth-floor addition at Auburn Park Office.

Drury Southwest applied for a special-use permit for occupancy of the sixth floor of Auburn Park Office. The construction of this floor as an attic had already been approved with the original building permit. The height of the columns was increased before the application for a special-use permit was sent to the city. The code does not disallow our final column height and, therefore, would not require further approval after the original building permit was approved.

We were not asking for approval after the fact or requesting special treatment. We were following codes, requirements and procedures set by the city for a special-use permit. This permit is available to all contractors, large or small, when a decision is made to change construction approved after the original permit. I do not understand why approving the occupancy of a floor that already existed would in any way set a dangerous precedent.

We anticipated council approval for the special-use permit for occupancy, because we considered it to be a reasonable request. If we had included the sixth floor in the original permit application, the council would probably have approved it, just as they approved the fourth and fifth floors. That leads me to believe that the rejection may not have come from what we were requesting as much as who was making the request. I have heard many comments about the Drurys during my years of employment with them. I find it amazing that the citizens of Cape Girardeau benefit from the Drurys' investments of time, energy and money, yet are so unappreciative of the jobs provided and the tax revenue created by their investments.

The Drurys have investments in many parts of the Midwest. Their 90-plus hotels are located throughout the heartland of America, but I have observed in the past 12 years that their hearts belong to the Cape Girardeau area. They invest much of their time and energy here, not because it is simple (as proven by the City Council's recent decision), but because this is home to them. This is the area that nurtured them in their youth, and I see them giving something back to us.

I know firsthand the large investment Bob Drury has made in Cape Girardeau in recent years. Alliance Blue Cross-Blue Shield (300-plus jobs), strip center next to Wal-Mart (50-plus jobs), Drury Southwest corporate office, construction and divisions (190-plus jobs), duplexes and apartments (affordable housing for 50-plus families) and the list goes on.

Drury Southwest recently completed the Ramsey Branch sewer extension. We donated our engineering service and easements, managed the project and were able to complete the project at one-fourth the cost estimated by the city capital expenditure program. In addition, it was completed 10 years ahead of the city's proposed schedule and has opened the entire west side of the city to future expansion now, not 10 years from now.

We also worked with the city to complete the Highway 74 extension to Bloomfield Road. We donated the right-of-way, paid for 40 feet of pavement and are carrying the interest expense on the project until June. The final cost is well below the estimate from the city. The city did not have the completion of this section scheduled for at least another year, but it has been usable since last November. We also worked with the city to bring 56 acres in that area into the city by annexation. The 56 acres, owned by Drury Southwest, were annexed into the city on the same night and by the same City Council that rejected our special-use permit. No mention of that was made in the April 7 article in the Missourian.

In the past months, Drury Southwest has been working with the city of San Antonio, the San Antonio Historical preservation Committee and the National Parks Service for approval on renovating a historical building in San Antonio into a Drury Inn River Walk Hotel. We have found all departments to be cooperative and interested in this development, because it will benefit the area with jobs, hotel rooms and taxes. We are adding a floor to the top of the building and have made several additions to our original plans during the course of this development. We know firsthand how other cities work with developers to improve their cities and provide job opportunities for their citizens. Take note, Cape Girardeau City Council. We know how it can and should be done. Bob Drury: The next time you get out your checkbook to pay for a development that will provide jobs and tax revenue, you might want to look at a city that appreciates you.

The article in the Southeast Missourian April 7 stated that during the council study session questions were raised because Mr. Neumeyer wondered about Dennis Vollink's requesting the special-use permit, because as an employee of Drury Southwest and a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, his action might constitute a conflict of interest. Mr. Neumeyer: Wonder about this. At the P&Z meeting Dennis declared that he was speaking as a presenter and not as a P&Z board member. He did not participate in the discussion as a P&Z board member, and he did not vote on the issue of the special-use permit.

Dennis would not benefit financially from the approval of the special-use permit as implied in the Missourian article. He is the company engineer. As a paid employee, there would be no financial gain to him on the projects he manages for Bob Drury, who is the owner. Dennis has served on the P&Z board for 14 years. Every time his term expires, it is the Planning and Zoning Commission that invites him back to serve yet another term (volunteer, by the way). Because of his knowledge and experience in construction and development, he is a valued member of P&Z. He brings know-how and common sense in his service to this city through P&Z. Dennis is honest and ethical. Many of our own citizens and elected and appointed officials could take lessons from Mr. Vollink on integrity. Take note, Dennis: It does not sound as if your service to the city is appreciated, and I am sure your family would enjoy having you at home on the nights of the P&Z meetings.

If your read the article in the Missourian or watched the City Council meeting on TV on April 6, and you in any way smiled or smirked at the outcome, ask yourself these questions: Why did the council really reject a reasonable request to change an existing floor to occupiable space? In what way would the sixth floor have had a negative impact on our community? Could it have been a benefit to the community? Was it rejected because the City Council needs to exert its power over area businesses? And when will the City Council make a decision in the future to unreasonably exert its power that will direct you, Mr. Taxpayer?

CONNIE EICHHORN

Cape Girardeau