BOLLINGER COUNTY POLL SHOWS LAKE DISLIKE

With results of a straw poll showing overwhelming opposition to holding an election, it appears efforts to build a 7,700 acre recreational lake in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties are at an end.

A poll that gave registered voters in Bollinger County the right to say whether they wanted to vote on the lake issue in November was tallied Monday morning and showed 553 opposed to a lake election and 193 in favor.

Presiding Commissioner Elwood Mouser won his office last November, using opposition to the lake as his key campaign issue. But he agreed at a meeting of the lake committee last month to put the issue on the ballot if a poll showed support for doing so.

Mouser and associate commissioners Junior Cook and Jerry Woodfin said they would abide by the results of the straw poll, regardless of the number of votes cast and what the final margin was.

Proponents of the lake agreed Monday that the poll results effectively mean the joint lake venture between the two counties is over. However, they did express regret that the Bollinger County commissioners did not give residents a chance to express their opinions in a formal election.

"That lake is dead," declared Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner after hearing of the results. Members of the Cape Girardeau County Commission had agreed to put the issue to voters. However, before the one-cent sales tax to fund the project could take effect, voters in both counties would have had to approve it.

Huckstep has maintained for some time that voters should be given an opportunity to study the pros and cons of the lake and then vote. "I have always wanted to let

IP0,0the people decide," he remarked. "Win, lose, or draw, the people should have had an opportunity to vote."

IP1,0Associate Commissioner Leonard Sander agreed the lake is dead.

"I don't think there is any question that (Mouser's) intentions were exactly that, to abide by the poll results," said Sander. "He said he would not make the decision on whether to vote as presiding commissioner, but let the people decide."

Associate Commissioner E.C. Younghouse agreed with his colleagues, but added, "It is a shame that people in Bollinger County were not able to vote on the lake."

But Huckstep added, "We can't force them to vote."

Even though he felt the straw poll was the wrong way to make a decision on whether to hold an election, Huckstep said the neighboring county commission could make its decision any way it wanted to.

"The Bollinger County government has every right to do it that way; we respect that," said Huckstep. "We wish it could have been decided at the ballot box, but we certainly respect their right to do what they did."

Voters in Bollinger County could petition the commission to put the lake issue on the ballot, but Huckstep said such option "is none of our business."

Ken Englehart, a member of the lake committee from Bollinger County, said he was disappointed with the results of the poll and doubted whether the commission would be petitioned to put the issue to a vote.

"It would surprise me if the petition option was exercised," said Englehart, adding that he had not considered organizing a petition effort.

"I wish we could have taken it to an election instead of a straw poll, however, the negative votes were overwhelming and an election probably would not have made a difference," he said.

Englehart also viewed the lake as dead. "I don't anticipate any further action," he noted.

"I think the lake has a potential for economic development beyond any of our expectations," Englehart said, calling it a good deal for Bollinger County.

"Since the initial lake construction was going to be supported by a sales tax, a very small portion of the lake was going to be paid for by Bollinger County."

Charles Haubold of Cape Girardeau, who has chaired the lake committee that was formed in December of 1986, said he hates to see the project end without a formal vote.

"I don't know how you can take a poll to see if you want to vote. That's just another way to try not to get it on the ballot," said Haubold. "But if they (Bollinger County commission) are satisfied it is true and accurate, I guess we will abide by the outcome."

Asked whether his efforts the last four and a half years had been wasted, Haubold said, "They have been wasted for it to come to a halt like this. If we had taken it to a real election where everybody had a chance to present both sides, I would have been satisfied. If we had an election I could walk away knowing; but to have a poll to decide on an election, as far as I'm concerned, is a cop out."

Rock Wilferth of Cape Girardeau, another member of the lake committee, was also critical of the method used to decide whether to call an election.

"I feel that was a very inappropriate way to decide whether the issue was going to be put on a ballot for a vote," declared Wilferth. "It borders on ridiculous to have a handful of people decide the outcome of an issue that affects 70,000 people in the two counties, whether it would be yes or no.

"I strong disagree with how they did it, but from what I hear, it would appear the issue is dead."

Like Haubold, Wilferth regrets no election was held. "If it had been a real ballot issue and had been defeated, I would have felt comfortable that we gave it our best shot and people didn't go with it. But the way it is now, I'm not convinced a majority of people are actually opposed to the lake."

Huckstep said he would await official notification from the Bollinger County Commission that there would be no election before deciding whether to bring the lake committee back for another meeting or to disband.

"We'll give it a little soul searching and wait for official word," said Huckstep.

"I am assuming and anticipating he (Huckstep) will disband the lake committee," observed Haubold. "I see no reason to keep it intact."

During the years of study, some discussion was held by committee members about the feasibility of having a smaller lake within the boundaries of Cape Girardeau County only. About one fourth of the proposed lake would have been in Bollinger County.

Huckstep said that might be looked at but had serious reservations about its feasibility.

Haubold noted the committee had discussed a lake only in Cape County but said he does not think it is possible. "I would say it is highly unlikely," he said.

Wilferth added that he hopes the committee will at least look into the idea of a Cape County lake. "I would be very excited about looking into that possibility," he declared.

Although the lake issue appears dead for the time being, proponents held out hope that things might change some day.

"The project is proven to be feasible and the issue could be brought up at a later date," said Englehart. "Another set of commissioners in the future might want another straw poll or decide to have an election."

Haubold added, "It could always happen; somebody, somewhere, someplace may wake up to see it is an advantage for the area rather than a hindrance."

"Maybe people's opinions will change in a few years," remarked Huckstep. "But for now, the issue appears to be settled."