BOYD GIVES CITY DRAFT OUTLINING DEVELOPMENT

The Boyd Gaming Corp. moved a step closer to bringing a riverboat casino to Cape Girardeau this week when it gave city officials a draft of its development agreement.

Although the agreement is in the works, Mayor Al Spradling III doesn't look for a boat to be operational in Cape Girardeau until at least 1997.

The development agreement spells out exactly what Boyd will do in return for permission to dock a boat on the city's riverfront.

The agreement would formalize improvements the Boyd group will make to city streets, water mains and sewer lines. It also lists the company's planned buildings and parking lots.

For example, the agreement will address William Street improvements, relocation of parking around Indian Park and changes to the intersection of Sprigg and William.

But more importantly, Spradling said, the agreement will include a time frame for the work to begin and be completed.

"I don't want this thing open-ended," he said. "I want to be able to bring this to a conclusion at some point."

Spradling said some community members have felt frustrated at the pace of this project.

"When any of these endeavors start out, we hope it will be a lot quicker than it is," he said. "It just hasn't happened as quickly as a lot of people would have liked."

He added that Boyd has a significant investment in the city and that from the standpoint of the project going forward, "this agreement is another indication that they are interested and want to proceed."

Ken Eftink, city planner, said city staff and officials are in the process of reading the draft. Comments, suggestions and changes will be collected and then, city and Boyd officials will meet.

The goal is to get a final agreement before the city council for a vote in July.

Spradling said Boyd's proposal should require few changes and he expects to have the details finalized within a couple weeks.

Boyd representative Evelyn Boardman said, "We were thrilled it was finally delivered. I know they've been working really hard on the Kansas City project. We were delighted they did get it in the works now."

In the meantime, Spradling said, Boyd may soon begin some demolition work, including tearing down the old license bureau building and removing the old Sinclair station fuel tanks.

"They're moving forward," the mayor said. "It will still be some time before they will be making their application."

The Gaming Commission is real clear it isn't ready to accept applications for a while, Spradling said. The company also has to secure permits from the Corps of Engineers.

AT A GLANCE

The proposal submitted by Boyd Gaming Corp. will lead to an agreement spelling out exactly what Boyd would do in return for permission to dock a gambling boat in Cape Girardeau.

The agreement would formalize improvements Boyd will make to city streets, water mains and sewer lines, and list the company's planned buildings and parking lots.

The agreement would include a timeframe for the work to begin and be completed.

Plans are to get a final agreement proposal before the city council for a vote in July.

Boyd may soon begin demolition work, including tearing down the old license bureau building and removing the old Sinclair station fuel tanks.

The mayor doesn't expect a riverboat to be operational in Cape Girardeau until 1997.