CHAMBER BOARD DISCUSSES MSA

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce will continue its efforts toward designation of the area as a Metropolitan Statistical Area during the coming year.

"The Census Bureau has some complicated rules concerning MSA designations," said John Mehner, president of the local chamber. "We want to look into all the options and see if there is anything we can do to receive urbanization designation."

Urbanization was one of two major priorities discussed at the chamber's board of directors retreat Friday at the Lone Star Industries Natatorium. "We'll also be looking at work-force numbers," said Mehner.

With Cape Girardeau County unemployment at or below 4 percent in recent years, a concern for Cape Girardeau businesses is the labor force.

The urbanization issue was discussed at length.

In accordance with Census Bureau criteria, an area can include portions of two counties with a continued population of at least 100,000 and two or three nucleus cities with a combined 50,000 population.

"We qualify on both of those counts," said Mehner. "I have no doubt that the three nucleus cities -- Cape Girardeau, Jackson, and Scott City -- have the necessary population."

There were 101,009 people in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties, according to the 1990 census figures, and the populations of Jackson, Cape Girardeau and Scott City combined for about 48,000. Within the immediate nucleus were probably enough people to reach the 50,000 mark.

But there is a big hitch.

The outlying or urban fringe area must have at least 1,000 people per square mile. The parks, the cemetery, and the industrial park prevent this.

"I don't think we should be penalized for having beautiful county parks and green space, an industrial park and a cemetery in our area," said Mehner.

Yet those three things have blocked the area's request for MSA status in the past.

The retreat also saw the seating of new board members.

Bart Ozbun, vice president and financial counselor-in-charge of the local Merrill Lynch investment office, is new chairman and will assume the chair's post in January. He succeeds Doug Groesbeck.

"The chamber is seeing a lot of progress," said Groesbeck. "We've had great leadership from many citizens throughout the past year. This has resulted in almost 100 percent completion of the goals we established this time a year ago."

Groesbeck will remain on the chamber board as an ex-officio member through 1999.

Other new members to the board this year are Gordon Brookman, Edgewater Glass; John Abercrombie, Capaha Bank; Jim Sexton, St. Francis Medical Center; Dave Blanchard, Dana Corp.; Steve Leus, Lone Star Industries; and Cathy Swan, JCS Tel-Link.

"We're looking forward to the new year," said Ozbun. "We'll continue to offer strong support for Southeast Missouri State University's new River Campus. And we'll be looking at ways to improve and maintain membership."

The chamber's membership has remained steady at more than 1,200 during the past two years, the third largest in the state behind Kansas City and Springfield.

Among Friday speakers were Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III; Dr. Dale Nitzschke, president of Southeast Missouri State University; Dr. Dan Tallent, Cape Girardeau public schools superintendent; and Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Area Industrial Recruitment Association.

Spradling discussed the continuation of work on city streets and the water plant upgrade. "Both of these items are on our priorty list," said Ozbun.

Also on the priority list is working with new and expanding industries.