CITY POSES QUESTIONS TO RIVERBOAT GAMBLING COMPANIES

The Cape Girardeau City Council has asked the two riverboat gaming companies competing for a license in Cape Girardeau to help them make a selection by clarifying several issues not covered in their proposals.

Below are some of the questions that both companies will be required to answer by 3 p.m. Friday:

-- Please further explain your proposed time frame and what assurances (bonds, letters of credit, escrow agreements) you would provide in meeting all of the development proposal. Who will secure this? Will you be willing to have the entire amount held until all of your project is complete?

-- Please further explain your proposed funding to the Cape Girardeau Parks Development Foundation and other organizations in Cape Girardeau.

-- Do you have plans to directly assist the Cape Girardeau School District through contributions to the school foundation? If so, to what degree and for what time period?

-- What is your proposed use for the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport? Tour aircraft with 30 passenger or more will require fire and rescue services resulting in facility and staffing costs. Will you provide assistance for this?

-- Will you fund a traffic study and recommended improvements of the study?

-- The police department has recommended that a fire and rescue boat be made available to serve the riverboat while underway. Will you provide the equipment?

-- Will you fund impact studies on water and sewer facilities and fund recommendations resulting from the studies?

-- List all political contributions made or contributions made to any business or charitable organization in Cape Girardeau County.

-- Name any individual or business having, or is likely to have, an interest of any kind in the developer or the proposed gaming operation.

The city council also asked that issues pertaining to each specific company be addressed. Of Lady Luck the city asked:

-- Will you cover the cost of extending Lorimier Street and construction of the intersection connecting it to the downtown area north? Will you cover the cost of improvements to Aquamsi, Giboney and William, from Sprigg to Aquamsi?

-- What is your plan for clearing blighted areas to the west of your proposed development?

-- What would you offer the downtown business district in lieu of tax revenue?

-- What is your plan for dealing with crossing the railroad for vehicles and pedestrians?

-- Will your trolley system and parking be available to the public and shared with the downtown?

Specific questions for the Boyd Group included:

-- Will you pay for improvements to William Street from Sprigg to Water, Broadway from Perry Avenue to Clark, Main, from Broadway to Bend Road, Independence from Water to Kingshighway, and the Lorimier connection from the new bridge route to William? Will you also finance sidewalks and street lights?

-- What is your planned access to the river side of the flood wall? Specifically, do you plan to use the Broadway gate for any access purposes?

-- Do you plan additional facilities such as a hotel? If so, these plans will need to be taken into consideration in the infrastructure improvements, particularly sewer and water lines.

-- Why is the Walker tract excluded from the development? What is the proposed hotel site?

-- The development site proposed will eliminate a major fueling point for river pleasure boats. Will you provide facilities at a convenient site to accommodate this?

-- One of the drawings shows Bellevue connected to Main. Is this proposed?

-- Do you have an alternate docking site planned if your proposed site is not approved by the Corps of Engineers and/or Coast Guard?

-- Address the interference of the pedestrian walkway with Union Electric's power lines.

-- Will your parking and transportation be made available free to the public and shared with the downtown?