COUNTY HOLDS OFF ON TAX ABATEMENT FOR OLD HOSPITAL

The Cape Girardeau County Commission Thursday decided to wait before granting any tax abatements for the old St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Commissioners said they would reconsider if and when the proposal becomes a viable project.

Springfield, Mo., developer Trent Condellone asked the commission to forgive back taxes and fines on the property.

Condellone runs a newly formed Springfield, Mo., corporation, 801 Good Hope Inc., which announced it has bought old St. Francis Hospital.

Condellone said the corporation hopes to turn the building into a one-stop government center for social-services agencies. Other options include low-income and senior-citizen housing.

He put renovation costs of the brick building at between $3.5 and $5 million, and said forgiveness of the back taxes and fees was critical to the project.

Back taxes and penalties of $20,608 are owed on the property. The delinquent taxes and penalties have piled up since 1990, and the only taxes paid were those for 1993.

County officials said everyone would benefit if the property could be useful again and be returned to the tax rolls.

But county commissioners questioned the viability of the project.

"It's amazing how people think we came in on the last load of pumpkins," said Gerald Jones, presiding commissioner. "We're not going to abate these taxes just because he asks us."

If the developers can convince the commission that the project will become a reality, commissioners would reconsider.

"We would consider a partial or full abatement, if certain things were done," Jones said. "If we saw contracts for government offices or saw actual remodeling or renovations or even demolition."

County Assessor Jerry Reynolds recommended that the commission wait.

"If you abate the taxes now, no matter what happens in the future, the taxes are gone," Reynolds said.

Losing tax dollars is of particular concern to Cape Girardeau public schools, which have faced a tough financial situation this year. About 80 percent of the money owed on the property would go to the public schools.

Dr. Steve DelVecchio, business manager, also asked the commission to wait before granting any abatements.

"The concept is wonderful," DelVecchio said. "I would like to see some proof he can get it done."