GOVERNMENT: NATURE CENTER NEEDS STATE BACKING

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau County Commission says it won't issue bonds for a new nature center without a funding guarantee from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The county commission has received seven bonding proposals from five financial institutions. Commissioners, however, don't plan to accept a proposal without the state's financial commitment.

"I still have to have something signed," said Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones, who is confident an agreement with the state can be worked out.

The Conservation Department says it can't pledge state tax revenue without violating the Missouri Constitution but could enter into a lease-purchase agreement.

Jerry Conley, department director, outlined the situation in a Nov. 3 letter to Jones: "We have found the department cannot guarantee payment of the lease payment due to the state Constitution and the appropriation process."

But Conley said in the letter that the department can agree to include funding for lease payments in its annual "appropriation proposal."

Conley wrote that lease-purchase arrangements have been used for construction of state prisons and mental health facilities.

The nature center project in Cape Girardeau County North Park would cost an estimated $6.7 million. Bonds would generate about $4.7 million. The remainder is projected to come from donations through the Conservation Department's fund-raising foundation.

Jones said Tuesday that the county won't issue more than $5 million in bonds.

County Auditor H. Weldon Macke said the county may have to issue that much in bonds to have $4.7 million available to spend because the expenses of the financial institution handling the bonds comes right off the top.

The Conservation Department initially looked at retiring the bonds over 10 years, but Macke said the state agency may settle on retiring the bonds over seven years.

Guarantees sought

Macke said county officials want the state agency to guarantee it will proceed with the project and that it would be responsible for the funding needed above and beyond the bonds to complete the project.

Macke said it is important the state commit in writing to pay off the bonds, adding that the county can't afford to foot the bill for the project.

The county already is looking at issuing bonds to finance a new juvenile center that could cost about $4 million.

Even if an agreement is reached soon with the Conservation Department, Macke said it likely will be next year before bonds could be issued for the nature center project.

Plans call for building a one-story nature center east of the Conservation Department's regional headquarters building in the park. The project also includes construction of exhibits and trails.