LAND ACQUIRED FROM CAPE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Southeast Missouri State University has agreed to buy a 17-acre tract from the Cape Girardeau School District at a cost of $250,000.

The university plans to build two soccer fields and tennis courts on the undeveloped land, situated on the northwest corner of North Sprigg and Bertling.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast's executive vice president, said the improvements will tie in with construction of the athletic fields on the southwest corner of Sprigg and Bertling.

Dobbins announced the purchase of the property at Wednesday's meeting of the Board of Regents.

Dr. Dan Tallent, superintendent of the Cape Girardeau School District, wasn't at the meeting. But he said later that the school district didn't need the 17 acres.

The district plans to build an elementary school on a 20-acre site just to the north of the land it is selling to the university. Tallent said the university's plans for the property will complement the new elementary school.

The meeting in the University Center Ballroom lasted five hours, which included a break for lunch.

The regents spent much of the time reviewing plans for five campus construction projects. But the board has yet to make any final decisions on the projects.

Southeast wants to renovate Greek Housing and the commons area of the Towers complex at a cost of $11.6 million. It also wants to construct a polytechnic building for industrial technology classes at a cost of $7 million, a university commons or student center at a cost of $12 million, and a parking deck for student vehicles and a restricted path for shuttle buses at a cost of $7.9 million. The university also plans to expand the Student Recreation Center and construct an athletics and recreational complex at Sprigg and Bertling. Ground work already is under way on the recreational complex.

Expansion of the Student Recreation Center and the recreational complex is expected to cost $8.7 million.

The regents approved a revised design for expansion of the Student Recreation Center. Dobbins said the move will save $1 million on construction costs and keep it on budget.

The regents also agreed to expand the recreational complex to the property on the northwest corner of Sprigg and Bertling. By doing so, the school will avoid some costly dirt work in an area near the university track that would have put the project $1.3 million over budget, Dobbins said.

The polytechnic institute was welcomed by Skip Smallwood of AmerenUE and industrial recruiter Mitch Robinson. Robinson is executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association.

Both told the regents that the building would be a boost to industries that need workers trained in high-tech manufacturing.

AmerenUE is providing money to set up a technology lab in the building. Smallwood said he expects other industries also will help equip the building.

A major electronics manufacturer already has plans to donate equipment, he said.

"I don't think there is any secret that what drives the economy right now is technology," Smallwood said.

Robinson said, "All of Southeast Missouri, not just Cape Girardeau, is going to benefit from this."