PORT BOARD TO DECIDE RIVERBOAT PLAN HERE

SCOTT CITY - Commissioners of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority Monday outlined a procedure to review development plans for a riverboat gambling company that locates in Cape Girardeau.

Mysie Keene, chairman of the port board, reminded board members that under state law the board is responsible for approving any development along the Mississippi River in Cape and Scott counties.

"This is one of our duties and responsibilities as a port," said Keene. "We have granted these things before."

Any development along the river is subject to port authority approval to help insure construction is consistent with the needs along the river.

Keene appointed a port special Acquisitions Committee to do a preliminary review of development plans once a company is chosen by the city of Cape Girardeau and submits its plans for approval. After the committee's review, the entire board will look at the plan and give final approval.

Based on past requests for developments along the river, Keene said, "We do not unduly withhold our approval."

The port authority has been trying to get a gambling boat on property it owns; however, voters in Scott County defeated the local option for riverboat gambling last November. The issue may be resubmitted to voters later this year.

Although there has been some question about whether there would be enough business for boats to operate in both Cape Girardeau and at the port authority, Keene and Port Executive Director Dan Overbey said the board will do whatever it can to promptly review and approve plans from a company in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Girardeau will likely approve a boat operator in March.

At Monday's meeting, commissioners were advised that final net tonnage passing through the port in 1993 was a 250 percent increase over last year, continuing growth.

Total tonnage for 1993 was 259,338, compared with 74,129 tons that passed through in 1992. Tonnage in December was 25,985, which is well above the 9,858 tons moved in December 1992.

In updating projects, Overbey reported that work on paving the dock is half finished; environmental studies are still being made for the extension of Nash Road; incorporation papers for a short-line railroad the port authority will operate have been filed with the state; and preliminary work is under way for an application to have the SEMO Port designated as a foreign trade zone.

Commissioners also reviewed a policy that will be used to determine how long various types of records should be kept.

At Monday's meeting, Ray Buhs was presented a plaque for his service on the board. Buhs served on the board from 1984-86 and in 1993 served in the at-large board position for the Cape County Commission.

Chap Arnold of Scott City, who was named by the Scott County Commission to a two-year term as the at-large ninth member, attended his first meeting.