SCHWAB PROPOSES LAKE BILL CHANGES; LAWMAKER SAYS LET LANDOWNERS HAVE FIRST VOTE

State Rep. David Schwab of Jackson says he won't support the Cape Girardeau-Bollinger counties recreational lake bill without major changes.

Schwab Tuesday proposed three amendments to state Sen. Peter Kinder's lake bill.

Under Schwab's amendments:

-- The lake project would first be voted on by affected property owners. If a majority of landowners approve it, the county commissions would put the lake-tax issue before voters in both counties.

-- A proposed sales tax to fund the lake project could only be put before voters once.

-- The lake authority would have to pay taxes for five years on any property it owns.

Current legislation exempts the lake authority from paying any taxes to local municipalities, counties or schools and other political subdivisions.

"We cannot afford for our local schools to lose additional revenue because of the lake development," Schwab said.

Affected landowners should have a right to vote first on the lake project, said Schwab. "I believe that we should give landowners in the affected area the right to vote whether or not the lake should be built on land that will affect their property," the Jackson-area Republican said.

Schwab said the lake issue shouldn't be allowed to resurface year after year. If a lake tax is voted on and rejected, that should be the end of it, he said.

Schwab said he is considering even further revisions to the bill.

Schwab said he isn't trying to defeat the lake project, but affected landowners should be considered.

Schwab mailed a survey to 220 property owners in the Millersville area of his district where the lake would be built.

He said he has received responses from more than 110 landowners. Eighty percent of the responding landowners oppose the lake project and Kinder's bill, Schwab said.

Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, has introduced a bill that would amend the 1990 lake law.

Project supporters hope it would revive efforts to develop a Cape Girardeau-Bollinger counties recreational lake. Such a project has been kicked around for nearly a decade.

Kinder's bill would allow lake supporters to circulate initiative petitions to get a sales tax issue on the ballot to fund the lake project.

The bill also would limit a lake authority's power of eminent domain.

Kinder said Tuesday he would review Schwab's amendments. "I have an open mind," he said.

Schwab said he hopes Kinder will attach the amendments to his bill in the Senate. If not, Schwab said he will offer the amendments when the bill is sent to the House.