SCOTT CITY PUTS GAMBLING ON APRIL BALLOT

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City council approved a measure Monday which will allow the voters to decide whether or not they want riverboat gaming in the city.

"Time is of the essence for this one," said Scott City Mayor Larry Forhan regarding the ordinance before the council to add riverboat gaming to the April 5 ballot. Monday was the deadline for placing any initiative on the ballot for the next election.

"Our community should not be torn apart by finger-pointing and name calling," said Forhan prior to the vote. "I don't believe someone who votes against riverboat gaming on moral grounds is necessarily a good person, and I don't believe someone for votes for riverboat gaming is a bad person.

"The purpose of our vote tonight is to bring the issue before the voters so that they can decide for themselves," he said.

Although other members of the council expressed some reservations about the gambling issue, Ward 3 Councilman Terry Johnston was the only member of the body to vote against it.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Ladonna Phelps added, "I don't think we have the right to deprive the people of their right to voice their opinions on this matter."

The Scott City Ministerial Association voiced its opposition to the city council at the start of the meeting. The Rev. Rennie Phillips, president of the association, discreetly passed around sheets to council members, informing them of the association's stance against the gambling issue.

"Our opposition to riverboat gambling in our community is based not only upon the moral issues of gambling, but upon practical considerations as well," the statement said. "It is our belief that the fabric of our community would suffer irreparable harm if gambling were to come to this town."

An initiative to approve riverboat gaming in Scott County was soundly defeated in November, but Scott City wards voted in favor of the proposal.

If the initiative is passed in April, the city plans to attempt a friendly annexation of part of the Southeast Missouri Port Authority, extending the city's limits to the river. At least one Cape Girardeau County commissioner has voiced strong opposition to any single city owning an interest in the port, or controlling commerce therein.

Several Scott City residents attended Monday's meeting, after reading about a closed meeting held by the council a week before. In that closed meeting, council members decided to put forth the gambling ordinance which was passed at Monday's meeting. The council also authorized Forhan to send letters to 30 national gaming companies, to solicit interest in a Scott City boat, during the closed meeting.

Forhan said at Monday's meeting that Casino Magic, a riverboat gaming firm with a lease option on some land near the port authority, has not spoken to the city lately about a future partnership.

"I came here out of curiosity," said one resident at Monday's meeting. "I had read that you all met last week, and it sounded kind of fishy in the paper. I just wanted to know what was going on."

The council defended its actions, saying the meeting was properly posted and that they had the legal right to meet in closed session.

"The Missourian has attacked Scott City and we don't know why," said Forhan. "We can't help but think their actions are politically motivated, because they don't want Scott City to get a boat which would compete with theirs."