TOURISM PROPOSAL OFFERED

An official with Mid America Hotels told the Cape Girardeau City Council Monday that excess city tourism funds should be used to build a multipurpose building on Cape Girardeau's northwest side.

Bob Hahn, vice president of development for the hotel chain, said a 24,000-square-foot multipurpose building could be developed along with other recreational facilities in a 75-acre tract of land along Mount Auburn Road between Hopper Road and Kingshighway.

"Rather than more bells and whistles for economic development, we'd like to see (tourism tax money) spent on health and fitness and capital improvements," Hahn said.

The council on Oct. 21 voted to solicit proposals for use of the city's convention and tourism funds.

A 3 percent gross-receipts tax on hotel and motel rooms and 1 percent levy on restaurant sales is used to fund conventions and tourism in the city, in addition to other economic development proposals.

The city Parks and Recreation Advisory Board last week recommended the tourism money be spent to develop a softball and soccer complex at Shawnee Park on the city's south side.

Hahn said he wanted to "expand" the park board proposal. He said recreation and fitness facilities add to a community's attraction to new residents.

"Companies will come to a location where they can find employees," Hahn said. "With added fitness and environmental improvements people will be content here."

Hahn said the improvements would have a "trickle-down" effect on economic development. "We want to grow so we can provide jobs for our children and grandchildren."

Hahn also suggested some of the tax revenue be used to build a permanent cover for the Central High School swimming pool, and that the 75-acre tract include the types of sports facilities proposed for Shawnee Park.

He said the site is relatively flat and would require much less grade work to develop than Shawnee.

"Keep the soccer fields in Shawnee and use this site for softball development," Hahn said.

He also said the multipurpose building could accommodate indoor sports with space for a soccer field or three tennis courts.

"Cape Girardeau is the greatest community in the region, in my opinion," he said. "Let's build on it. Let's call this mid-America's total fitness community."

Hahn said development of the site could be coordinated with the city's and Corps of Engineers' flood-control project, which includes construction of a recreational trail along Cape LaCroix Creek.

Hahn said revenue from the tax could finance a $3.8 million capital outlay, which would be sufficient for the suggested improvements.

He also referred to civil action Mid-America has taken against the city regarding the motel and restaurant tax and said the city and company are nearing resolution of the dispute.

"We've been here before and been critical of the city," he said. "But from Mid-America's standpoint, we feel you're headed in the right direction and feel there's no reason why we can't resolve some of our differences."

The council took no action on Hahn's proposal. City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said the city will receive proposals for the tourism fund money this week to later present to the council.

Since the fund's inception, revenue has been used almost exclusively to fund the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau and retire the debt on a $5 million bond issue used to help build the Show Me Center multipurpose building.

The tax has generated about $600,000 annually, and reserves now total $450,000 to $485,000.

In other business, the council approved a motion by City Councilman David Barklage that the city's budget process be studied to find ways to increase council input.

He said the current process doesn't provide the council with adequate item-by-item consideration of the city budget.

"I think it puts an unfair burden on the staff because we're giving them the authority to make policy decisions that the voters have given the council to make," Barklage said.

"We need to look at those programs and items and decide if there needs to be some tough decisions made as far as budget cuts."