UNIVERSITY: FUNDS ANNOUNCED FOR POLYTECHNIC BUILDING

Southeast Missouri State University's plans to build a polytechnic building are back on track.

Gov. Mel Carnahan on Monday released $129.3 million in capital improvements funds for Missouri's colleges. The money is earmarked for 28 projects on 19 college campuses. Included is $5.6 million for construction of the industrial technology building at Southeast.

"It is great news for SEMO," said Chris Sifford, the governor's spokesman.

The money was included in the budget approved by the Legislature last year, but Carnahan withheld the money because of a lawsuit filed by the state auditor's office. The Carnahan administration said the state would have had to refund the money to taxpayers if the state auditor's office had been successful in its suit.

The auditor's office argued that the state's share of riverboat casino admission fees should be counted as part of total state revenue, which would have had a bearing on Hancock tax refunds. The courts ruled against the auditor's office in regards to all but a small amount of the gambling revenue.

"We were successful at every turn of the legal process," Sifford said. The legal proceedings ended last week when the Missouri Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

Carnahan announced the release of the money in a conference call Monday afternoon to the presidents of Missouri's colleges and universities.

Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president, participated in the call. "I am very pleased it worked out the way it did," he said.

Nitzschke said the funding would allow the university to construct an industrial technology building that would serve the region.

"It will give us a major tool to work with business and industry throughout our Southeast region," he said.

Nitzschke said plans for the project were put on hold last year when the funding was held up. He estimated the project has been delayed by four to six months. "We couldn't even do the planning work," said Nitzschke.

The university, he said, now will finalize the building plans and proceed to break ground.

Southeast plans to construct a 60,000-square-foot polytechnic building to house the university's industrial technology program and provide space for customized training for industries.

An old dining hall that has served fraternities and sororities at Southeast would be absorbed into the new building.

In all, the project could cost about $8 million. In addition to the state money, the university is raising private funds for the project.

Otto and Della Seabaugh of Cape Girardeau agreed last year to donate more than $1 million toward the project. Nitzschke said the university also has received a $250,000 donation and several smaller financial gifts.