COLONIAL CAPE PLAN IS BASED ON SOLID FACTS

In response to your editorial of Sept. 27 concerning Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation's request for motel/restaurant tax dollars to help operate the Old St. Vincent's College -- known to us as the Seminary -- as a historical museum and cultural arts center, it is important to review some factual information surrounding your position.

On two occasions the proposal for a sports complex for the city of Cape Girardeau was put to a vote for the people, and twice the voters of Cape Girardeau said no to the proposal. Contrary to that vote, the city council voted in the spring of 1992 to fund a sports complex, and in April 1992 issued $4 million in general obligation bonds to fund the project. Payment of the bonds is to be made from the Convention and Visitors Tax Fund.

City Ordinance Code 15-399, Ordinance Restrictions, states:

"The Convention and Visitors Fund shall be used exclusively to pay the interest and principal of the general obligation bonds issued in connection with the University/City Multi-Use Center and to promote tourism, conventions, and other related activities and programs for the fostering and development of economic development in the city."

At the time of decision, the Seminary project came in second with the CVB board voting, and the city council voted Aug. 3, 1992, to study spending excess tourism funds on the foundation's proposal.

We know that $4 million has been committed to the sports complex project. Since April 1993, $1.5 million has been spent on architectural fees and dirt work. Bids are not in and approved at this date.

Your editorial indicates that the city and we as taxpayers are obligated to withholding all CVB funds and permit the parks and recreation project, much of which will benefit a limited segment of the population, to have an open checkbook -- amounting to $5 million or $6 million -- two and one half years after the council voted to spend $4 million. Your newspaper is recommending that we "wait and see."

Our request to the CVB and the city council will be for excess funds, over and above $4 million. No one -- not the CVB board, the city finance director nor city council members -- has been able to give us the amount of excess funds available. Is the Southeast Missourian privileged to this information?

It has been our position since the project was envisioned that to make this historic preservation, cultural and educational project a success, a public/private partnership with the city of Cape Girardeau is necessary. Our research shows that there are instances where private operations have received funding from the city.

Most projects such as the one we envision are supported through tax revenue, for example St. Louis' art museum, science center and transportation museum.

Do you prefer that this historic landmark, built before the Civil War in 1843 be torn down and destroyed by bulldozers? Shouldn't these magnificently beautiful and serene 17 acres overlooking the Mississippi be used and enjoyed by citizens of Cape Girardeau? Are you certain that the people of Cape Girardeau do not want excess CVB funds used for an educational and historical museum where our rich history and heritage can be preserved? Do we not deserve a fine art heritage can be preserved? Do we not deserve a fine art museum at this historic location where our children and grandchildren can see and learn in Cape Girardeau some of the same attractions available in St. Louis and Memphis?

Tourism is the second most profitable industry in Missouri. Our project for a museum focusing on the history and heritage of this region, the Civil War and the Mississippi River will undoubtedly be a tourist attraction of great economic benefit to the city of Cape Girardeau.

Our foundation, which includes committed and dedicated citizens, is most anxious for our newspaper, the Southeast Missourian, to join with us in taking a leadership role in promoting historic preservation, arts and culture for Cape Girardeau.

Loretta A. Schneider is the executive director of the Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation.