LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: WHICH COMPANY HAS PROVEN TRACK RECORD?

To the Editor,

As a commercial real estate broker I have worked closely with the Boyd Gaming Group during the past year in acquiring property necessary for their proposed gaming facility.

It should be duly noted that consideration was given by the Boyd Group to the seminary location. After careful study, the problems associated with the seminary location were just too numerous and much too difficult -- if not impossible -- to overcome.

Concerns included the location of the gaming boat. The construction of the new bridge and demolition of the old bridge will cover 5 to 10 years. The Highway Department will not allow a gaming boat anywhere in close proximity to this effort. This is fact, not supposition. An alternate location would have to be moved further south complicating more the possibility of getting any city benefit from additional traffic, which brings us to the next point.

As for traffic questions put forth recently about the Boyd location. Granted, there will be additional traffic thru the City in which Broadway, Independence and William Streets will all benefit. The question is, has any city ever improved the business district by bypassing said district? True, problems will have to be addressed. But Boyd Group will pay for the study and the city-determined solution. In this, the City is the winner.

Another issue that should be noted: the time factor. It is a very important aspect of the question before the council. We all know how time flies -- three years is almost a blink of the eye. If gaming turns out to be the answer to many of our economic woes and is a boom business in Cape Girardeau, a new endorsement process with the City of Cape Girardeau, in the drivers seat, can be started in three short years for additional boats, programs and developments, etc. etc.!

The big question boils down to, If our City can only support one gaming facility at this time, who should we choose? Who will be the best asset to the entire community?

The answer is, simply, the one with the proven track record of success and community involvement -- in short, the one with a good neighbor philosophy that can easily be documented.

IVAN L. IRVIN

Cape Girardeau