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Perry County seeks pro help with resport project

By Adam Testa, The Southern

Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:42 PM CDT

PINCKNEYVILLE - Although officials "haven't heard anything" about the proposed Branson-like resort near Pinckneyville, members of the Perry County Board have approved bringing in professionals to help if the project develops.

Board members authorized Chairman James Epplin to contract Gene Norber, president of St. Louis-based Economic Development Resources, and Kurt Froehlich, a Champaign attorney specializing in public and municipal financing and local government law, to aid in the economic and legal aspects of the project.

"We need to get some professional help on the issues," Epplin said. "We can't sell the county short."

The project is the proposal of the Glen Carbon-based Toney Watkins Co., which last year pitched the idea of converting a portion of Pyramid State Park into a resort similar to the famed one in Branson, Mo.

The project would bring 2,500 jobs to Perry County, which had an 8.9 percent unemployment rate as of May, the second highest in the state.

Payment amounts for the contractual services have not been set yet, but Epplin said the budget will need to be amended after that is determined.

Norber and Froehlich were the team responsible for spearheading the effort to bring the Harrah's casino to Metropolis, and they are currently working on the riverfront development project in the same city.

Norber also has worked with the cities of Du Quoin and Pinckneyville on economic development projects.

"We were very fortunate to get these two on our side," said State's Attorney David Stanton, who said months were spent researching the best candidates for the contracts.

Representatives of the Toney Watkins Co. did not return calls for comment.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

351-5031