Joplin City Council Continues Tax Proposal Discussion

The Joplin City Council continued their discussion of the Finance Committee's Revenue Options Report as they look to further fund police and fire wages by increasing the city's revenue.

Attorney Peter Edwards says a productive meeting was held between several city leaders to meet solutions to police and fire pay issues as well as for other city employees. One issue was the April ballot and a consensus was found that trying to put a question on the April ballot would be a rush.

Council members Ryan Stanley and Phill Stinnett also recommended not pursuing anything on the April ballot, stating that it is way too soon. Mayor Gary Shaw also alluded to needing more time to write actuaries for the issue at hand. Council then agreed to a consensus of not placing a question on the April 2019 ballot.

Council also approved the voluntary annexation and rezoning of 22 acres of land just south of I-44 at Exit 13. See more on this story here: https://www.newstalkkzrg.com/2018/11/29/city-council-to-hear-plans-to-rezone-land-for-travel-plaza/

Council unanimously approved a request for redevelopment plans for the rehabilitation of properties located at 901 through 907 South Main Street, otherwise known as the Muir Building and the Willard Hotel. The property owners, Jeremy and Lori Haun are investing $1.5 million (including property purchase) into the buildings. A property exchange with the Joplin Redevelopment Corporation will take place.

You can read more on this here: http://www.joplinmo.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4134?fileID=20484

Lori Haun says this project will bring seven storefronts with 30 jobs and 13 one-bedroom apartments that would hold roughly 20 residents, to downtown. "We're using state and federal historic tax credits as a large component of being able to make a project of this size work. The buildings are in very bad condition, so it's an expensive project so every little bit makes a difference and that abatement for those years will help us get the rates up."

A lease agreement between Missouri Place and the city of Joplin for a police south station located at 712 E. 32nd Street Suite #1 was approved by the council. This will be a new location and the current south station at 115 E. 34th Street will be closed in the near future.

In first reading, council approved a plan for an industrial development project with Schaeffler Group. The project consists of acquiring and installing equipment to manufacture bearings in a facility located within city limits located at the existing site at 3900 Range Line Road. The cost of the total installed equipment is estimated to be $67,140,000. The source of those funds will be the proceeds of $67,215,000 estimated aggregate principal amount of taxable industrial revenue bonds, to be issued by the city for the equipment and to pay costs of issuing the bonds. Read more about this issue here: http://www.joplinmo.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4133?fileID=20463