Plans to locate a conference center in Jefferson City have suffered another setback.
Imagine that.
Action on the two proposals on the table has been delayed - again.
The initial decision deadline of July 1, which was moved to Sept. 15, now is targeted for mid-October.
The cause of the additional delay is a market study, at an additional expense.
The council voted in a July 8 closed session to commit $17,000 to Johnson Consulting for the conference center market study. The expense is in addition to the $28,750, plus expenses, the council approved for Johnson Consulting to act as a facilitator. The costs for the consultant come from lodging tax collections, not city general revenues.
A question, however, is why is a market study being done now - in the middle of the process?
We suspect the reason is because the realistic proposals from the two developers do not match the city's vision of what a conference center will be and will do for the city.
The two proposals on the table are from the Ehrhardt Hospitality Group, based in Hannibal, and Farmer Holding Company, a local developer.
Both propose facilities that are smaller than what the city had requested.
And neither has ruled out the possible need for a continuing operating subsidy from city coffers. The city had envisioned its only expense would be a one-time contribution of $9 million from lodging tax revenues for construction.
The market study invites a range of questions:
• Are City Council members seeking political cover if the market study supports accepting a smaller conference center or an ongoing city subsidy?
• Are council members hoping the analysis will encourage developers to enlarge or alter their proposals?
• What are the consequences for developers who already have exposed their intentions and plans? Will either of them - like a previous participant - withdraw from the process?
• If a market study is justified at this juncture, is it the responsibility of the city or the prospective developers?
The added delay is both tiresome and troublesome.