County, chamber join forces for economic development

Flags flutter in strong winds Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, at the Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City.
Flags flutter in strong winds Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, at the Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City.

Without discussion, the Cole County Commission approved a contract Tuesday with the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce for economic development services.

Commissioners budgeted $150,000 for economic development for 2018, and that is the amount the chamber requested. It's the same amount the county has paid the chamber for the past several years.

By signing the contract, the county pays the chamber for the first two quarters of the year. Each quarterly payment is $37,500. The chamber promises to solicit business prospects as well as prepare and distribute promotional material about the community.

"The County believes that it is in the best interest of the County to utilize the economic development services of the Chamber," according to the contract. "The Chamber agrees to aggressively purse new business and assist developers in attracting new business for all Cole County."

The contract calls for the Chamber to deliver a report to the county each month and hold monthly update meetings.

Also Tuesday, commissioners gave Cole County Ambulance Director Jerry Johnston the authority to begin negotiations with St. Mary's Hospital and Capital Region Medical Center after the hospitals approached the ambulance service about reduced rates when the hospitals are responsible for patient transports - for example, if CRMC has to take someone to a test at the Goldschmidt Cancer Center or St. Mary's Hospital has to send someone to JCMG.

Johnston estimated the ambulance service receives 12 calls a month for these types of trips, which usually take 30-40 minutes to complete. The calls cost $500 each way if no paramedic is needed; if a paramedic is required, it costs $750 each way.

Commissioners told Johnston any deal would have to ensure the county realizes some benefit.

"This still utilizes resources we have, and if you want quality and good service that doesn't always come cheap," Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle said.