City looks for ways to repair MSP

Local leaders hoping for new terms with state

Editor's note: See the correction below.

Jefferson City officials are searching for ways to repair the historic units at the old Missouri State Penitentiary, but whether the state will allow them expanded access in return remains a question.

In the recent city town hall meetings, officials detailed a proposal to take $2 million from a previously scheduled project and put it toward repairs of the historic units.

Mayor Eric Struemph, in his presentation of the MSP project during the town hall meetings, said the cost to repair housing units one, three and four would be $3.8 million, though it would cost $8.9 million to preserve all of the MSP buildings. One possibility for funding would be to use $2 million currently set aside in the capital improvements sales tax funds for a road through the MSP property for repairs to the historic units instead, something a majority of attendees seemed in favor of doing.

To see the CVB financial reports for MSP Tours from 2009-2012, and the existing agreement allowing CVB to conduct tours there, see www.newstribune.com/msp/

Correction, posted May 16, 2012: The original version of the photo caption accompanying this story was incorrect. It should have stated that improvements on the exterior of the Missouri State Penitentiary were approved by the state Office of Administration and paid for through a Community Development Block Grant.