State and city officials have agreed to split the costs of repairs and remediation at the old Missouri State Penitentiary, with the goal of reopening the prison for the 2014 tour season.
Gov. Jay Nixon announced Wednesday the city and state have agreed to split the estimated $2 million cost of repairs and mold remediation at MSP. Nixon did not provide specific details of the timeline of work, but noted the goal was to reopen the prison in time for the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, or CVB, to resume tours in spring 2014.
At the end of September, the CVB temporarily suspended all tours of the historic prison site, only to later announce the total cancellation of all 2013 tours because of mold found at the site.
CVB staff has been prohibited by the state from entering the buildings on site.
As a result of the new agreement, which is expected to be approved by the Jefferson City Council on Thursday, the CVB will be given a longer-term contract for use of the prison. The CVB has been operating on 11-month contracts, but the new agreement would allow for 15-year contracts.
Check out Thursday's News Tribune for more details.