The volume of water the fill would displace is minuscule. Again, ask an engineer. Ag levees hold back water to 30 feet around here, for thousands of acres. This is about 2.5 acres, probably displacing a less than 5 feet of water on average. I haven't shot the site with a transit, but I would wager you could easily call the consulting architect and ask for the facts.
Since the prices per acres both St. Mary's and the school district paid were very comparable, how did anyone get fleeced?
No names. Color me surprised. We have bankers in my Lions Club. Does that make my Lions Club a good old boys club?
What's funny about this whole conversation is I think the MSP is probably the best site--yet here I am, defending the McCarty site as an option.
How about this: why not actually attend the public meetings which will be held regarding the conference center options, and thereby make an informed decision?
Rob, please help me understand why you end a lot of statements with question marks. Are you not sure of what you are stating, or are they actual questions?
If you believe there is a "good old boy" (GOB) club here, name names. There is a constant barrage of such accusations on these forums with no specifics.
I cannot fathom how you connect the city's budget issues to any of these conspiracy theories. The school district's land purchase price was very similar to what St. Mary's paid for their tract--and that is before there was an underpass with access there.
I was here during the 1993 flood. Ask any civil engineer--that area can be filled.
As I said before, on topic: I like all these bidders--they all have something to offer. It's too early to know which one is best, because their proposals haven't been made public yet.
You want to know to which club I belong? It's the Lion's Club.
Don't forget--I said whomever is chosen will probably partner with someone else to run the convention/conference center side of the business. (For example, the Farmers have hired a Chicago-based company to manage the mall. They are smart enough businessmen to know what they don't know.)
Any of the respondents could get the job done. They are all reputable, family-owned companies. Regardless of which site or partner is chosen, there are several hotels nearby. I'm not worried about the flood plain, because the site can be built up easily--although that does add some cost.
The conference center committee is working on its due diligence. It's wise to wait to advocate for one site or one company over another until more is known.
It's wonderful F & F Development purchased the mall. From what I know of them, the Farmers are excellent businessmen and a solid family. However, I find it ironic that the same folks who always yell about the "good old boys club" and "elites" in this space are endorsing...the Farmers.
Drury has experience siting and running hotels next to convention/conference centers and partnering with conference center operators. A quick check of their website would confirm this.
In my opinion, all the bidders bring different advantages to the table. It's nice to have a choice of three bidders.
Whichever respondent ends up being chosen, I suspect it's likely they'll hire a firm with prior experience (such as SMG or Aramark) to run the convention/conference center.
I would suspect what the online editor was referring to is the fact that school district expenditures are certainly not part of part of the city's budget. Slamdunker seems to have missed that point.
Sleeper, as I understand it, it's the other way around. The city is considering using some Capital Improvement dollars to fund some infrastructure projects which were slated to be funded via general revenue. Not all capital improvements are funded from the Capital Improvement tax--some have been funded out of cash flow.
Not $15 million, $6.7 million. You're off by a factor of two. Sleeper (below) knew the correct number. Approximately 84% of the money came from federal TEA-21 enhancement funds, which would have been spent elsewhere if not here. The rest (called matching funds) came from a combination of DNR, City and private donation funds. Local dollars were leveraged at a 6:1 ratio.
Roads? Why would folks think that? The ballot language was clear:
"Shall the City of Jefferson levy a tax of seven percent (7%) on each sleeping room occupied and rented by transient guests of hotels and motels located in the city, where the proceeds of which shall be expended for the promotion of tourism?
This tax will expire April 30, 2035 unless renewed by the voters."
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melbrooks 2 months, 1 week ago on Who proposes to build a conference center for Jefferson City?
Who proposes to build a conference center for Jefferson City?
The volume of water the fill would displace is minuscule. Again, ask an engineer. Ag levees hold back water to 30 feet around here, for thousands of acres. This is about 2.5 acres, probably displacing a less than 5 feet of water on average. I haven't shot the site with a transit, but I would wager you could easily call the consulting architect and ask for the facts.
Since the prices per acres both St. Mary's and the school district paid were very comparable, how did anyone get fleeced?
No names. Color me surprised. We have bankers in my Lions Club. Does that make my Lions Club a good old boys club?
What's funny about this whole conversation is I think the MSP is probably the best site--yet here I am, defending the McCarty site as an option.
How about this: why not actually attend the public meetings which will be held regarding the conference center options, and thereby make an informed decision?
melbrooks 2 months, 1 week ago on Who proposes to build a conference center for Jefferson City?
Who proposes to build a conference center for Jefferson City?
Rob, please help me understand why you end a lot of statements with question marks. Are you not sure of what you are stating, or are they actual questions?
If you believe there is a "good old boy" (GOB) club here, name names. There is a constant barrage of such accusations on these forums with no specifics.
I cannot fathom how you connect the city's budget issues to any of these conspiracy theories. The school district's land purchase price was very similar to what St. Mary's paid for their tract--and that is before there was an underpass with access there.
I was here during the 1993 flood. Ask any civil engineer--that area can be filled.
As I said before, on topic: I like all these bidders--they all have something to offer. It's too early to know which one is best, because their proposals haven't been made public yet.
You want to know to which club I belong? It's the Lion's Club.
melbrooks 2 months, 1 week ago on Who proposes to build a conference center for Jefferson City?
Who proposes to build a conference center for Jefferson City?
Don't forget--I said whomever is chosen will probably partner with someone else to run the convention/conference center side of the business. (For example, the Farmers have hired a Chicago-based company to manage the mall. They are smart enough businessmen to know what they don't know.)
Any of the respondents could get the job done. They are all reputable, family-owned companies. Regardless of which site or partner is chosen, there are several hotels nearby. I'm not worried about the flood plain, because the site can be built up easily--although that does add some cost.
The conference center committee is working on its due diligence. It's wise to wait to advocate for one site or one company over another until more is known.
It's wonderful F & F Development purchased the mall. From what I know of them, the Farmers are excellent businessmen and a solid family. However, I find it ironic that the same folks who always yell about the "good old boys club" and "elites" in this space are endorsing...the Farmers.
melbrooks 2 months, 1 week ago on Who proposes to build a conference center for Jefferson City?
Who proposes to build a conference center for Jefferson City?
Drury has experience siting and running hotels next to convention/conference centers and partnering with conference center operators. A quick check of their website would confirm this.
In my opinion, all the bidders bring different advantages to the table. It's nice to have a choice of three bidders.
Whichever respondent ends up being chosen, I suspect it's likely they'll hire a firm with prior experience (such as SMG or Aramark) to run the convention/conference center.
melbrooks 2 months, 2 weeks ago on City discusses further cuts in budget shortfall
City discusses further cuts in budget shortfall
I would suspect what the online editor was referring to is the fact that school district expenditures are certainly not part of part of the city's budget. Slamdunker seems to have missed that point.
melbrooks 2 months, 2 weeks ago on City facing nearly $2 million shortfall
City facing nearly $2 million shortfall
Sleeper, as I understand it, it's the other way around. The city is considering using some Capital Improvement dollars to fund some infrastructure projects which were slated to be funded via general revenue. Not all capital improvements are funded from the Capital Improvement tax--some have been funded out of cash flow.
melbrooks 2 months, 2 weeks ago on City facing nearly $2 million shortfall
City facing nearly $2 million shortfall
Not $15 million, $6.7 million. You're off by a factor of two. Sleeper (below) knew the correct number. Approximately 84% of the money came from federal TEA-21 enhancement funds, which would have been spent elsewhere if not here. The rest (called matching funds) came from a combination of DNR, City and private donation funds. Local dollars were leveraged at a 6:1 ratio.
melbrooks 2 months, 2 weeks ago on City facing nearly $2 million shortfall
City facing nearly $2 million shortfall
Want to venture a guess on how the bike/ped bridge was funded?
melbrooks 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Eugene superintendent to retire
Eugene superintendent to retire
An excellent job by a fantastic individual. Enjoy your retirement, Mr. Blythe!
melbrooks 3 months, 1 week ago on City officials react to St. Mary’s announcement
City officials react to St. Mary’s announcement
Roads? Why would folks think that? The ballot language was clear:
"Shall the City of Jefferson levy a tax of seven percent (7%) on each sleeping room occupied and rented by transient guests of hotels and motels located in the city, where the proceeds of which shall be expended for the promotion of tourism?
This tax will expire April 30, 2035 unless renewed by the voters."
colecounty.org/clerk/notices/Feb%202011%20(city).pdf