Council activates ice park TIF, OKs aviation issues

Jordan Valley Park and aviation issues took center stage at the City Council meeting Nov. 13.

Jordan Valley Park

With all members present, Council unanimously passed an ordinance that activated tax increment financing for Project 2, the just-opened ice park. That approval will allow the collection of taxes on the land that's included in Project 2, which will help pay for the project.

Council also approved the corrections and changes to the overall Jordan Valley Park TIF plan dated Sept. 5. Included in the changes were more accurate legal descriptions of property in the area designated for the TIF.

City Manager Tom Finnie also was given the go-ahead to apply for a $1.2 million grant with the U.S. Economic Development Administration to help fund the construction of the public parking deck in the park. Because the grant is an economic development grant, Finnie told Council, that means jobs have to be created with the funds.

A first reading was held on a bill that authorized the city manager to enter into an agreement with the Missouri Development Finance Board and the Springfield Area Arts Council. Via the agreement, the state will make available $2 million in tax credits for private contributions to fund further improvements in Jordan Valley Park and to create an arts center in the old creamery building in the park.

Mayor Tom Carlson publicly thanked Sens. Jean Carnahan and Christopher Bond as well as Rep. Roy Blunt for all their help in getting funds and tax credits for the Jordan Valley Park.

Aviation

Although the $139 million Legacy of Flight Museum isn't a done deal yet, council approved the annexation of the proposed museum site. Mayor Carlson said that even if the museum is never built, annexing the land now is a good idea, and council members agreed with his assessment.

The city manager also was authorized to accept a grant to help fund a general aviation airport in the city of Ozark. Springfield previously committed to purchase about 80 acres of land for $1.2 million. The grant from the Missouri De-partment of Transportation will provide $800,000 toward the purchase, and the rest will come from the city budget, which was amended to reflect the change.

Air Park South will be owned by Springfield but outsourced for operations, according to Sherry Wallace, airport marketing director. She said there is a waiting list of 70 private pilots who want airport space at Springfield-Branson Regional Airport, so the addition of general aviation services in Ozark is much needed.