Council's action stymies second industrial park

City Council voted 5-4 against a second industrial park in eastern Greene County in its Nov. 22 meeting. Mayor Lee Gannaway, Councilwoman Teri Hacker and Councilmen Russell Rhodes, Bob Vanaman and Bob Chancellor voted against the park, while Councilmen Gary Gibson, Tom Carlson and Ralph Manley, and Councilwoman Shelia Wright voted in favor of it.

Council heard public comment against the proposed park for nearly two hours from citizens of the area, whose concerns were mainly traffic and pollution as a result of the proposed 370-acre park.

Gannaway said a second industrial park in the area would raise the cost of living and that the low unemployment rate already has employers scrambling to fill existing jobs.

Greg Williams, executive vice president for economic development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and the Springfield Business and Development Corporation, said the SBDC was not sure of its next step.

"We are dumbfounded and shocked that the mayor and council turned their backs on the citizens of Springfield in this way. For the mayor and council to feel that new manufacturing jobs in Springfield are not important is just incredible. We've been partners with the city for six years, and we would hope that they would reassess the decision they've made," Williams said.

The SBDC was to meet the week following the Thanksgiving holiday to determine what it would do about water and sewer services the city was to have provided. Williams said the development corporation could look to contact other municipalities. The proposed industrial park is close to Strafford, and that city could provide some services.

"I'm not saying that is something we're going to pursue, but right now we've got to look at all of our options," he said.

Three other resolutions were approved unanimously. Council approved a bill authorizing the Airport Board to enter into a direct loan agreement with the Missouri Transportation Corporation[[In-content Ad]]