Workforce Development Board rep objects to quick timeline on Job Center move 

Things appeared to be smooth sailing for a pair of Springfield City Council measures to issue special obligation improvement bonds for a set of permanent improvement projects. 

However, a rogue wave sprang up in the form of a communication lapse with a stakeholder organization, the Ozarks Region Workforce Development Board, as the bond would fund relocation of the Missouri Job Center. The bond measure was introduced during council’s meeting last night. 

The proposed bonds, with an aggregate principal of up to $26 million, would pay for four projects:  

• Phase one of improvements to the Springfield Art Museum, $15 million
• Improvements to Historic City Hall, $5 million
• Improvements to a new Workforce Development operations building, $2 million
• Refurbishment of the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge, $4 million

Eight people spoke in favor of the bond measure during its discussion period, with six backing the funding of museum improvements and two touting the footbridge project. 

After the bond discussion, difficulties arose in the discussion of a follow-up bill to shift $4.4 million in carryover funds to a Workforce Development building acquisition and renovation project to clear the way for the bond projects. The funding had previously been directed toward the Historic City Hall project, but the change would address limitations to tax-exempt financing for the workforce building acquisition. 

The city is looking at purchasing and renovating a building at an undisclosed location downtown for the Missouri Job Center and Department of Workforce Development. 

Andrea Sitzes, who represents Christian County on the Workforce Development Board and is in line to serve as chair, asked for the measure to be tabled during the public discussion. She noted the board had just learned of a potential change of location for the Missouri Job Center through an email from the city the previous Tuesday.  

Sitzes said her seven-county board had not had a chance to vet the information about the move or discuss it with the seven commissioners who comprise the membership of its Council of Local Elected Officials. 

The workforce board and officials held a retreat in November 2023, she said. 

“We did an introspective assessment where we wanted to really look at all of the areas that we are responsible for as it relates to our mission, client services and how we represent the seven counties within our region,” she said. “I am sad to report that through that introspective assessment, nearly every single item that we are responsible for had room for improvement – significant room for improvement.” 

A task force was formed to look at how to improve collaboration and increase services. In March, the task force put together a request for proposals to hire a consultant and examine issues with an eye toward best practices in other regions. 

She noted the agreements for the Workforce Development Board and the city of Springfield are set to expire in June. 

“We have made the request of city staff; to my knowledge, that has not been taken action on,” she said. 

A 120-day short-term extension to the agreement, requested by the Workforce Development Board officials, has not been signed. The repayment of the proposed bonds is dependent upon rental income from the Workforce Development Board, Sitzes said. She added that the board is prohibited from taking financial actions on behalf of the Council of Local Elected Officials, or CLEO. 

“We’ve had a short window of notice in order to have those discussions, but it’s been our understanding that no city staff members have communicated this to the CLEO so that they can also vote and really evaluate these fiscal responsibilities,” she said. 

It is the hope of the task force that a consultant can be chosen and begin working by July 1, and part of the consultant’s responsibilities will be to draft a request for proposals for administrative and one-stop shop services and make a recommendation to the Workforce Development Board. 

“As I mentioned, there are a lot of things that we want to improve as a whole across these seven counties,” Sitzes said. “We really strive to make sure that our residents of every class of socioeconomic can better themselves and upskill, and we see room for improvement.” 

The bond measure is scheduled for a vote by council on June 10.  

Councilmember Derek Lee asked if there was a reason the vote could not be delayed. 

Ericka Schmeeckle, interim director of Workforce Development for the city, said the lease agreement at the current Job Center location – at 2900 E. Sunshine St. in the Southern Hills Shopping Center – is for 10 years but is renewed annually during that time. July 2 is the deadline that would lock the rental agreement in for another year. The landlord has offered a 90-day extension, she said. 

City Finance Director David Holtmann said delaying a vote on the council bill as a whole gets the city closer to a December deadline that the federal government has imposed for encumbering American Rescue Plan Act funds, and those are being used for the museum project. 

“That’s really the main hurdle that I would advise could be problematic in delaying this issue,” he said. 

Councilmember Monica Horton noted it would be difficult for the Workforce Development Board to complete the processes necessary to consider the measure within the available time period. 

“I don’t think those are processes that can be done in three weeks,” she said. 

Horton also noted that the real estate transaction is time sensitive. 

Sitzes said she would have liked to have had more advance notice, communication and discussion about the proposed move. 

She said the relocation agreement requires only a communication of the decision. 

“What we’re really looking for is a true partner with us that can be collaborative in those services and in those decisions,” she said. “We do understand that we’re just one tenant within the workforce building, but undoubtedly, we are the anchor tenant with the services and what we try to provide for the region.” 

Mayor Ken McClure noted the bonds need to be acted on at the June 10 meeting, but council can do so with information from the Workforce Development Board’s discussion.