Former mayor urges fiscal caution in 'spec' building construction

Kennett's former mayor at Tuesday's City Council meeting appealed to the body for oversight and fiscal caution regarding the construction of a 50,000 square-foot speculative building at the city's industrial park.

Charles B. Brown asked councilmen if they were certain every avenue was explored prior to their decision to appropriate $500,000 in city sales tax dollars and additional short-term funding for the structure.

"No one in this room is an industrial developer, or for that matter is qualified to supervise the design and construction of a spec building in Kennett," he said. "What authority says a spec building would bring additional jobs to Kennett?

"While I believe a spec building will bring new jobs to our community, I don't hold myself out to be an expert on industrial development," the former mayor continued. "The taxpayers of Kennett have entrusted the City Council with their tax dollars to make improvements in Kennett that would bring about new jobs. They expect those tax dollars to be spent in a wise manner."

Kennett voters in 2003 approved a one-quarter-percent sales tax dedicated to the purchase of 116 acres of land earmarked for the development of the city's new industrial park and the spec building's construction, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jan McElwrath was quoted as saying.

The building, which will be little more than a shell at completion, is expected to act as another arrow in the city's quiver when economic developers attempt to attract prospective businesses to the community.

However, Brown took councilmen to task regarding their Sept. 6 unanimous approval to commence construction once the cotton harvest has cleared the site for preparation and peppered the body with a litany of questions regarding the shell.

"How did you decide on a 50,000 square-foot building and not a 40,000 square-foot building?" Brown asked. "How did you decide on the construction of the building?

"What thought was given to the location of the building?" he continued. "How are you going to market the building? Why would you not give careful consideration to these questions and others before spending monies you have been entrusted with? How long ago was the tax passed by the people of Kennett and what is the rush to build now? Can't a little more time be spent on making sure the taxpayers get their moneys' worth? Are you prepared to say that you have done all that is possible to ensure that $500,000 of taxpayers' monies is well spent?"

Mayor Donald Parker said opposition to the building was voiced at a Chamber of Commerce ad-hoc committee meeting that addressed the issue.

"With that in mind, I tend to think that we might as a council be well to delay this proposition for a while and investigate it a little further," Parker said.

However, City Councilman Tony Crawford, who chairs the body's Industrial Committee and who has championed both the new industrial park and the spec building's construction, assured those present that the committee's plans were not simply flash-in-the-pan schemes to appropriate and mismanage taxpayers' dollars.

"To build the spec building is something the Industrial Committee gave thought to for many months," he said. "When we passed this tax, we told voters we'd do something with the money.

"We didn't just wake up one morning and decide to build a spec building," he added. "The specs were designed by [City Engineer Metz Skelton]."

However, the mayor said he spoke with Skelton Tuesday morning, and that the engineer told him there was no agreement regarding what was wanted with respect to the building.

"I don't know where that comes from," Crawford replied. "I just talked with him this morning, too."

Despite the discussion among the council and residents, plans are to proceed with the building's construction, City Clerk Brenda Privett said Wednesday.

In other business councilmen:

* Heard from Scott Sales, who presented the council with plans for pre-fabricated metal buildings as an alternative to the spec building.

* Awarded a bid for $87,110 to Lowe Electric Co., of Kennett, to provide three emergency generators and three 200-gallon fuel tanks for the city's Fire Department.

* Agreed to advertise for bids for exhaust removal systems for the Fire Departments.

* Opened two bids for the purchase of a city police vehicle. Don's Glass Shop of Kennett bid $3,254 for the purchase of the black Jeep Cherokee, purchased by the city for the department in 2003. Delta Auto Sales and Salvage of Portageville bid $2,161 for the vehicle.

* Moved to table an ordinance that would specify how committee meetings are called. The motion died because of the lack of a majority vote.

* Approved the re-appointments of Jesse Hovis, John Scherer, Brian Hively and Bart Carter to the Kennett Planning Commission.

* Accepted a liquor license application for a restaurant-bar and resort license from Jackie and Qi Hong Liang Brooks for Sissy's Bella Cuisine, 1724 Independence Ave., formerly Carnell's Country Store.

* Agreed unanimously on Fire Chief John Mallott's recommendation to hire David Horton, 18, of Kennett as a part-time firefighter at the rate of $10.50 per call.

* Heard from Councilman David Dalton, who said the search for a city administrator is fruitful and that resumes are being received from the Missouri Municipal League's Website regarding the position.

* Heard from Councilman Don Wall, who read a note of encouragement and praise with respect to the city's solid waste ordinance from Kennett resident Robert L. Snyder.

* Heard from Councilman Tracy Smith, who reminded those in attendance that he would like to know how to go about placing a new tax increase before city voters.

* Heard from Councilman Bob Peterson regarding the autumn burning of grass clippings and leaves. City Attorney Terry McVey reminded the council that burning such items is fine during autumn months, but that residents should take care to contact the fire department to inform those on duty that controlled burns are in progress.

* Heard from Councilman Don Burke, who reminded those in attendance that the city has two firefighters -- Keith Riggs and Sean Harmon -- still working with survivors on the Gulf Coast.

* Heard complaints from two city residents about loud music coming from high-powered vehicle stereos in a number of areas in the city.

The next Kennett City Council meeting is slated for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Kennett Municipal Building, 200 Cedar St., Kennett.