Columbia city manager fires back at former Holiday Inn Executive Center owners, county commissioner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia's city manager is firing back at claims that COVID-19 health orders led the hotel's former owners to pack it in.
City Manager John Glascock released a statement Wednesday afternoon in response to statements made by the former hotel managers -- Ed and Kathy Baker -- and Boone County Southern District Commissioner Fred Parry.
The Bakers said Tuesday that they were turning the Holiday Inn Executive Center over to the bank and leaving town. Florida-based Driftwood Hospitality Management, which operates the Margaritaville resort at the Lake of the Ozarks, has taken over running the executive center.
Glascock said the city/county health department met with Holiday Inn Executive Center staff multiple times and that he took issue with Parry's criticism of public health orders that have been approved by the county commission in nonbinding votes.
"Commissioner Parry seemingly indicated he feels that (the health department) has overreacted with the health orders as they pertain to local business," Glascock wrote. "I am told that Commissioner Parry has not voiced objections to each of the 13 health orders, although the County Commission does not take a formal vote like the Columbia City Council does."
Scott Clardy, assistant director with Columbia/Boone County health department, said Holiday Inn Executive Center staff attended three meetings held earlier this year with other local hoteliers.
Clardy said Parry asked the health department to reach out to the Bakers to discuss pandemic-related concerns. Clardy said that a phone call and voicemail were not returned.
Ed Baker said COVID-19 restrictions made it impossible for his business to operate.
Baker said because of health orders unique to Columbia, businesses could move meetings elsewhere in Mid-Missouri without having to worry about pandemic restrictions.
The former owner said he felt the health department didn't work with his business and that he asked on multiple occasions to sit down with leaders to discuss concerns.
Clardy said the health department had been working with the hotel on numerous occasions to approve operational plans for events.
The assistant director added in some cases the operational plans allowed events at the hotel to operate outside the scope of the health order.
The assistant director said the most notable of such events was a Missouri Bar exam held in July.
Clardy said the exam came with criticism, however, he felt as though the hotel and health department worked together to ensure a safe environment at the event.
Kathy Baker wrote that the decision to allow the lender to take possession of the hotel was a painful one and placed blame on, "arbitrary restrictions placed on doing business in the city."
