Jefferson City Ward 4 candidates discuss city conference center project ahead of April 8 election

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As Jefferson City's contentious $130 million conference center project enters the preconstruction phase of its timeline, the newly elected officials in the April 8 municipal election are set to approve the design.

The center will replace the parking garage at 200 Madison St. and include a full-service hotel and restaurant/bar with more than 200 guest rooms, two ballrooms and a meeting space, according to documents in previous reporting.

Project plans have construction beginning in winter 2025, with the grand opening in spring 2028. Project documents expect for the conference center to support 588 jobs and generate a total of $455 million in Missouri sales in the first ten years of operation. The project will have a 7% lodging tax on all hotel stays.

A major concern for Jefferson City voters has been how much of the building's funding will be coming out of their pockets, with Ward 4 candidates Julie Allen and Kathi Harness hearing concerns from their constituents.

"The majority of people have some real concerns about the conference center," Allen said. "They don't want their tax dollars to be used and they don't want it to be a project that we're just doing that could cause future generations an obligation that they can't hold up."

Harness also shared some reservations about the project.

"I don't want us to be on the end of if something, if the hotel, somebody pulls out of the hotel, that we are left on the hook," Harness said. "I don't want the taxpayers to be on the hook for a project that was built that should never have been built."

Allen is positive about the project posting that the building would foster economic growth and the additional tax revenues can fund key projects.

"I'm excited about the project and I know there's not been a business member here in Jefferson City that's not interested in the project, wanting it to move forward," Allen said. "I'm a board member of the Jefferson City West Side Business Association, so I'm very involved in supporting businesses."

She is aware of the concerns and hopes to use her expertise as a CPA make sure taxpayers aren't taken advantage.

"I will ask the questions to see that financially they are sound projections, that we're not using tax dollars and that we aren't committing our children or grandchildren to something that could cause them problems," Allen said. "I ... became a CPA for a reason, so those things, I have to see all the information and ask questions before I can fully say I feel like it is a very good risk and I would support it moving forward."

Harness said she met with the Jefferson City Regional Economic Partnership to clarify the financial plans.

"Originally (I) thought that the city was maybe thinking of owning the hotel and I'm happy to know that we're not, that the city will own the property, that there would be a a non for profit maybe set up that will manage it," Harness said.

Harness added she hopes to bring attention to other recreational aspects of the city.

"I think we have a lot to offer people and I like to see us market it better," Harness said. "I think the new soccer stadium coming in will draw a lot of people so, I think we have a lot to offer and we're kind of like a hidden secret."

Julie Allen's full interview can be found here.

Kathi Harness' full interview can be found here.