The Joplin City Council held the sixth consecutive week of meetings Monday night.
The council considered whether the community needed an indoor complex that could host a variety of events. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.
The council, which has recently focused much of their attention on increasing employee salaries, turned their attention Monday to the future needs of the city’s residents and the possibility of a new sports complex and convention center.
The presentation was a part of Joplin’s Tourism Needs Assessment conducted by CSL International who spoke with over 40 stakeholders about the need for a possible new city owned venue.
Councilmember Mark Farnham shared his concerns about the proposed project.
“Looking at Joplin, my personal opinion is that is what we have you know in terms of sports is a proven success story.
A lot of what you presented doesn’t necessarily talk about the need to have the appropriate folks running the show basically.
You know if we didn’t have the people that we have in Joplin we would not have a proven, sports success story.”
CSL International consultants highlighted that Joplin lacks a publicly owned indoor turf or basketball facility that would be beneficial during winter months.
If constructed, the same facility could host indoor concerts for between two and three thousand people.
Added sports and concert opportunities would likely boost the city’s tax base which relies heavily on sales tax.
No action was taken Monday by the city council. For 89 9 KRPS News, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro
