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April 16, 2007
For immediate release
For more information, contact:
Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993
GVEZ SUPPORTS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD FUND NEW BUILDING AT LINN STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Hears transportation update from MODOT district engineer
HERMANN—A few years ago, the state of Missouri gave Linn State Technical College approval to build its Vehicle and Power Center building. However, funding for the building never came. Senate Bill 389, which includes the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, could change that, and the Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone supports the idea. Citing Linn Tech’s economic importance to Osage County and the state as a whole, the GVEZ board adopted a resolution in support of SB 389 during its regular March 23 board meeting in Hermann.
If made law, the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative would provide a one-time infusion of about $350 million for capital improvement projects at Missouri’s higher education institutions and establish a fund to help develop technology companies.
As proposed, Linn State Technical College would receive about $15 million in funding to build its Vehicle and Power Center, which has a total price tag of about $17 million.
In other business, GVEZ—led by President Jim Decker of Owensville—heard an update on transportation projects in Gasconade, Maries and Osage counties. District 5 Engineer Roger Schwartze said that the new Missouri River bridge at Hermann is expected to be done Sept. 1, which is ahead of schedule. Work on the Highway 100 bridge in Hermann is now underway, and Highway 19 through Hermann will be resurfaced when work is completed. Plans are also in place to resurface Highway 50 from Highway 63 through Linn. MoDOT will also be soliciting bids for the resurfacing of Highway 50 from Linn to the Highway 19 junction at Drake. Schwartze said the new resurfacing projects will include rumble strips and paved shoulders. “We have seen a 24 percent decrease in run-off-the-road accidents on roads with rumble strips,” Schwartze said.
MoDOT continues to work on an environmental improvement study for Highway 63 in Osage, Maries and Phelps counties and the design of a four-lane Highway 50 from Highway 63 to Linn. Regardless of the recommendations of these two projects, no money is currently available to move them forward.
“Cash is king,” said Decker. “It will probably take some type of participation from counties along the corridor to make something happen.”
Schwartze also updated the board on transportation funding legislation. One bill would create a 1-cent sales tax to improve Interstates 70 and 44. This could free up other transportation dollars currently dedicated to those interstates. A large portion of I-70 is within District 5. Schwartze said in 2006, lanes must be closed on I-70 an average of two times per day, mostly due to accidents. Approximately 70,000 vehicles per day use I-70 at Columbia, he added.
In other business, the group:
- Approved a proposal from 2SmartChix to develop web pages showcasing GVEZ and the Chamois Area Enhanced Enterprise Zone, as a part of MRPC’s website.
- Approved a contract to share in the cost of a 501(c)3 application for the Linn Area Development Corp.
- Assigned board members to follow up on fund-raising requests, which will be mailed in April.
- Set the next meeting date for May 24 in Belle.
The Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone works to promote, coordinate and facilitate community and economic development in Gasconade, Maries and Osage counties. A portion of the three-county area is a state designated enterprise zone that offers certain property tax abatements to qualifying companies locating or expanding in the zone. For more information, persons may contact Prigge at MRPC, at 573-265-2993.
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