Members of the Joplin Sports Authority first learned of the proposal by Parkwood Tournament, LLC to lease and run tournaments out of four city-owned stadiums September 29.
The not-for-profit panel, which has worked with the Southwest Missouri Lodging Association (SMLA) to use money from the city's lodging tax to attract tournaments and events to city athletic facilities, did not hear about the proposal as simply an idea that would be worth discussing, despite the fact that the decision would effectively take the four crown jewels of Joplin stadiums, Joe Becker Stadium, Wendell Redden Stadium, Gabby Street Field and the Bassman Softball Complex and hand over all advertising rights and use of the facilities on weekends to a company that was only registered with the Missouri Secretary of State's office 17 days ago.
When city officials presented the proposal to the Sports Authority that day, two hours before a board meeting was scheduled, the news came accompanied with the same complete contract, already given the stamp of approval by city administration, that the Joplin City Council will be asked to approve on an emergency basis when it meets 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
The reasoning for that emergency designation, which would allow the deal to go into effect immediately, rather than going through the normal process of conducting two readings to give the council more time for reflection before voting and allow time for public comment, is that it would enable Parkwood Tournament, a newly-formed company headed by Mike Greninger, a former Joplin Sports Authority member, and Bobby Landis, to immediately begin lining up tournaments for next year.
In a letter sent to City Council members, the SMLA Board questions the emergency designation and raises concerns about entering into a three-year deal with Parkwood Tournament.
The text of the letter is printed below:
Dear City Council member,We write to you today in regards to the proposed lease agreement between the City of Joplin and Parkwood Tournament Company and would like to express our sincere and significant concerns with this proposal. Chief among these concerns are:
-The fact that this proposal is being presented as an ordinance containing an emergency clause is without basis or merit and causes great concern. By presenting this proposal as an ordinance containing an emergency clause, the citizens are denied multiple opportunities to lend their voice to the discussion and to seek answers from their elected officials and those benefiting from such an arrangement. We believe there are many citizens who will have many questions and concerns given the nature of this proposal.
-The agreement does not appear to contain any provision for a security deposit which affords the city no financial protection.
-The agreement does not require any type of public reporting process that would be necessary to determine the effectiveness of the agreement and its value to the citizens.
-There has been no information provided relating to the financial ability or viability of the principals involved to determine whether or not this is a financially sound agreement. Again this affords the City no financial protection and puts the citizens at risk.
-We believe that before any action is taken on this proposal that the City should thoroughly examine and review the impact that this decision will have on the Joplin Sports Authority and the citizens of this community.
How will this proposal impact the Joplin Sports Authority? How will this impact the City's ability to provide youth and adult recreational programs for the citizens? These are but a few of the many questions that need to be answered before a decision is made. This review should include citizens and should be made available to the public and included in any proposal put before the City Council for consideration.
As you know, the Joplin Sports Authority is not for profit organization that is contracted by the City of Joplin to provide sports marketing services and is funded by a portion of the lodging tax revenue which is dedicated for this purpose.
The lodging portion has worked very closely with the Joplin Sports Authority for several decades and feels that the Joplin Sports Authority for several decades and feels that the Joplin Sports Authority is a key partner in our efforts to increase tourism and overnight stays in our market.
Regardless of the reasons or opinions as to why, the fact remains that of the two entities that are directly funded by the lodging tax revenues, the Joplin Sports Authority produces well over 90 percent of the actualized room nights, and associated general sales tax revenues, generated by activities fund by the lodging tax revenues. Any action by the City that is detrimental to the ability of the Joplin Sports Authority to fulfill its mission or that would diminish the relationship that exists between the lodging industry and the Joplin Sports Authority would virtually eliminate any remaining reason for the existence of a lodging tax.
Please consider that of the four purposes for the lodging tax can be used for, which include: funding the operation of a CVB, festival/event, city entryway beautification and sports marketing, the Joplin Sports Authority is the only component that has and continues to produce a positive return on investment for the citizens.
We would respectfully recommend and ask that the City Council table any further action on Council Bill No. 2020-610 and to allow sufficient time for the Joplin Sports Authority to respond and for the City to conduct the necessary impact review and public involvement.
In addition, we encourage the City to provide the citizens ample opportunity to view the impact study and address the City Council with their views and opinions.
Thank you for your consideration and for your service to our community.
The letter is signed by four members of the SWMLA Board, President Pete Hall, Vice President Christopher Beyer, Secretary-Treasurer Brian Galaske and board member Denise DuBois.
5 comments:
Why all the concern, this is typical business for Joplin and area politicians and business interests. What a bunch of goobers you have running your city and why would anyone want to live in such a screwed up place. Lead still evident, bad streets, misspent money from tornado repatriations and a school system severely broken by past superintendents. Just the jewel of republican takeover of citizens taxes.
Never get between the hogs and a trough full of other people's (the taxpayer's) money!!
Behind every bad action taken by the City is one or more councilpersons who have an agenda or stand to gain from the action. Given more time for review, study, and public scutiny, this would become evident. You can put lipstick on a pig, but at the end of the day it will still smell like a pig!
The JSA is a parasitic organization. Benji Rosenberg said so.
Will repeat this when Randy posts an update, assuming he doesn't point it out, but the Globe in its article on the meeting only listed the council members who voted against it, no doubt so we wouldn't remember so easily the one who voted for it. Don't assume all the ones who voted against it are really against it, once this came to light and generated significant heat. But the ones who voted for it are absolutely, positively corrupt and/or stupid: Ryan Stanley, Keenan Cortez, Doug Lawson, Gary Shaw, and Phil Stinnett.
So are are Recreation Director Paul Bloomberg and Finance Director Leslie Haase who spoke in favor of the action.
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