Branson Courier

Month: January 2008

  • Branson’s American Presidents Museum will not be closing

    After word spread like wildfire that the American Presidents Museum would be closing its doors, it seems that the despair and plans to start packing were premature. Recent negotiations with the owners of the building where the museum has been operating for the past 18 months has produced a new lease and museum staff were given the go-ahead to begin promotions for the 2008 exhibits and events.
    “The American Presidents Museum, a part of the National Center for Presidential Studies educational center will open on Thursday, February 14th as we prepare to host the C-SPAN American Presidents traveling exhibit that will be on display in March and April,” announced the CEO and Founder of the nonprofit educational organization, Stormy Lynn Snow.
    “We are very excited about the turn of events that will allow us to open as previously scheduled. We still have to be very aggressive about fundraising to keep the educational center and museum moving forward, and we still have to find a permanent location.” stated Snow.
    “Grand Crowne Resorts, the owner’s of the Majestic Building are quite generous in allowing us to remain, as they determine the future plans for the building.” Snow continued. “However it is crucial that we raise funds in support of our educational efforts and to meet our financial obligations – it will be the only way to keep the doors open. We want the community to know, we do not use any of the funds raised for salaries, all monies go to maintaining the museum, and creating the educational programming.” Snow concluded.
    The American Presidents Museum and National Center of Presidential Studies opened their doors in August of 2006, with a mission to preserve and disseminate American History and the history of the American Presidency through museum exhibits and educational programs. Operating under the Internal Revenue Service designated 501c3 nonprofit; the museum works to raise community and corporate donations to maintain their program. Donations are tax deductible under Internal Revenue regulations.
    The museum is located in the old Majestic Steakhouse building at the corner of Gretna and Roark Valley roads, and occupies approximately 10,000 square feet on the third floor. Currently the building is also home to the Justin Flom Imaginary Theatre and Magic Parlor. The theater offers a variety of performances daily.
    Anyone wishing more information on the museum and educational center’s exhibits, activities or becoming a patron of the museum can call 417-334-8683 or visit the website at www.americanpresidentialmuseum.com

  • BransonFest Super Show Performances

    Doug Gabriel, Branson Male Vocalist of the Year plays his
    famous "Mufftar."

    BransonFest will be held at the April 8-12, 2008 at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater on W. Highway 76 across from the Dixie Stampede. Among a myriad of other activities, each day there is a “super show” that features performances by some of Branson’s top shows and entertainers. The tentative list of those scheduled to appear, as of Jan. 8, is as follows:

    #1Hits of the 60’s

    12 Irish Tenors

    Acrobats of China

    The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley

    Branson Brothers

    Broadway

    Buck Trent

    Cedric Benoit

    Celebrate America

    Clay Cooper

    Comedy Jamboree

    Country Tonight

    Dalena Ditto

    David Somerville

    Doug Gabriel

    Goldwing Express

    Grand Jubilee

    Hughes Brothers

    Island Fire

    Jim Barber – Hamner Barber Variety Show

    Jim Stafford

    Joey Riley

    Justin Flom

    Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers

    Legends in Concert

    Les Brown Jr. & His Band of Renown

    Liverpool Legends

    Lost in the 50’s

    Magnificent Seven Show

    Mickey Gilley

    Penny Gilley

    Pierce Arrow

    Red, Hot & Blue

    Roy Rogers Jr. & The High Riders

    Scott Rileys Jamming Country Morning

    SIX

    Spirit of the Dance

    The Brett Family

    The Original Comets

    The Dutton Family

    The Haygoods

    The Lennon Sisters

    The Promise

    The Rankin Brothers Classic Music Revue

    The Sweethearts of Branson

    Tom Mullica

    Tony Roi

    Wade Benson Landry & Friends

    Yakov

    It should be noted that there will most certainly be additions and deletions from the above. Show times are as follows: Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday through Friday at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. daily and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. As the event date grows closer the specific shows that specific acts and performer will be in will be published on the official BransonFest Site. For the official BransonFest site click here.

  • Branson Skyscraper Building height issue raised

    By: Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

    At the Dec. 10 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen (the board), ex-alderman David Edie requested that the decision that the previous board and mayor made to permit a 300 foot skyscraper to be built on one of Branson’s most prominent pieces of land be reversed. That topic was discussed at the Work Session of the board held on Jan. 22 as the request of Alderman Bob McDowell.

    Branson City Attorney, Paul D. Link said that he had discussed the issue with city Planning Director, Don Stephens. He presented an overview of the different building heights authorized in different zoning areas. The maximum building height for commercial zoning is 100 feet.

    Link then went on to point out that in the Planned Development (PD) type of situation being discussed, specifically the PD commonly known as The Point Entertainment Complex, located at 448 State Highway 248, Branson, Missouri, the normal building height requirements of a particular zoning district might not apply. Each PD that is approved by Branson’s Planning and Zoning Commission and the board becomes its own zoning class and contains the zoning requirements for that development. As an example, the PD for the Branson Landing and Convention Center PD’s has a height limit of 200 feet rather than the maximum height of 100 feet authorized in the non PD commercial zoning situation.

    The first and only incident of a PD authorizing a building height higher than 200 feet was the Point Entertainment Complex PD (Point PD) that Edie is requesting to be reversed. Link went on to explain that the process would involve someone sponsoring a proposed amendment to the Point PD proposing a lesser height requirement, which would then be presented to the Branson Planning and Zoning Commission and ultimately to the board for their action. After some discussion on who could sponsor such a request Link suggested that a board member could do so.

    Link said that his research indicates that matters of this nature are legislative in nature and presumed valid. He pointed out that it would be up to the person challenging any change to the PD to prove that any change was “arbitrary and unreasonable.” He went on to say that as long as “It’s clear that this board is making that change for reasonable reasons and is in no way arbitrary or unreasonable then this board would have that defense in the event of some sort of litigation by the developer.” It was also pointed out that as of this date no one has filed for a building permit to build on the property under the provisions of the PD.

    Mayor Raeanne Presley asked Edie if the discussion had been helpful. Edie said it was and said, “I would like to see it carried through.” The mayor felt that before the city took any action that a discussion should be held with HCW and the owners of the property. She expressed her opinion that “They did it fair an square and that sometimes we have to live with decisions that past groups have made.” She went on to say that she might not like it but “it is what it is.”

    Alderwoman Sandra Williams asked if the 300 feet authorized in the Point PD set some sort of precedent. Link responded, “No because PD’s are all on their own merit.” Aldermen Jack Purvis said that although we can say that each PD has to stand on its own once we approve one for x number of feet above what has been normal that it is a precedent whether we want to admit it or not.

    Purvis reminded the board that this situation was very controversial, determined by a split vote, and had come back to the “table” and was re-voted on again. Alderman Dick Gass said, “I would just like to remind everybody that this came to the council from P&Z and they approved this and we had quite a lengthily hearing and there were an equal amount of people that came there some for it and some against it. So it just wasn’t an arbitrary thing that the council made a decision on. There was quite a discussion on this thing.”

    Although there was no vote on the issue, it was generally agreed that the mayor would talk with the property owner and get back with the board.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • Could Branson’s 300 foot building precedent and a skunk have something in common?

    At the end of the day, if the process leading to a result has a stench, the result will stink. Why people might actually get the idea that there are certain organizations and people with money, power and/or influence that control Branson’s destiny. They and they alone know what is best for Branson and anyone who doesn’t agree with them is not on the team, an enemy, doesn’t know what they are talking about, doesn’t love Branson, etc.
    So there is no doubt where the Ole Seagull is coming from on this, he would express his opinion that the process involved with the approval of the 300 foot building height for a building to be located on property near the northwest junction of Highways 248 and 65 has a stench associated with it that would make a dead skunk on the side of the road smell like a rose. Now that’s from someone who, personally, has no strong feelings, one way or the other, whether a building at that location has a height of 100 feet or 300 feet.
    The point isn’t whether a person favors one side or the other, the point is the process that was followed. At the Branson Board of Alderman’s meeting of Sep. 25, 2006, the board considered whether or not to permit a Planned Development for the Point Entertainment Complex (Point PD) to have a 300 foot sky scrapper on it. The normal height in commercial zoning at the time was 100 feet.
    There was a lot of public participation and concern because of not only the big difference in height between 300 feet and the 100 foot normally permitted within a commercial district, but the fact that the 300 foot building proposed exceeded the maximum height of 200 feet that had been permitted under Branson’s Planned Development (PD) rules up to that point by quite a bit. Too, the location of the proposed building was of concern.
    Almost as soon as the proposal was read, an amendment was made intended to restrict the height of the building to 12 stories. After extensive discussion on the issue, where over 21 different people made comments, the board unanimously adopted the amendment. There was not one word of suggested modification or that there was a problem with the wording of the ordinance from city attorney Paul D. Link or any other senior unelected city official who was present.
    In the normal fair course of events, the item would have been on the consent agenda for the next meeting and become final if not removed. In this case however, it was not on the consent agenda and indeed never appeared on the consent agenda. Instead, when it next appeared, at the Nov. 26, 2006 meeting of the board, it in no way shape or form resembled the ordinance that the board had approved at the Sep. 25 meeting. Instead, the 300 foot building was back and the 12 story provision was gone.
    In a column written the day before the Nov. 26 meeting, the Ole Seagull warned, “Through what an Ole Seagull believes is the failure of two of the city of Branson’s highest paid senior level management employees to do their jobs, the 25 story sky scraper which almost everyone thought had been reduced to 12 stories by the board of aldermen at their Sep. 25 meeting will again, “magically” reappear in all of its original 300 foot splendor. In fact, if an alderman doesn’t make a motion to amend it, and it is approved as presented, Branson could have its very first 300 foot sky scraper.”
    He went on to say, “Things could really get interesting if just one alderman asked why the two very high paid city of Branson senior level management employees paid to, among other things, prevent something like this from happening sat idly by and let them pass a legally irrelevant ordinance that didn’t accomplish what they wanted to accomplish.” Of course that didn’t happen and a three to three tie vote of the board was broken by then Mayor Lou Schaeffer to approve the Point PD with the 300 foot building authorized.
    Some might ask, “But what happened between the Sep. 26 meeting and the Nov. 26 meeting to cause three aldermen to change their minds? Why didn’t the ordinance presented at the Nov. 26 meeting have the verbiage incorporated into it that the board had approved?” An Ole Seagull can only say that he doesn’t know because what occurred between the two meetings, who was present, etc., was not done in an open and public manner.
    What he can say is, “If it looks like a skunk, acts like a skunk, and smells like a skunk the chances are it’s a skunk.” Unfortunately, in large part because of the process used between the two meetings, unlike the situation where one can identify the source of the smell from a dead skunk on the side of the road, the source of the stench is just about impossible to identity. That, however, doesn’t change the fact that it is there.
    Note: The reason for this column now is that the current administration is revisiting the whole issue of building height and the precedent set by the previous administrations authorization of the Point PD. To an Ole Seagull the process and manner in which that precedent was established is germane in establishing how the precedent came into existence.

  • With Hot Winter Fun- “Branson isn’t just seasonal anymore!”

    by Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

    A few years ago the Florida proudly announced that “Orange Juice isn’t just for breakfast anymore.” Well, with the opening of Branson Landing, the expansion of the Branson Show Schedule, the great year round selection of restaurants, shopping, and attractions like the Titanic, Ripley’s, IMAX, Ralph Foster Museum, and many others it can be said that “Branson isn’t just seasonal anymore,” it’s open for Hot Winter Fun and Branson’s “season” is year round.

    In Branson it’s always show time. Although the selection of shows, particularly during most of January, is not as great as it is during the season, there is a selection of live shows available providing for just about every entertainment need. As we move get to the end of January and into February and March more and more shows will be opening, particularly on weekends. If shows are the primary reason for coming to Branson or one simply wants to see what will be open while they are in Branson, it’s advisable to check the “What’s Happening This Week” link on the Hot Winter Fun page of the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB Site.

    The oft used phrase “Shop till you drop” has special meaning in Branson all year round. Although there might be a “season” for water sports, shows, and some of the more outdoor related attractions and acitivites, there is no season for shopping in Branson. From its famed factory outlet malls, the shopping excitement of Branson Landing, to the unique shopping available it its historic downtown district and other places throughout Branson, shopping is always in season in Branson.

    Although some of the “bus restaurants,” those that are open during the season and are set up more for busses and tourists, are closed, the vast majority of the restaurant’s that locals and tourist alike patronize during the season remain open year round. If ones taste is fine dining there is Candlestick over looking Branson Landing, the Château on the Lake, one of the Hilton’s fine dining restaurants at Branson Landing; and Buckingham’s, to mention just a few.

    It ones tastes are for good ole home cooking Clocker’s, The Farm House, and the Shack in historic downtown Branson and the Ole English Inn in historic down town Hollister are hard to beat. If buffets are the meal of the day there is the Golden Corral, Shoney’s, and Grand Country, among others, open every day with the Ole Seagull’s favorite, the Chateau on the Lake’s Sunday Champagne Brunch Buffet on Sunday. A unique dining experience, at least in terms of its ambiance and decoration, is Bass Pros White River Fish House built on Lake Taneycomo at the south end of Branson Landing. For a unique Italian dining experience don’t forget to try the Rocky’s salad at Rocky’s Italian Restaurant in historic downtown Branson and, while your there, if you like Chicken Piccata, you have an opportunity to taste some of the very best you have ever eaten.

    Of course Branson has the standard list of national chain restaurants from Mac Donald’s to Red Lobster, Cracker Barrel, Denny’s and Lone Start and everything in between. From breakfast to dinner, donut, ice cream, snack or sandwich, the selection of dining opportunities in Branson is just about endless not only during Hot Winter Fun but year round.

    For those wanting to fish the Rainbow and Brown Trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo is great all year round. Whether one rents a boat from somewhere like Scotty’s Trout Dock and Marine located in historic downtown Branson and takes a unique fly fishing drift boat trip with River Run Outfitters, Lake Taneycomo’s trout are plentiful year round and are fun to catch. The Shepherd of the Hills Trout Hatchery at the foot of Table Rock Dam is open year round from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is free.

    One of the biggest attractions of Hot Winter Fun might be that all it has to offer is is available with a lot less traffic and congestion. Although there could be lines on weekends and on some event days, on the typical day, during Hot Winter Fun they are virtually non existent.

    To access the “official” Hot Winter Fun Site click here.

  • Branson’s first “Springtastic Show Spree” for 2008

    Spring will have a very special ring to it in 2008 when, for the first time ever, show goers have one extraordinary week to enjoy ten of the top shows in Branson, Missouri for just one hundred dollars.

    Sponsored by The League of Branson Theatre Owners and Show Producers (The Show League), the Springtastic Show Spree is the week for show lovers from across America to converge on this small Midwestern town, know as the “live music show capital of the world”. The first annual Springtastic Show Spree begins April 21 and runs through April 27, 2008. “Shows, shows, and more shows, for just a fraction of their normal cost,” says Larry Wilhite, Producer for the Country Tonite Show.

    Springtastic Show Spree passes are for sale only on-line at the official website of The Show League, ShowsInBranson.com, and are limited to purchase by individuals. Mickey Gilley, of the Mickey Gilley Theatre, believes this is “hands down the greatest show ticket value you will see all year in Branson.”

    The Springtastic Show Spree pass allows fans to see ten of their favorite shows in Branson on a first come, first served basis during the Springtastic Show Spree week. Shows include productions such as Jim Stafford, Yakov, Mickey Gilley, Twelve Irish Tenors, Legends in Concert, Baldknobbers Jamboree, New Shanghai Circus, The Hughes Brothers, Broadway!, The Haygoods, Country Tonite, Magnificent 7 Variety Show, The Dutton’s and many more. For a complete list visit ShowsInBranson.com.

    The ten shows amount to less than 10% of the possible live shows you can currently enjoy in Branson. “Day or night, our little town just may hold more stars per square foot than anywhere else in the universe,” says popular ventriloquist Jim Barber of the Hamner Barber Variety Show and Theater. Much to the approval of the estimated seven plus million visitors who converge each year on the Ozark Mountain town of little more than 6,000 residents, Branson’s stars can be spotted each morning, afternoon and well into the evening in almost every type of live theatrical performance imaginable. Pop, gospel, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, western, acrobats, magic, Cajun, swing, big band, Motown, and Broadway have become as important to Branson visitors as its country and comedy roots. “Only in American can a Russian and a Japanese own a theater in the middle of the Ozarks. What A Country!” says famed Russian comedian and theater owner Yakov Smirnoff.

    This special preview week will whet your appetite to come back again and again to enjoy the variety of ALL of the shows the town has to offer. “If you see your first ten shows during the Springtastic Show Spree, you’ll have to come back more than ten times just to see all the shows in Branson once.” says Timothy Dutton of the Dutton Family Theatre and America’s Got Talent Top Ten Finalist Fame.

    “2008 is shaping up to be our most exciting year ever, and what a great way to celebrate,” said Tim Mabe, Producer for the Baldknobbers Jamboree. “Branson’s biggest shows are participating, and it really is a dream ticket for truly ardent show fans.”

    “This is going to be about as much fun as you can have in one week!” said the Magnificent Seven Variety Show’s Joe Tinoco. “If you are a live show fan, a music lover of any sort, the Springtastic Show Spree is the ticket for you.” The limited amount of Springtastic Show Spree passes are available only through April 7 or when the passes sell out, whichever comes first.

  • Hollister’s new tourism tax effective Apr. 1

    By Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

    On Nov. 6 the voters of Hollister approved a five percent tourism tax on each sleeping room or campsite occupied and rented by transient guests and certain docking facilities. At its Jan. 17 meeting the Hollister Board of Aldermen had its first reading of Bill. No. 2008-03. If approved at its second reading at the boards Jan. 31 meeting the city of Hollister’s Municipal Code will be amended to add a Tourism Tax ordinance implementing the tax effective Apr. 1.

    The proposed ordinance provides that the 5 percent tax must be collected and paid, on certain transactions, to the city of Hollister by every person engaged in the business renting or leasing living quarters, sleeping rooms or accommodations in connection with any hotel, bed and breakfast, condominium unit, campground or docking facility. The taxable transactions are those where businesses required to pay the tax are leasing or renting to “transient guests.”

    A transient guest is defined as “any person who rents or leases living quarters, sleeping accommodations, sleeping room or a part thereof” in a business required to pay the tax, for 30 consecutive days or less. The proposed ordinance contains specific definitions for each of the general types of bushiness required to collect and pay the tax, hotels, bed and breakfast inns, campgrounds, and docking facilities. Although there is no separate definition for “Motel” that term is included under the definition for “Hotel.” The definition of “Docking Facility” makes it very clear that the tourism tax only applies to those transactions where the dock owner “rents slips to recreational boats which are used by Transient Guests for sleeping.”

    Under the ordinance all the tourism taxes collected must be deposited into a Tourism Tax Fund account which must be kept separate and a part from all other funds of the city. The funds in the Tourism Tax fund may only be used for the promotion of tourism.

    The ordinance defines the “Promotion of Tourism” to mean actions taken to accelerate the growth or progress of tourism with the city. Its noninclusive list of such activities includes tourism related public infrastructure improvements and tourism related advertising and publicity.

    Under the proposed ordinance up to 70 percent of the tourism tax collected could be used for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and operating tourism related infrastructure improvements, including but not limited to sidewalks, streets, highways, roads, waterworks, wastewater facilities, etc. The 70 percent available could fluctuate because not less than 30 percent of the tourism taxes collected must be used for tourism related advertising and publicity purposes. If 40 percent of the tourism tax collected is used for such publicity only a maximum of 60 percent would be available for infrastructure. The amount available for infrastructure could be reduced by up to another 2 percent because of the provision allowing for up to 2 percent of the tax to be used for the necessary expenses involved with the administration and collection of the tax.

    Hollister City Administrator, Rick Ziegenfuss said that it is anticipated that the city will start collecting the tax effective Apr. 1. He also said that after final passage of the tax and before its effective date the city plans to offer training in the new ordinance to those businesses that will be required to collect the tax.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • Gut feeling – Relax, Hilton is doing a great job with Branson’s convention center!

    For the record, in the Ole Seagull’s gut and heart, he feels and believes that Hilton is doing an excellent job in operating and marketing the Branson Convention Center. Does he have hard data on bookings etc. to back that up? No, that’s why it’s a gut feeling, yet, it is an easy belief for him because he personally trusts and admires Mark Hartman, the General Manager for Hiltons Branson and believes him to be the consummate hospitality professional, an excellent manager, an honorable man, and a genuinely good person. Specifics aside, if Hartman says the convention center bookings are going well the Ole Seagull trusts that they are.

    The Ole Seagull has personally witnessed the efficiency of the opening of not only two Hilton Hotels but the grand opening of the Branson Convention Center in the professional, yet elegant and classy, manner that one associates with the Hilton brand. Too he would be remise if he did not point out his belief that Hartman and Hilton have hired professionals at all levels, from Chefs to convention center marketing and sales personnel, to insure that the Hilton reputation for hospitality and professionalism, within the hospitality and meeting industry, is manifested and evident in the daily operation of the Branson Convention Center.

    No where is that more evident than in the person of Bill Tirone, Director of Sales & Marketing for Hiltons of Branson who, through Hilton’s contractual relationship with the city of Branson to operate and market its convention center, is heading the sales effort for the new convention center. In the personal dealings that the Ole Seagull has had with Tirone he has been impressed with his professionalism and enthusiasm but then he’s not the only one.

    Vienna Bowling, Director of Meeting and Convention Sales for the Branson Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has the job of trying to bring as many conventions and meetings to Branson as possible. In the process of matching the varying financial and other requirements of meeting planners with a Branson facility that meets their needs Bowling deals, on a daily basis, with not only the Branson Convention Center but many of the other meeting and convention facilities throughout the Branson area.

    One does not have to talk with Bowling too long about the marketing effort for the Branson Convention Center to realize that she is very impressed with the way things are going. She pointed out that Tirone serves as the Chairman for the CVB’s Meetings and Conventions subcommittee and said, “I often receive favorable feedback about the Hilton staff and how professional they are, from meeting planners who are considering Branson.” Bowling has extensive experience in the convention and meetings aspect of the hospitality industry and served in a similar capacity at the Chateau on the Lake prior to taking her current position with the CVB.

    Some might ask, “Well Seagull that’s wonderful but how does it help explain the news article you started off with by saying that the city of Branson and the Hilton Hotels Corporation have something in common, neither one has managed a municipally owned convention center before or the criticism of the city’s convention center web site contained in your column of last week?” It doesn’t, what is, is, but so what?

    Does the fact that Hilton has not “technically” managed such a facility mean that they do not have the requisite skills, experience, and professionalism to do so? As a community, Branson better hope not because, according to Glen Malone, the Chief Operating Officer of Senate Hospitality Group, the organization the city is hiring to provide additional information and oversight on the operation of its convention center, Senate has never provided such services on a stand alone convention facility.

    That aside, is there another organization in the Branson area that handles and books as many conventions and meetings nationwide, world wide for that matter, or has the experience in the meeting, functions, and hospitality areas that Hilton has? Does not the quality personal experience that the vast majority of those attending events in the Branson Convention Center have had testify as to the professionalism, enthusiasm, and commitment of the staff and organization managing and operating it?

    For what it matters, an Ole Seagull would answer in order, “No” and “Yes” and simply say thank you to Hartman, Tirone, and the rest of the Hilton staff for getting our convention center off to such a great start.

  • $5.1 million to help bridge the gap for Branson’s Taneycomo bridge

    By Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull
    The gap in the financing necessary to build a bridge across Lake Taneycomo was narrowed considerably as the result of the actions taken at a joint meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen and the Taney County Commission on Jan. 17. Announced at the Partners in Progress meeting held in Hollister on Jan. 17, the Taney County Commission, by a vote of two to one, with Commissioners Chuck Pennell and Ron Herschend voting for, and Commissioner Danny Strahan voting against, approved a motion stating that they would provide up to $5.1 million dollars to help finance a new bridge across Lake Taneycomo. No definite source of the funds was contained in the motion.
    The motion followed an offer by Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley to ask her board to approve the city of Branson paying up to $1 million in interest on the estimated financing costs of the bridge. Although the Taney County Commission had a quorum present and took official action on the matter, the Branson Board of Aldermen did not have a quorum present and took no official action.
    At the start of the meeting, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) District 8 Transportation Project Manager, Chad E. Zickefoose reported that the District 8 MoDOT staff has had conversation with MoDOT’s Innovative Finance Steering Committee (IFSC), MoDOT’s cost sharing committee. As a result of those conversations and the fact that the IFSC is unlikely to approve a cost sharing agreement for more than 50 percent of the project, they believe the best chance to obtain matching funds from the committee is if the project is funded 50 percent locally.
    The net effect is that instead of local government having to come up with the $5.1 million that was estimated about a month ago it will have to come up with approximately $6.6 million, $7.6 million if the interest charges are factored in. MoDOT would pay the full amount of rehabilitating the current bridge, about $4.3 million, as a separate project. The new bridge and an expanded roundabout would be a separate project estimated to cost about $14.7 million. If MoDOT’s IFSC approves the 50 percent cost sharing for the bridge, $7.35 million, 50 percent of the $14.7 million total would have to come from local matching sources. The amount of $709,000 in locally procured and controlled funding for the original roundabout project would be subtracted from that amount.
    Of the $6.6 million left to be funded locally, the $5.1 million authorized by the county leaves a gap of $1.5 million, $2.5 million if the interest cost is factored in. Although there was some discussion on how the difference could be made up, no viable definite source of funding for the additional $1.5 million was discussed. The $1 million in financing charges that the city of Branson will consider paying is not considered in the $14.7 million estimated cost of the project but is a cost that must be factored in because MoDOT’s 50 percent, $7.35 million, will not be paid until 2013 and will have to be financed in the interim.
    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • City of Branson and Taney County health departments close to merger

    By: Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull
    The proposed merger of the city of Branson’s Health Department and the Taney County Health Department (TCHD) took a big step closer to becoming a reality on Jan. 7. A Service Integration Task Force was formed in 2007, by the Branson Board of Aldermen and the TCHD Board of Trustees, to study the concept of forming one public health organization capable of providing a full range of comprehensive public environmental and health services for all the jurisdictions in Taney County.
    At its Jan. 7 meeting, the Task Force passed a resolution recommending that both the Branson Board of Aldermen and the TCHD Board of Trustees approve an intergovernmental agreement that will, for all practical purposes, merge the city of Branson’s Health Department (BHD) and the Taney County Health Department into one surviving entity, the Taney County Health Department (TCHD). The agreement serves as a transitional tool by which the personnel, assets, and duties of the current BHD are transferred over to the TCHD and runs for a period of five years.
    The resolution states that both the TCHD and BHD are organizations authorized under separate statutes under Missouri Law. It also acknowledges that they are each responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the people within their respective jurisdictions.
    It points out that both the BHD and TCHD have worked together, by contract, for over 11 years to provide comprehensive coordinated health services to citizens and visitors alike without a duplication of services. Basically the BHD provided the environmental health services for the city of Branson as well as the other jurisdictions within Taney County and the TCHD provided the general public health service for both the other jurisdictions of Taney County and the city of Branson.
    The resolution states that the Task Force has reviewed the proposed intergovernmental agreement and approves it as the key step in strengthening the public health infrastructure for both the city of Branson and Taney County. It goes on to state that the merger of the BHD and TCHD would be in the best interest of the public health safety, and welfare of the citizens of the city of Branson and Taney County and visiting tourists.
    It is anticipated that the resolution and intergovernmental agreement will be considered by the city of Branson’s Board of Aldermen and their January meetings and that, if approved by both entities will become effective on Feb. 1.
    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • Branson’s city clerk receives professional recognition

    By Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

    Branson City Clerk and newly certified
    Missouri Registered City Clerk Lisa Westfall at work.

    It was a night of roses and congratulations when Branson City Clerk Lisa Westfall recently received recognition and certification as a Missouri Registered City Clerk at a recent Branson Board of Aldermen’s Meeting but it took a lot of work, effort, and dedication to get there. The recognition and certification came from the Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association (MoCCFOA), a professional organization that provides education, certification, and support to those serving as city clerks in the state of Missouri. Its recognition and certification of Westfall acknowledges the effort, professionalism, training, and commitment it took to obtain the certification.

    According to information received from MoCCFOA, the Missouri Registered City Clerk (MRRC) is the first step in a four tiered certification process designed to encourage the on-going education and growth and development of city clerks in Missouri. The other levels of certification are Missouri Registered City Clerk Continuing (MRCC Continuing), Missouri Registered City Clerk Sustaining (MRCC Sustaining) and the highest level of certification, Missouri Professional City Clerk (MPCC).

    To reach the first level of professional certification, Westfall had to undergo an intensive lengthily certification process. It was a process she began in 2004 and which, in addition to on the job experience, required an affirmation of Missouri Clerks’ Code of Ethics, the earning of 100 MoCCFOA points for specialized experience, training, and education, and attendance at the New Clerks Institute.

    Westfall said that the training covered a variety of topics such as municipal financing, ethics, sunshine law, human, resources, Robert’s Rules of Order, municipal codes, and other functions relating to the operation of municipalities. She pointed out that the training is so broad based because a lot of citys do not have the benefit of the specialization that Branson has with separate departments for Human Resources, Finance, Communications and Legal etc.

    She continued, “Even though I don’t work with it all, it helps to relate to the other departments.” She said that was important because, even with Branson’s specialization, in the performance of her daily duties as city clerk, she is interrelating and interacting with every department on just about a daily basis.

    Westfall started her career in 1989 as a court clerk and she says, “Cut my teeth on the court system.” In 1993 she became a Certified Court Administrator and in 1997 was elected president of the Missouri Association for Court Administration. An ancillary duty was that of deputy city clerk and in February of 2005 and, upon the retirement of long time Branson City Clerk, Sandra Williams, was appointed as her replacement. She is still the court administrator and supervises the staff for both the court and the clerk’s office.

    Westfall plans to continue her professional development by working towards the highest level of certification that MoCCFOA offers, the Missouri Professional City Clerk (MPCC). In addition to her professional duties as the City Clerk of Branson Westfall is also the President of the Hollister School Board.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • Eureka Springs’ Crescent Hotel Hosts 3rd Annual Ghost Seminar

    Eureka Springs Crescent Hotel, circa 1886.

    Ghosts have long been a phenomena of Eureka Springs and especially The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa. This phenomenon was broadcast to the world when The Sci-Fi Network presented an episode of its very popular series “Ghost Hunters” that featured the haunting legends of the hotel and nearby environs.

    Two of the locals featured in that episode will be the featured presenters at this year’s “Third Annual Ghost Seminar” scheduled for Thursday, January 10 through Sunday, January 13 in The Crescent Hotel. Noted clairvoyants, Ken Fugate and Carroll Heath, will lead the seminars and investigations for all those registered.

    “Our hotel is noted for unexplainable events of the ghostly kind,” said hotel general manager Jack Moyer. “This seminar is designed to explain some of those events.”

    Thursday evening will feature a welcome reception in The Governor’s Suite where attendees will meet and greet each other as well as being introduced to Ken and Carroll. Following the reception, Ken and Carroll will be conducting a hotel ghost tour.
    Friday’s activities include two seminars focused on meditation and development of medium powers. Later that evening attendees will be guided through an exclusive investigation of several of the hotel’s more “active” areas.

    The seminar itself concludes on Saturday with two additional meditation and medium powers seminars readying attendees for that evening when they will embark on their own hotel investigation, totally unguided and unsupervised.

    “This has proven to be a very popular offering here at The Crescent,” concluded Moyer. “We are so lucky to have Ken and Carroll with us to lead our guests through this journey into the unknown, the unexplainable.”
    For package prices, complete details and reservations, one should contact The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa at 877-342-9766 or go online at www.americasmosthauntedhotel.com .

    WRITER’S NOTE: An actual apparition (ghost) was caught on camera in the “morgue” (now basement area) of the Crescent Hotel. That apparition can be seen at http://youtube.com/watch?v=iALFD0o6ovk .

  • Is Branson’s convention center web site being used to promote select private entities?

    The question is simple, “Is the city of Branson’s convention center web site, paid for with tax payer funds designated for the marketing of its convention center, being used to market Branson Landing and the Hilton Convention Center Hotel, both of which are privately owned?” The apparent simple answer appears to be, “Yes.”

    As of the morning of Jan. 11, 2008, when one goes to the home page of the web site for Branson’s convention center, www.bransonconvention.com, they are greeted by a large static picture of the Hilton Hotel with not even a glimpse of Branson’s convention center in sight. If a picture is worth a thousand words, and first impressions count the most, why is the only picture on the page that of the Hilton Hotel rather than Branson’s convention center?

    Contrast the home page of Branson’s convention center with that of the St. Charles Convention Center at http://www.stcharlesconventioncenter.com. Now isn’t that a refreshing thought, a picture of the convention center that the web site is promoting rather than a picture of a hotel owned by the company being paid to manage and promote the convention center that the site is promoting.

    There is a slide show available from the home page of the Branson convention center site through a link entitled “Take A Tour” located near the middle of the page When that link is selected there is an eight picture slide show of which six, possibly seven of the slides, appear to highlight Hilton Hotel features rather than the features of Branson’s convention center. Contrast that with the home page of the St. Charles Convention Center where they have incorporated the apparently novel idea, at least as to those who built the Branson convention center web site, of using a seven picture slide show to promote the features of the convention center itself rather than a hotel associated with it.

    The firm managing and promoting the St. Charles Convention Center, Global Spectrum manages how many convention center facilities and arenas? The firm managing and promoting the Branson Convention Center, Hilton, manages how many convention center facilities?

    When one selects the “Experience Branson” menu item from the upper left hand corner of the home page they are taken to a page that has two static pictures of Branson Landing. It should be noted that Branson Landing is a private development owned by HCW Development Company, LLC.

    As one selects from each of the menu items under that selection, “Hotels,” “Entertainment,” “Attractions,” “Branson Landing,” “Dining,” or “Area Map,” they are taken to a page that features two static pictures featuring either the Hilton Hotel or Branson Landing. If the link to “Entertainment” was selected the pictures at the top of the page are a shot of people walking in Branson Landing and one of a clown tying balloon animals at Branson Landing. Click on the link to “Attractions” and see pictures of Branson Landing’s fire and light show and its trolley. Could anything possibly say “Branson attraction” more than a picture of the Branson Landing Trolley?

    It’s interesting to note that there is a separate menu item for Branson Landing. Again, Branson Landing is a private development owned by HCW not the city of Branson and is no more a part of the convention center than are the businesses located in historic downtown or elsewhere in Branson. Indeed, the unique shopping experience that can be found no where else in American except in historic downtown Branson is just as close to the convention center as Branson Landing yet, is there any specific link to its site or, for that matter, the site of any of the many other shopping destinations in Branson?

    Is this the appropriate time to point out that Hilton has a contract with HCW, the company that owns Branson Landing and both the of the Hilton Hotels, one at Branson Landing and one at the convention center, to promote and manage those hotels for HCW? Isn’t that the same Hilton that has a separate contract to manage and promote the Branson Convention Center for the city of Branson?

    Ok so it’s a rhetorical question but the point remains, as to the facts involved with the web site, could a reasonable person think there was at least the possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest? “Oh hush my beating heart,” is it even possible that HCW is the registered owner of the Branson Convention Center web site that the city is spending thousands of dollars in taxpayer money promoting? Please say it isn’t so.