Branson Courier

If the discussion at the April 22 work session meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen is any indication, no one has a clue when Forsythe Road will reopen and the board is losing patience with the reasons for the delay, financial or otherwise. Frank Schoneboom, Branson’s Acting City Administrator, gave a report on the progress of the TanStone project and summed it up by saying, “The long and the short of it is that now the developer is in negotiations with their bank and the financing is not complete, still”

Schoneboom further indicated that the city has asked for a time table and they not only haven’t been given one but have not received a firm response. He further indicated that City Attorney Paul D. Link had talked with the developers attorney, but “Nothing had moved as of yet, except gravel.”

Alderman Stephen Marshall asked, “Isn’t there something we can do? They can’t hold us hostage for this length of time.” TanStone Plaza is a commercial development located at 284 Forsyth Boulevard covering just about the whole area between Highway 76 and Roark Valley Road. As part of the project, the developers were going to improve Forsythe Road to an all season road. In Fall of 2007, the city let the developer close and demolish Forsythe Road without any agreement in place as to who was supposed to do what when or a specific date by which the road would be done. Forsythe Road is a well used north south connector road between Roark Valley Road on the north and the Wal-Mart area of State Highway 76 on the south.

Schoneboom said there were two issues that he was concerned with. One of them was the reopening of Forsythe Road. The second he said, “Is the buildup of materials on the city’s right away down there at Roark Valley Road.” There is huge pile of fill material that will be used for the construction of the Roark Valley and Forsythe Road intersection. He indicated that the idea of a developer’s agreement is being held out to the city by the developer, but that it was getting to the point where the developer either “moves rock” or signs an agreement.

Schoneboom continued, “What is concerning me is the level of the pile up and, from a public safety perspective, how close that is to the blacktop.” Alderman Bob McDowell asked for staff to prepare a list of the options available to the board specific to each issue, the reopening of Forsyth Road itself and the removal of the materials from the city’s right away. He said, “It’s one thing to talk about it, but when push comes to shove what kind of tools do we have in our tool box to move this thing along because I have to think that we are to the point where we are going to have to start looking at those.”

City Attorney Paul D. Link reminded the board that he had talked with the developer’s attorney recently and that the holdup was because the developer was now negotiating with their bank for financing. McDowell said, “I’m getting to the point where I don’t care what their relationship is with the bank, I want to know what the options are and what tools we have to manage this.” He went on to say that he wasn’t sure they were going to get their loan and if they don’t the city needed a plan of action ready to go. Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley said, “I do think that it is getting to a crucial point” and that the city has been more than patient and understanding.

Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

Jack Purvis receiving plaque from Mayor Raeanne Presley.

Branson paused a moment, at the April 16 meeting of its Board of Aldermen, to honor the service of the two aldermen who were leaving the board, Alderman Jack Purvis and Alderman Dick Gass. In her introductory remarks, Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley said, “Tonight we are here to thank these two leaders who, at the very core of their service, held a deep desire to help people.” She went on to thank them for the sacrifices they had made in their service, particularly the time spent away from their families and all that had been accomplished while they were on the board including new businesses, the convention center, improved roads, the RecPlex, and “record sales never imagined just a few years ago.”

In honoring outgoing Alderman Jack Purvis, Mayor Presley presented Purvis with a plaque, thanked him for his five years of service which started in April of 2003, and outlined the boards and committees he served on. She shared a personal observation of Purvis helping a family during the recent flooding as a “wonderful reflection on Jack’s spirit of giving.”

In accepting the plaque Purvis said that it had been an honor and a pleasure serving the community and that he appreciated all the support and encouragement that he has received over the years. He wished incoming Alderwoman Chris Bohinc the best and pointed out what an awesome responsibility it was to have to make the decisions that would affect the lives of virtually everyone in the community. In closing his remarks Purvis said, “We live in the greatest community in the greatest country in the world and it’s an honor to be able to live here.”

Dick Gass receiving plaque from Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley.

The Mayor honored outgoing Alderman Dick Gass as she presented him with a plaque and thanked him for his six years of service on the board starting in April of 2002. In pointing out the many boards and committees he served on she emphasized his passion for the marketing of the community and his service as the city’s representative on the Branson Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District Board.

As he accepted the plaque Gass said that he was very proud of what had happened during the six years of his term. He also took time to acknowledge the presence of exalderman Ron Huff and his 12 years of service to the city. As he reviewed some of the things that had been accomplished he pointed out that it couldn’t have happened without the city staff and stressed what a tremendous staff the city has. Gass had particular praise for Jerry Adams, Branson’s Public Information Director, and the great job he believes Adams has done summing it up by saying, “Jerry you’ve done a heck of a job.”.

Gass congratulated newly elected Alderman Rick Davis and Chris Bohinc. As he concluded his remarks Gass said, “All I can tell you is that the city is in very good financial shape, we leave you with a good city, and I know that you will continue to make it better.”

Scotty’s Trout Dock and Marina floating anchored near Business 65 Bridge after it broke loose from its moorings and slowly drifted down stream pulling its anchors with it.

Whether from the song by Lenny Kravitz, or a quote from Yogi Berra, the refrain, “It ain’t over till it’s over” applies to the current flooding event that some are experiencing in the Branson area. The current flood event didn’t start with the torrential rains during the night hours of April 9 into the early morning hours of April 10 nor will it end after the spillway gates on Table Rock Lake are closed, as planned early this week. It started in with record rains in March that used up a lot of the storage capacity of the area’s reservoirs and will not end until that capacity is regained.

Prior to the most recent rains, James D. Sandburg, US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Operations Manager, Table Rock Lake Project Office, said that the level of Table Rock Lake was 927.2 which was 75 percent of its flood control capacity, Beaver Lake was at 92 percent of its flood control capacity, and that Bull Shoals Lake was at 77 percent of its flood control capacity. The flood control capacity percentage relates to the actual current elevation of the lake as compared to the top elevation of the Flood Pool.

Although lake levels will fluctuate, the top of elevation for a specific lakes Flood Pool will not. The elevation for the top of the Flood Pool is 1130 for Beaver Lake, 931 for Table Rock Lake and 695 for Bull Shoals Lake. According to information received from the Corps at various meetings, these are critical levels in terms of flood control management and play a major part in the decision of when and how much water is released through the spillways of the dams controlling the lakes. After the actual rain itself, it is the releases through the dams that will actually cause the flooding. As a general rule, once a lake’s elevation gets to the top of its Flood Pool any water coming in will be passed through in the form of a release from the dam.

As an example, prior to the most recent rain, the elevation of Table Rock Lake had dropped to the 926.8 range on April 9 with a combined release of about 20,000 cubic feet of water per second (cfs) from its spillway and generators. It was lowering its levels by passing its water into the 25 percent of Bull Shoals storage capacity that was left even as it was acting as the storage for the inflow from Beaver Lake. As a result of the most recent rains however, a lot of that flexibility was quickly removed.

The elevation of Beaver quickly rose and exceeded the top of its Flood Pool necessitating releases into Table Rock Lake which, based on projections of exceeding the top of its Flood Pool level had to increase its releases from the 20,000 cfs prior to the rains. The necessary, unprecedented and record breaking release of in excess of 45,000 cfs is the primary cause of the major portion of the flooding problems currently being encountered. That release will continue and be modified as necessary to keep Table Rock as close to the top of its Flood Pool as possible.
Information received from the Corps indicates that as of 6:00 a.m. April 12, Beaver Lake had crested and had dropped back to an elevation of 1129.8 leaving very little storage capacity to handle another rain event. The same information indicates that Table Rock Lake crested at 933.25 at about 4:00 a.m. on April 12, its elevation as of 6:00 a.m. was 933.20, and that has no storage capacity to handle another rain event. As of 5:00 a.m. April 12, Bull Shoals Lake had not crested and its elevation was 693.4 with 1.6 feet left to the top of its Flood Pool. With the inflow from the Table Rock Lake releases to get its level back to the top of its Flood Pool it is expected that there will be very little if any storage capacity left in Bull Shoals to handle any future rain event.

The flooding from the last rain occurred when there was more than 25 percent of the capacity of Table Rock Lake and Bull Shoals Lake available to handle the rain. That cushion is gone until the lake levels can be lowered. Unfortunately, that will be a long slow process because of the limited storage capacity of Bull Shoals which limits the amount that can be released from Table Rock. That is compounded by the limited storage capacity in Table Rock which limits the amount that can be released from Beaver.

Bottom line, even if the spillway at Table Rock Dam is shut down early next week and the current flooding is abated it doesn’t mean that the danger of flooding is over. With the current lake levels, the danger of flooding from a two or three inch rain event similar to the most recent rain will be a danger that the area will be living with until the storage capacities of our areas lakes get to the point where they can handle additional storage.

Table Rock Dam releasing 20,000 cfs with 5,000 cfs coming from 5 spillways and 15,000 cfs from generators located lower right.

No more additional, water will be released from Table Rock Lake, in the Branson area, until and unless the lake level rises to an elevation of 931. According to James D. Sandburg, Operations Manager, Table Rock Lake Project Office, as of the morning of Apr. 8, the level of Table Rock Lake was at an elevation 927.2 which is 75 percent of its flood control capacity.

Sandburg further indicated that currently, with the five spillways they have open and the use of the dam’s four turbines, 20,000 cubic feet of water per second (cfs) is being released from Table Rock Dam into Lake Taneycomo, 15,000 cfs from the turbines, and 5,000 cfs from the spillways. That water is flowing into Bull Shoals Lake which is currently at 77 percent of its flood storage capacity.

Sandburg said that the only way the new auxiliary spillways would be opened was after all other measures were taken to control the release of water from Table Rock through the use of the ten original spillways on the dam. He expressed his opinion that is extremely unlikely during this current event.

Sandburg pointed out that the top of the flood storage pool for Rock Lake is an elevation of 931. Once that level is reached there is no more storage capacity and any additional water running into the lake must be released, which they call “passing inflow.” Even in a passing inflow situation, however no more water will be released than is necessary to pass the inflow through the dam and downstream.

Inflow for Table Rock Lake comes from Beaver Lake, rain, and run off from the watershed. Sandburg said that Beaver’s storage capacity is currently at 92 percent of its flood capacity storage. Although its spillways have been opened during the current event, they have been closed since the morning of Apr.5 and the water being released into Table Rock from Beaver Lake is coming through its turbines.

Should the weather that is forecast for Thursday cause the inflow into Table Rock, regardless of its source, to rise to an elevation over 931, that inflow will be passed through the dam and downstream. Sandburg could not say how many gates would be open because the number would be dependent on the rate of the inflow into the lake.

He stressed that any release would only be in the amount necessary to pass the inflow. He further pointed out that the release would be reduced as soon as possible and in proportion to the abatement of the inflow into the lake. Sandburg pointed out that the lake had gotten up to an elevation of 929 during this event which is the highest it has been since 1985. He said that the highest it has ever been was “931 point something” back in 1961 which was also when they had the highest release, 31,000 cfs.
To go to theofficial site of the Coprs showing graphs of Table Rock Lakes releases etc. click here.

Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

Participants at the delayed March meeting of Partners In Progress held in the Hollister Town Hall on March 27 were informed that the project to four lane U.S. Highway 65 south to the Arkansas boarder (four lane project) is fast nearing completion and that the planning for the design and financing of the Business Highway 65/MO 76 Bridge project and roundabout across Lake Taneycomo is moving forward in a positive manner.

Various representatives of Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) attending the meeting reported on the few things remaining on the four lane project. Although the basic construction of the lanes was completed and the south bound lanes opened in late Dec. 2007, one of the north bound lanes has been closed. All that remains for both north bound lanes to be opened is some stripping which is anticipated to be completed during the first week of April, weather permitting.

Although there is some minor median work to be completed and work near some of the intersections where there are signals it is anticipated that any additional lane closing will be localized and temporary and that the total project will be completed well before its contractual completion date on May 27. The signals south of the Hollister intersection are currently timed for a set period of time and are not synchronized with the actual traffic flow. After the north bound lanes are opened, all the signals will be synchronized for the actual traffic using the signals which should result in more efficient traffic flow.

Although Chad E. Zickefoose, MoDOT’s District 8 Transportation Project Manager was unable to be at the meeting because the change of the meeting date conflicted with previous commitments he did talk with Rick Ziegenfuss, Hollister City Administrator earlier on the morning of March 27 about the status of the of the Business Highway 65/MO 76 Bridge project and roundabout across Lake Taneycomo. Ziegenfuss reported that based on that conversation Zickefoose is encouraged with the way things are going and feels that the project is right on track and that MoDOT is moving ahead with preliminary drawings and plans for the project. They should be completed within 6 to 8 weeks at which time MoDOT will have a more “accurate scoping and cost” for the project. Ziegenfuss indicated that he felt very positive about the way things are currently going.

Danny Strahan, Eastern Taney County Commissioner, reported on a recent meeting with Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and a representative from Congressman Roy Blunt’s office that took place with the Taney County commissioners, MotDOT officials, and others in Forsyth regarding the bridge and other transportation issues. He said that he was very impressed by their attitude and willingness to help and was very encouraged that there would be some federal assistance available for the project.

Ziegenfuss also pointed out that the Gage Drive extension, to the south just past the police station and coming back to the west to intersect with Historic Highway 165 about a quarter of a mile south of the Acacia Road intersection with Historic Highway 165, is ready for asphalt and should be completed as soon as weather permits. He went on to point out that work on the North Birch extension is currently being done on a time available basis. The contractor on the project Gage Excavation has spent $1.2 million so far and will be reimbursed for that expense and the additional expenses of the project from a CID tax which has been approved for most of the South Town Area and will soon start to be collected. When questioned as to a completion date, Ziegenfuss guessed that it would be in an August time frame.

Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

The process of finding a new city administrator for the city of Branson is in its final stages. Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley said that it was her goal to have the process completed and the new administrator at their desk by “the end of May.”

After a careful and deliberative process to select an executive search firm to handle a nationwide campaign to help the board find and select the best qualified, available, and interested candidate for the job, the process moved into the actual recruitment and selection phase on Jan.10. The city’s board of aldermen met with Robert E. Slavin, the President of Slavin Management Consultants, the firm that the board had selected to help them with the actual recruitment and selection of the new city administrator.

During that meeting Slaving said, “The fit is the key” and went on to point out that although there are a lot of qualified candidates to pick from, the key is to find the one that fits in best with the expectations and needs of the community. During a phone interview on Mar. 6 Mayor Presley reiterated the importance of that fit.

After the January meeting, Slavin finished the development of the recruitment program, necessary materials, and started the recruitment process. The advertising for the position states the minimum requirements a candidate for the position must have is “the equivalent of a Master’s degree in public administration combined with significant experience as a local government manager or full range assistant in a complex community comparable to Branson” and that the applicant must clearly possess superior management, financial and leadership knowledge, skill, ability, commitment and energy as needed “to achieve the Board’s goals.”

It goes on to say that there would be some preference for experience in a growing community with a tourism-based economy and that the applicant must be a superior communicator with the skill and ability to build trust-based and effective working relationships with the Board, department heads, employees, the community and a variety of critical external stake holders. The final day for submitting resumes for the position is Mar. 17.

Mayor Presley said that she anticipated that Slavin Management will vet the resumes, background checks etc. and, depending on the number received, submit them to the board in an executive (closed) session meeting along with their recommendation within two or three weeks after the Mar. 17 deadline. The objective of the process is to narrow the list down to a final list of a few of the very best candidates that would then be interviewed toward the middle of April.

Mayor Presley went on to say that, based on those interviews and all the other factors involved, they would pick a candidate to offer the position to. Assuming the first candidate the job is offered to accepts, it is the Mayor’s hope that the new city administrator will be at their post by the end of May.

Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

At a unique March 7 meeting in Hollister City Hall, local stake holders and representatives of the governments of Branson, Hollister, and Taney Country were told by the areas state legislators that they had been told by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) that the downtown Lake Taneycomo Bridge between Branson and Hollister would not be closed. The meeting was unique in the fact that it was a local meeting attended by virtually all of the state legislators representing the area, Senator Jack Goodman, and Representatives Dennis Wood, Maynard Wallace, and Ray Weter to address a specific problem.

The meeting was the result of the action initiated at the Feb. 21 Partners In Progress meeting after MoDOT had informed the group that it did not believe that the Cost Share Funding that had been the basis of the planning up to that point would be available. As a result of MoDOT’s action, those at that meeting decided that the Cost Share Application should be submitted formally to MoDOT so that its rejection could serve as the basis for further action, including but not limited to getting local legislators involved. In addition, the group wanted to try to set up a local meeting with the area’s state legislators to enlist their help. Western District Taney County Commissioner, Ron Herschend, volunteered to coordinate the setting up of the meeting.
After a brief introduction by Herschend, Rick Ziegenfuss, Hollister City Administrator, gave an overview of the process that had led to the meeting culminating with MoDOT’s action regarding the unlikelyhood of getting Cost Sharing Funds for the project. After the presentation by Ziegenfuss, Representative Wood commended the group for the leadership they had given the project and for the high esteem in which they are held by MoDOT.

He then informed the group that he, and the other state legislators present had had a meeting with MoDOT on March 3 in his office. While cautioning those present that he was not speaking for MoDOT he said, at that meeting, attended by Keith, Chief Engineer for MoDOT, they had been told by MoDOT leadership that the “bridge closing is not an option” and that “something else will be done.” The other three legislators present agreed with Wood as to his interpretation of what happened at the meeting.
Although the clear impression that the “something else” would involve a new bridge no specific details were available. The legislators present believed that some of the details would be discussed during a MoDOT meeting in Jefferson City during the week of March 10.

For the first time in history, Branson’s gross retail sales value for a 12 month rolling period exceeded $1 billion. The data for the 12 month rolling period of retail sales value from Nov. 2006 to Nov. 2007 was released on Feb. 15. It showed that the total retail sales value for the period was $1,133,681,350. This was up from $920,136,098, or about 9 percent, for the same period in 2006.

The data in the Feb. 15 report indicates that the sales tax receipts from the city’s 1 percent Sales Tax for Branson Landing went up from $93,729 in 2006 to $115,704 for the same period in 2007 or about 23 percent. The report further shows that the sales tax receipts for Branson Hills went up from $33,697 in 2006 to $54,195 for the same period in 2007 or about 61percent.

The sales tax receipts for the rest of Branson, all other retail activity except Branson Landing and Branson Hills, went up from $949,161 in 2006 to $963,782 for the same period in 2007 or about 2 percent. Although the 2 percent increase is not as large as the p8ercentage of increase within Branson Landing and Branson Hills it is certainly a lot better than the decrease that was originally forecasted for existing retail located outside of Branson Landing for its first two years of operation during its early planning stages.

The increased revenues from Branson Hills and Branson Landing are consistent with the economic outlook portion of the independent audit report of the audit conducted on the city of Branson for the fiscal year ending Sep. 30, 2007, by the Kansas City firm of Cochran Head Vick & Co., PC. It said that revenues have expanded at an unprecedented pace, surpassing the rapid increases experienced in the 1990’s” and that all this activity has been spurred by the development of the Branson Landing and Branson Hills projects.

Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

On March 28, Hilton Hotels, HCW Development Company, and the city of Branson will lose a key member of its convention center – hotel complex team. Mark Hartman, General Manager, Hiltons of Branson, and the personification of the Hilton image within the Branson community, has announced his retirement effective March 27.

Hartman has had a 25 year career with Hilton Hotels during which he spent most of that time traveling throughout the country opening hotels. Prior to coming to Branson he had opened 13 hotels for Hilton including a number that had extensive meeting and conference centers in them as well as those that were immediately adjacent to separate independently owned convention centers.

When asked if he had ever opened two hotels and a convention center at one time before Hartman said, “I don’t think anybody has ever opened two hotels and a convention center in one year.” He described it as a huge accomplishment for his team while saying that he didn’t think that he would want to try for four. The Hilton Promenade Hotel at Branson Landing opened on Valentines Day 2007 followed by the Branson Convention Center on Aug. 17, and the Hilton Convention Center Hotel on Aug.27. When asked what advice he would give to someone who was contemplating trying to do the same thing, he replied, “Do one.”

Recent reports by Hilton Hotels to the city of Branson, verified by the city independent asset manager, Senate Hospitality, indicate that the operation of the Branson Convention Center is going very well and exceeding forecasted expectations. Hartman attributes the success of the convention center operation to, among other things, the support and structure that Hilton Hotels has provided, the support of city staff, and the Hilton management philosophy of staying focused on the “customer.”

In going over his career Harman said that he draws the most personal satisfaction from seeing employees succeed. He went on to describe his excitement as he walks through the two hotels and the convention center and senses the pride that the employees have for the opportunity to work in such a facility.

When asked why he is retiring now Hartman said, “One of my goals was to retire by the age of 50. I exceeded that goal by a year.” He went on to say that with the opening basically completed and an excellent operational, management, and sales team in place that now was an excellent time for a transition.

He pointed out that since being in Branson the scope, intensity, and magnitude of the project has taken up the vast majority of his time. When asked the usual question, “How do you plan to spend your retirement?” he gave a very unusual answer.

Oh, it started off with the usual, like catching up on a lot of projects and responsibilities that he has put off but then, in an almost sudden but reflective manner he stopped. With obvious sincerity, affection and appreciation in his voice he simply acknowledged how much he owed his wife, Stephanie, for all the support, accommodation, and sacrifice she has given for him and his career over the years and indicated that one of the first things he wanted to do was to spend more time with her and do some of the things that they have not been able to do up to this point.

Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent

Ground breaking ceremony with Mayor David Tate extreme left and Justin Gage at etreme right.

The Feb. 29 groundbreaking ceremony for Hollister’s Wilderness in the Ozarks Waterpark Resort is the first major step in the development of the Hollister Interchange Entertainment District (The Interchange). Another major step will be the building of a 60,000 square foot entertainment center containing a movie complex, bowling alley, food court, and a restaurant.

The Interchange’s centerpiece will be the Waterpark Resort containing southwest Missouri’s largest indoor/outdoor waterpark. The resort is designed and operated by the Wisconsin Dells based Wilderness Resorts which has helped develop the Wisconsin Dells into the Waterpark Capital of the World. Its first resort property, the “Wilderness Territory in Wisconsin,” has grown into the “Number One Waterpark Resort in America.” Pete and Pat Helland, of the Wilderness Resorts, attended the ground breaking. Hellend said, “Over the course of the last 15 years we have created and refined the indoor waterpark resort concept. It’s a concept that works and it’s a concept that we love to be bringing to this area.”

The resort will consist of two major interrelated components, waterpark and residential. The waterpark component will have 75,000 square feet of indoor space and four acres of outdoor space featuring different water play areas, the latest innovative thrill rides such as Surf Rider and Tornado, a Wave Pool, four large family tube rides, spray features, and all the other amenities of a resort waterpark. The indoor portion of the waterpark will be covered with a special “foil-tec” roof giving guests the feel of being outdoors even on the most inclement days.

The residential component, which will surround the waterpark, includes 400 two-bedroom condominium residences. Current plans call for 200 of the residences to be whole ownership condominiums and 200 to be time share. The condominiums are designed for families and come in a variety of floor plans including a lock-off capability. The full ownership residences are currently priced in the high $100 to the low $500 thousand range. All owners may elect to participate in the Resort’s optional on-site rental program. In its normal day to day operation the facilities of the waterpark will only be open to those staying at the resort, either owners or those renting on a nightly basis through the resorts on-site rental program.

In his opening remarks Justin Gage, one of the principals in the Hollister Interchange Development Company, shared the Gage family’s dream for the development of a family entertainment complex at the interchange. In a very touching and poignant, yet dignified moment, he dedicated the development to his father, Albert Steve Gage, who went to be with his Lord earlier this year.

Hollister’s past City Administrator, John Lewis, attended the groundbreaking and said that he feels great about the development of the interchange area and that they are “Absolutely heading in the right direction.” Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley also attended the ground breaking and said “Hollister’s success will be Branson’s success” and that it’s the entire area working together that will pay off “big time down the road.” Dennis Woods, State Representative for District 62, said that he was excited about the jobs the development is bringing to the area and the expansion of the areas tourism base.

When asked what the plans were for the 60,000 square foot entertainment complex to be located in the area immediately to the west of the waterpark, Gage said, “We are proud to announce that we are going to do a beautiful cinema, probably a ten screen cinema, a ultramodern high end bowling alley, a food court, and a restaurant.” He went on to say that it would be a really nice family entertainment center designed, not only to entertain the guests at the waterpark resort but to be a blessing for the people in the surrounding area.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

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

Beginning July 1, the Branson/Lakes Area CVB (CVB) will include Hollister, and other tourism related entities located outside the Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District (the District), in its tourism marketing effort. The CVB has a contract with the District to market and promote tourism with the District. Normally tourism entities outside of the boundaries of the District, such as Hollister, are not eligible to be included in the direct marketing efforts of the District as a matter of right.

CVB, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, Dan Lennon said that doesn’t mean that tourism entities outside of the District haven’t been shown or mentioned in advertising done by the District. They have, but such participation was limited to that fitting into the Districts overall marketing plan to promote tourism within the District. Lennon pointed out that Bass Pro’s Big Cedar, while not being physically located within the District might be seen in some District advertising as part of the overall marketing plan because of its broad appeal that could cause people to come to the District. He also mentioned that selected events outside of the District, such as the Hydroplane Races at Rockaway Beach are listed on the District’s Event Calendar for the same reason.

As of July 1, all that changes because of the new guidelines the Missouri Department of Tourism (MDT) is using in its Cooperative Marketing Program (CMP). The CMP provides up to 50 percent reimbursement for eligible tourism marketing expenses. Under the new guidelines only one organization within each county, referred to as the Designated Marketing Organization (DMO), will be certified by MDT to receive CMP funding for the promotion of tourism within the county. In Taney County that organization is the CVB.

Under the MDT guidelines, the DMO must operate within the parameters the DMO’s marketing plan that MDT approved for the promotion of tourism within a respective county. The $1.3 million marketing expenses used to qualify for the 50 percent reimbursement, anticipated to be about $660,000 for Fiscal Year 2009, will come from the District and be spent pursuant to its overall marketing plan to promote the District.

Lennon said that the primary change for businesses located outside the District will their integration into the Districts overall marketing plan on the same basis as businesses within the District. Specifically, Lennon pointed out that for most businesses that would mean they would be listed without charge in web sites, ads, and promotional pieces and be eligible to purchase ads on the web site, visitor’s guides, promotional pieces, etc. on the same basis as businesses within the District.

He went on to say that the CVB will be trying to contact those tourism entities outside of the District to make the appropriate notification of the changes that will be taking place. He also said the CVB is in the process of developing the process of establishing a process to get participation and input from those entities outside of the District. He mentioned that he had recently met with Hollister City Administrator, Rick Ziegenfuss to discuss the program.

Ziegenfuss said that he was very encouraged by his meeting with Lennon and by the inclusion of Hollister in the overall marketing of the area. He expressed his personal confidence in Lennon and seemed confident that Hollister’s growing tourism interests would be promoted fairly. As to expectations, it appears that they are in line with the plans of the CVB for the overall marketing plan for the area. He said, “If in fact there is listings and things of that nature, we would hope and expect to be treated the same as other regional tourist destinations.” He also expressed Hollister’s willingness to participate in the planning process and his belief that the process will result in bringing more tourists into the region.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

William Jewell College has announced the recipient of the John and Mary Pritchard Humanitarian Service Award for 2008. This year’s award winner is Brittany Edwards of Branson, Mo.

Edwards will work with Dr. Ruth Kauffmann, professor of languages at William Jewell, to research and develop a new perspective for the college’s Chicano Experience class. The planned updates to the class will examine issues specific to the border area between the United States and Mexico.

"Because of my passion for border studies and the human rights violations associated with the borderlands, I gladly accept the responsibility of planning the trip in order to raise awareness among my peers," Edwards said. Edwards plans to work through the United Methodist Border Area Mission in McAllen, Texas, and will assist with a Mission Academy for United Methodist youth groups while she conducts her research. She hopes that the project will enable future William Jewell students to approach the immigration question with increased compassion and understanding.

Edwards is the daughter of William and Deborah Edwards of Branson. She is currently pursuing a triple major in Spanish, English, and psychology at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. On campus, she is actively involved in Alpha Gamma Delta, American Humanics, service learning and Christian Related Vocations. She has dedicated much of her college experience to volunteering in the nonprofit field. Her volunteer activities include a disaster relief trip to New Orleans, work with Spanish-speaking junior high students, a Honduras construction and mission trip, co-teaching a class for Spanish-speaking permanent residents seeking citizenship, and an internship as a youth advocate with Synergy House, a shelter for homeless, runaway and abused teenagers in the Kansas City area.

The Pritchard Humanitarian Service Award is provided by and named for the founders and nurturers of Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City, a provider of affordable housing for low-income families. For more than two decades, the Pritchards sought strong and effective ways to interact with people in need. The award goes annually to William Jewell students who commit to engaging with people in need and developing relationships with people different from themselves in all fundamental aspects while learning about their own unique gifts and calling.

Amid all the great revenue reports on the great sales tax revenues coming from Branson Landing (Landing) there appears to be some businesses, mostly the smaller independent owners or franchisees, who have some concerns. According to a credible source, who owns and operates one of the concerned businesses at the Landing, and wishes to remain anonymous at this point, there was a meeting last week at Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que attended by an estimated 15 Branson Landing businesses.

According to the source, the businesses primary concern relates to the high cost of doing business at the Landing particularly during the months of Jan. through Mar. when customer traffic is down. Those costs, among others, involve the high cost of rent, increased labor costs because of the hours they are required to be open, escalating Common Area Maintenance (CAM) and, for some, the high cost of trash removal.

Other areas of concern relate to what some of them consider the lack of adequate advertising by HCW and Urban to bring people to the Landing and how the money each business pays into a pool for marketing is spent. When it was pointed out that over 60 percent of all the people coming to Branson went down to the Landing last year, the source replied, “There’s a lot of people walking up and down the promenade but most of them aren’t carrying bags.”

The source went on to say that there was the possibility that William “Willey” Theisen, the retired owner of Godfather’s Pizza and the owner of a number of Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Ques, might be coming into town to advise and assist the group. Inquiry at the Landing’s Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que to get more information on its concerns and to verify if and when Theisen would be coming to Branson ended with a relayed message from an assistant manager that the manager was on vacation and was the only one who could discuss the matter.

Rick Huffman, President and CEO of HCW Development, LLC said that he had been in contact with some of the concerned businesses and representatives of Urban Retail Properties, LLC, who operates and manages the Landing for HCW, about the concerns. Representatives of Urban Retail indicated that they were aware of a pending meeting and had offered to attend. They said that they have had no meeting with the group but that its Landing management team would look forward to working, not only with the group, but any individual store having concerns, in addressing those concerns and trying to resolve them in a mutually satisfactory manner.

Not all businesses have the same concerns. On the way out of the Landing this reporter’s wife and daughter couldn’t resist a sale in the Yankee Candle store. During a discussion with Rose Vinson, the manager of the store since its opening, she said that she was very pleased with the way things were going and pointed out that the store was number eight out of 467 stores, in the chain, for overall excellence and number 20 in profitability in 2007. Chris Lemons, a manager at the Landings Cantina Laredo restaurant, said that their restaurant is doing extremely well and that they are very pleased with the way things are going at the Landing.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent. https://bransoncourier.com/view_article.php?news_ID=41

The chances for a new bridge were pretty well sunk by the actions of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). After months of negotiation between the cities of Branson and Hollister, Taney Country and MoDOT’s District 8, local officials received word late last week that both District 8 and MoDOT at the state level had decided that MoDOT’s portion of the project cost was too much. As MoDOT’s District 8 Transportation Project Manager, Chad E. Zickefoose said, “The funds just aren’t there.”

At a Feb. 1 meeting in Springfield, the Taney County Commissioners, representative of the cities of Branson and Hollister, and MoDOT’s District 8 reviewed and agreed upon the “Project Cost Share Summary for the Taneycomo Bridge/Route 76 Cost Share Project”. The Summary set forth the proposed cost for the project, who was to pay what and would have served as the financial basis for the application for MoDOT cost sharing funds.

According to the Summary, of the total estimated project cost of $21.6 million, $13,445,149 was to be eligible for cost sharing. The remaining $8,116,735 would have been paid primarily by MoDOT. Of the total $21.6 million for the project, MoDOT, through cost sharing and otherwise, would have been paying $14,839,305 or about 68 percent of the total project.

MoDOT’s District 8 was to prepare the Cost Sharing Application and submit it to the cities of Branson and Hollister and to Taney County for review and execution so that it could be submitted to MoDOT’s Cost Sharing Committee by Mar. 1.

According to Zickefoose, during the process of preparing the application and communicating with MoDOT at the state level, it became apparent that the funds just weren’t there. One suggestion that MoDOT had was to go ahead and repair the old bridge with MoDOT paying, local entities and MoDOT sharing the cost of the roundabout, and that the new bridge be funded entirely by local funding.

The matter was discussed briefly by the Branson Board of Aldermen at its Feb. 19 Work Session Work. There was a noticeable lack of enthusiasm regarding MoDOT’s suggestion. Absent some other solution, the Lake Taneycomo Bridge, between downtown Branson and Hollister, will be close early in 2009 for approximately a year so that it can be repaired.

The matter will be discussed at the Partners In Progress meeting scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Hollister City Hall on Thursday, Feb. 21.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

The sudden departure of Ferris Brown from his position of Finance Director for the city of Branson leaves three senior management positions within the city vacant. Hired to replace the city’s former Finance Director, Deanna Schlegel, less than a year ago, Brown’s last day on the job was Tuesday, Feb. 12. In addition to the vacancy caused by his surprise departure, the city currently has the positions of City Administrator and Director of Economic Development vacant.

Jerry Adams, Public Information Director for the city of Branson, said that his departure was not the result of the recent independent audit conducted on the city for the year ending Sep. 30, 2007. The audit was conducted by the firm of Cochran Head Vick & Co., PC. At its Feb. 11 meeting, the Branson Board of aldermen accepted a report of the audit which was presented by David L. Cochran of that firm. After hearing the report’s summary, Alderman Stephen Marshall said, “Our house is in good shape” and that he was pleased with the report.

Adams went on to say that Brown’s departure was a personnel matter and gave no further indication of the circumstances involved with his departure. Attempts to contact Brown at the local cell number he was previously using were unsuccessful.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

The Branson Veteran’s Task Force (BVT) and the Downtown Branson Main Street Association (DBMA) will no longer be eligible to receive matching funds from the Missouri Department of Tourism (MDT) under its Cooperative Marketing Program. Under the current guidelines, both organizations, along with the Branson Lakes Area CVB (CVB), had been certified as a Designated Marketing Organization (DMO) by MDT and were eligible to receive matching funds from its Cooperative Marketing Program.

At an Oct. 10, 2007 meeting with local government officials, and others actively involved in the promotion of tourism in the Branson area, Blaine Luetkemeyer, the Director of the MDT, informed those in attendance of recent changes to the guidelines his department uses in its cooperative marketing program. Based on Luetkemeyer’s responses to the questions asked at that meeting, it appears that Luetkemeyer and his staff arbitrarily put the changes in place without the approval of the Missouri Tourism Commission and without the conscious participation of the CVB, or any other DMO in the Branson area.

Under the new guidelines, which will be effective for MDT’s 2009 fiscal Year starting July 1, MDT will only certify one DMO within each county for participation in its Cooperative Marketing Program (CMP). Applications for the certification had to be submitted to MDT for approval by Nov. 1, 2007. The Branson Lakes CVB (CVB) was the only organization within Taney County that submitted an application for certification and has been certified as the DMO for Taney County to receive cooperative marketing funds under the MDT Cooperative Marketing Program (CMP).

The new guidelines provide that the funds each DMO is eligible to receive from the CMP, and what is required to receive them, is largely dependent on the “Designation” and “Level of Certification” that MDT determines for a particular DMO. Based on the new guidelines it appears that the Branson CVB will be assigned to a Level III Certification, MDT’s highest level, and will receive MDT Designations in the areas of Leisure Travel, Convention, and Amateur Sporting Event marketing.

One final factor to be considered is the County Tourism Level (CTL) which groups counties according to their Fiscal Year 2006 tourist expenditures and available lodging to determine the maximum amount a DMO can receive from the CMP in 2009. Taney County has the highest CTL available a “7.” The guidelines state, “Funding amounts are first limited by the amount allocated per Missouri county, and secondly by the certification level of the DMO.”

The CTL indicates that Taney County could receive a maximum of $600,000 to market Leisure Travel and an additional $60,000 to market Conventions and or Amateur Sporting Events for a total of $660,000. Under the guidelines, the Branson Lakes Area CVB, with its Level III Certification, could qualify to receive a total $660,000 under the CMP.

Dan Lennon, Vice President Marketing & Public Relations, Branson/Lakes Area CVB, said that there are different dates for submitting the applications for each designation. He pointed out that the application for the $60,000 to market Conventions has already been sent and was received by MDT prior to its Jan. 31 deadline. Lennon said that the application for $600,000 to market Leisure Travel is currently in the process of being developed and will be submitted in time to arrive at MDT prior to its Apr. 15 deadline. He said MDT should issue a notification of funding award on or before May 30 for both and anticipates that the maximum amount in each designation will be awarded.

Lennon was also quick to stress that the $660,000 would not be available for use until MDT’s Fiscal Year which begins on July 1. He also pointed out that to get the $660,000 from MDT the Branson Lakes Area CVB must spend $1.3 million because, in addition to the programs built in maximums, it will only reimburse up to 50 percent of eligible marketing expenses. The $1.3 million used to qualify for the MDT reimbursement will come from the Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District as part of its overall marketing program for the district.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

A portion of the retail tourism tax collected by Branson retail establishments, theatres, hotels, motels, restaurants, and attractions for marketing within the Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District (TCED) may be diverted to market areas outside of the TCED as far away as Galena, Crane, and Cape Fair. Under a proposal currently being considered by the TCED Board, $400,000 of TCED marketing funds would be channeled to the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, formerly known as the Kimberling City Chamber of Commerce, in an attempt to get a $200,000 reimbursement from Missouri’s Division of Tourism.

Under the proposal, as discussed thus far, the funds would not go directly from the TCED but would be funneled through the Branson Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). The CVB currently has a contract with the TCED to market the TCED and it is through that contract that the funds would be funneled to the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

Wyli Barnes, President/CEO of the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce made a presentation to the TCED Board at its Feb. 6 meeting outlining the proposal. The only official action taken by the board as a result of the presentation was to pass a motion directing the Board’s president to “write a letter to the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce that the board is interested in encouraging the Branson CVB to subcontract with the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce to obtain the $200,000 funding through the Missouri Department of Tourism.”

At least one of the members of the TCED Board, Bill Skains, Manager, Engler Block, Branson, expressed his concern that the TCED was doing something outside of its legislative authority. In response board member Bert Lehman, co-owner of Artilla Cove Resort, Indian Point, said “We’re not doing anything outside of our TCED.” Skains said, “I disagree” and Leman said, “Table Rock Lake is in the TCED.”

An examination of the current map used by the TCED to show its boundaries indicates that Table Rock Lake is not included in the TCED. Further, it shows that only a small portion of the southeastern portion of Stone County, including Indian Point, Silver Dollar City, and selected portions of Stone County, mostly west of State Highway 265 to the shoreline of Table Rock Lake and north of the southern boundary of the State Park are in the TCED. Not only geographically but economically, the vast majority of the TCED is located within Taney County and the city of Branson.

In a telephone interview on Feb. 7, Lehman, while acknowledging that the current map is the map that has been used to determine the TCED boundaries up to this point said that the map may not be accurate because it has never been digitized. He further pointed out that the boundaries of the Village of Indian Point encompass a portion of Table Rock Lake but he does not know whether or not the metes and bounds description used to initially formulate the TCED included any portion of Table Rock Lake.

At meeting held at Silver Dollar City on Oct. 10, 2007 Blaine Luetkemeyer, the Director of the Missouri Department of Tourism informed those in attendance of recent changes to the guidelines his department uses in its cooperative marketing program. Luetkemeyer and his staff arbitrarily put the changes in place without the approval of the Missouri Tourism Commission or broad dissemination to the various county commissions throughout the state who they had charged with implementing them.

The new arbitrarily imposed guidelines mean that the Division of Tourism will only recognize one entity within each county for participation in its cooperative marketing program. Under the program, the Division will provide matching funds to only one entity in each county. Stone County has designated the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, located in Kimberling City as that entity. The map of the TCED indicates that Kimberling City and the vast majority of Stone County are not within the TCED.

To get $200,000 in reimbursement from the Division of Tourism, the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce must spend $400,000 and then apply for reimbursement from the state. Information presented during the presentation indicates that the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce does not have the $400,000 necessary to maximize the reimbursement available from the state. The purpose of the request is to try to fund the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce with sufficient funding to do so.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

See related editorial entitled: "Even Kimberling City can’t win the pot unless they ante up, or can they?"

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

According to the quarterly report received by the Branson Board of Aldermen at their Jan. 28 meeting, bookings for the Branson Convention Center are exceeding benchmark projections. While presenting the report, Mark Hartman, General Manager, Hiltons of Branson, reported, “In 2008 we are now at 198 event days.”

He continued, “This compares to the CS & L Study that was done prior to the convention center opening and their projection, for the convention center with a hotel attached, was to have 177 event days at stabilization.” The study being referred to was the “Feasibility Analysis of the Proposed Branson Downtown Exhibition and Convention Center Study” conducted by CSL International which was sent to the city of Branson in Feb. 2003. The study used the term “stabilized year” which, it says, is assumed to occur by the fifth year of operation.

Hartman said, “In 2007 we booked $4.8 million of revenue into the Branson Convention Center. That’s just food and beverage and meeting room rental. There’s additional revenue which pertains to parking, the laundry, show events, and decorating services that will add to that number.”

He went on to point out that although the $4.8 million figure represents business “booked” in 2007, it includes bookings in other years. He specifically noted that of the $4.8 million booked in 2007, that $2.5 million of that was for 2008 and that they have also “layered in revenues into 2009, 2010, 2111, and 2112.”

An analysis of the “Sales & Marketing” portion of the report presented indicates that in 2008, as of the end of Dec. 2007, there are 186 event days booked definitely, 81 tentatively and 25 prospects. Hartman pointed out that the difference between the 198 he cited earlier and the report is because 12 additional events have been booked between the closing date of the report, Dec. 31, 2007 and his presentation during the meeting.

In discussing the event days that are booked Hartman stressed that one of the big focuses of the sales team was to focus on multiyear events. The rational being, he said, “So that as we finished up a year we didn’t have to go back and resell that client.”

Alderman Stephen Marshall asked, “Of the business that has been booked, how much of it is new business that has never been to Branson before?” Harman replied, “I would guess about 60 percent.” Hartman also pointed out that there is convention business coming to Branson and going to other places beside the Branson Convention Center that were made aware of Branson as a potential convention site because of the publicity and advertising relating to the Branson Convention Center.

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.

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.

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.

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

The community was almost in shock when, in June, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announced its intention to close the Business Highway 65/MO 76 Bridge across Lake Taneycomo (the bridge) for a year. The announcement came from MoDOT’s District 8 Transportation Project Manager, Chad E. Zickefoose at the June Partners in Progress meeting held in Hollister.

Specifically, Zickefoose said, “The bridge isn’t in any danger of falling in but the deck is deteriorating fast” and will require repairs which will necessitate the closing of the bridge for “a significant amount of time… in the vicinity of a year plus.” The public response was so overwhelming that the July Partners in Progress meeting was moved to the Keeter Center at the College of the Ozarks.

That meeting, the first of many held since, was attended by over 200 residents and public officials. Kirk E. Juranas, MoDOT’s District 8 Engineer explained that the problem with the bridge was its deteriorating deck, not the driving surface but the cement deck upon which it rests. He went on to explain that the unique architectural structure of the open-spandrel arch type bridge and the way the cement floor beams are poured as part of the deck prohibits its rehabilitation without its complete closure. MoDOT further pointed out that if the deck was not repaired it would have to be closed.

Since that time, a number of meetings have been held between various local government entities themselves and those entities with MoDOT. In addition, a MoDOT funded Value Engineering Study has been held and the voters of Taney County rejected a retail sales tax increase a portion of which would have been used to fund a new bridge.

At the Dec. 20, Partners in Progress meeting, MoDOT’s District 8 Transportation Project Manager, Chad E. Zickefoose indicated that, based on everything that has transpired so far, MoDOT is basing any alternative actions to the original plan of rehabilitating the current bridge, building a round-about and closing the bridge on the recommended alternative B-10 in the MoDOT Valuation Engineering Study.

That alternative provides for the construction of a new bridge just to the north of the current bridge that would connect to Branson Landing Boulevard. While the new bridge is being constructed the current bridge would remain open. After the new bridge is completed and operational the current bridge would be closed for the better part of a year for deck repair and rehabilitation.

Zickefoose said that if MoDOT cost shares the estimated $18 million cost at a 50 percent level, the remaining cost to finance a new bridge would be about $9 million. Of that $9 million, MoDOT’s District 8 would allocate the approximately $3.5 million that it was going to put into the original bridge rehab and round-about project leaving a gap of about $5 million to come from other sources.

As 2007 comes to a close, after six months of meetings, discussions, and studies, no local entity, except the city of Hollister, which endorses the B-10 option, has made a decision on what if any alternative to the closing of the bridge they want to pursue. Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley said that her board was still studying the issue and Taney County Commissioner Danny Strahan said he wanted to hold public hearings to see how the people feel about the issue.

Another meeting between MoDOT and the various local government entities involved is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2008 at which time it is anticipated that the local entities will have decided on what, if any alternative to the closing of the bridge should be pursued.

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

B-10 Alternative with new bridge to Branson Landing.

At the recent Partners in Progress meeting, held on Dec. 20 in the Hollister Town Hall, Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley said that there are some concerns among Branson’s elected officials regarding the construction of a new bridge over Lake Taneycomo. Her comments came during a discussion about the best course of action to take regarding the problems posed by the traffic congestion and the deteriorating deck condition of the Business Highway 65/MO 76 Bridge across Lake Taneycomo (the bridge) between Hollister and Branson.

During the discussion, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) District 8 Transportation Project Manager, Chad E. Zickefoose, said that he thought that the Dec. 6 meeting between MoDOT and officials from Taney County, Hollister, and the city of Branson was very productive. He pointed out that as a result of the meeting MoDOT has agreed to delay any sort of construction work on the bridge and intersection at its eastern end until the Fall of 2009. He said, “We are essentially delaying the bid opening on the project a year to give us a little more time to look at funding options and things.”

Zickefoose went on to point out that Kirk E. Juranas, MoDOT’s District 8 Engineer, has been in discussion with the folks in Jeff City and with MoDOT’s Cost Share Committee to see whether or not there is a viable chance that some sort of cost sharing from the state would be available for the bridge. He expressed his optimism that some cost sharing funds would be available.

According to Zickefoose, MoDOT is basing any alternative actions to the original plan of rehabbing the current bridge and the original round-about on the recommended alternative B-10 in the MoDOT Valuation Engineering Study that has just recently been completed. That alternative provides for the construction of a new bridge just to the north of the current bridge that would connect to Branson Landing Boulevard. While the new bridge is being constructed the current bridge would remain open. After the new bridge is completed and operational the current bridge would be closed for the better part of a year for deck repair and rehabilitation.

Zickefoose said that if $18 million is used as the projects cost and MoDOT cost shares at a 50 percent level that brings the remaining cost to be financed to $9 million. Of that $9 million, MoDOT’s District 8 would allocate the approximately $4 million that it was going to put into the original bridge rehab and round-about project leaving a gap of about $5 million to come from other sources.

In stating the city of Branson’s current position on the bridge situation and the B-10 alternative specifically, Mayor Raeanne Presley summed it up by saying, “There is not an absolute consensus among our board that this is the right thing to do.” While echoing the thanks of the local entities to MoDOT for the extra decision making time she went on to express some of the concerns of Branson’s Board of Aldermen.

In amplifying on the boards concerns she said, “My board did have some concerns about the traffic impact as it heads into downtown Branson.” She said that the Branson Convention Center has just opened and that the downtown area was in the process of adjusting to the effects of that traffic. Mayor Presley also pointed out that the city’s planned traffic improvements for the downtown area had not incorporated a second bridge and that many of the aldermen wanted some time to study the downtown traffic patterns as relates to the impact of a second bridge.

The mayor also expressed the city’s concern over the physical tie-in and the costs involved with that tie-in at the western end of the bridge where it joins with Branson Landing Boulevard. MoDOT’s Chad Zickefoose said that the current estimates for the project, “Includes the cost of fully building the bridge across the lake and ties into the end of the four lane section on Branson Landing Boulevard. Branson City Engineer David Miller pointed out that it was more than just joining two roads together. Among other things Miller was concerned with access to the camp ground, Long Street [Branson Landing Boulevard], flood plain issues, etc.

Currently, a meeting between MoDOT and the various local government entities involved in the bridge project is scheduled for Feb. 6. At that time it is anticipated that the local entities will have decided on what they want and the actual procurement of the funding for the project can proceed. MoDOT Project Manager, Zickefoose pointed out that between now and then he would be meeting individually with each of the local entities involved, including the city of Branson.

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

Santa’s arrival was delayed about a week because of weather, but when he finally arrived at the Historic Hollister Train Depot on Dec. 16 the kids, parents and grandparents waiting for him did notseem to care. He arrived safely at about 3:00 p.m. in a Western Taney County Fire Protection Rescue Truck with a Hollister police escort.

Hollister Assistant City Administrator, Vonnie Mathiesen estimated that the turnout was about 100. She explained that although, for a variety of reasons, attendance was not as great as in years past, the important thing was that the long established tradition of Santa coming to the children in the Hollister area was continued. She said, “If just one child left happy then the whole event was worthwhile.”

The event was jointly sponsored by the Hollister Parks Department and the Hollister Chamber of Commerce. In addition to Santa Claus, the children were entertained by the clowns Ronzo and Sugar who also made balloon figures and Sprinkles, the clown, who did face painting. Pam Druffle, Chairman of the Board of the Hollister Chamber of Commerce described the event as a way of giving back to the community and said, “It’s all about the kids.”

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

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

The city of Branson and the Hilton Hotels Corporation have something in common, neither one has managed a municipally owned convention center before. At its Dec. 18 meeting of the city of Branson’s Budget and Finance Committee (the committee) met with members of the Senate Hospitality Group (Senate) to discuss an asset management relationship.

Glen Malone, the Chief Operating Officer and CFO described Senate’s asset management roll for the Branson Convention Center as one of providing knowledge and expertise in the hospitality industry, that the city does not currently have, to help maximize the return on the city’s investment in its convention center. In response to the specific question of Mayor Raeanne Presley, Malone said that although Senate has not done any asset management on a stand alone convention center they have done so on a number of convention and meeting facilities such as the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center complex in Nashville, TN.

Mayor Presley made it very clear that the city and Mark Hartman, the General Manager of the Hiltons of Branson, were working together as a team to try to efficiently manage the convention center. The general consensus of the committee was that for the city to effectively participate in the process they needed someone with the specialized knowledge and expertise that it did not have to help them insure that systems and procedures are put into place to enable the city to effectively monitor and oversee the convention center operations.

One of the immediate areas of concern of the committee was getting some assistance in evaluating the 2008 Operating Budget for the Convention Center that was recently presented by Hilton. It is anticipated that Senate will be able to review the proposed budget as to the appropriateness and reasonableness of some of the specialized items that the committee has no, or limited, expertise with. There was some concern among committee members that at least a part of the proposed budget mirrored the budget contained in a consulting report that the city had commissioned while the convention center was being initially evaluated.

While acknowledging that charge backs under the agreements could be pretty complex, the committee noted that there are a tremendous amount of charge backs to the convention center from the Branson Convention Center Hotel. It was also noted that between $500,000 and $1 million dollars a year are to be allocated to the marketing of the convention center and that although there is a marketing plan it is not very detailed as compared to the plan that the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB is required to submit under its marketing contract with the city.

Another area of concern was the format of reports on the convention center operations. Although the city and Hilton are currently working on the further development and refinement of such reports it is anticipated that Senate would get involved in the process. As an example of the type of report that the committee would like to see, the reports of the St. Charles, Missouri Convention Center, managed by Global Spectrum was mentioned as an example.

Another area of concern expressed by the committee was an analysis of all current management agreements relating to the convention center. A lot of time was spent discussing the laundry that was built as part of the convention center, how the Convention Center Hotel is charged for the laundry done at the convention centers laundry, and the fact that the current agreement with Hilton is fairly mute on the operation of the laundry.

Senate will submit a proposal for a six month engagement by the end of this week. It is anticipated that during the engagement Senate will, at a minimum, review the proposed 2008 budget for the convention center, all definitive agreements that exist, give a summary of what rights the city has and advise of any unusual provisions contained within the agreements. Senate will also review how the sales and marketing of the convention center is being handled and help develop the final management and financial reports that the committee wants.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

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

If ex-alderman David Edie’s request is honored, 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 will be reversed. He made his request at the Dec. 10 meeting of the city of Branson’s Board of Aldermen (the board) presided over by Mayor Raeanne Presley and attended by Aldermen Jack Purvis, Sandra Williams, Stan Barker, Bob McDowell, Dick Gass, and Stephen Marshall.

Edies’s request came during the Public Comment portion of the meeting and started off with a reading from the travelogue book entitled “The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America” by Bill Bryson. The reading described the author’s impression of a Hyatt Regency Hotel located in an older area of Savannah, Georgia, as “an instantly depressing sight. Massive and made of shaped concrete it was from the in your face school of architecture so favored by big American hotel chains. There was nothing about it, in scale or appearance that was remotely sympathetic to the old buildings around it. It just said, ‘In your face Savannah.’”

He suggested that the quote described how a lot of people in Branson feel. Edie went on to describe that on Dec. 11, 2006, while he was a member of the board, they were faced with a decision to allow a 300 foot building, “designed from the same school of architecture,” to be built on one of the most prominent locations in Branson. He continued saying, “It was barely allowed, as you all know, by a split vote.”

Edie suggested that had the building been built, there would have been nothing about it that would be “in scale or appearance in any way remotely sympathetic to or in harmony with this city or any of the surrounding area.” He concluded his initial remarks by saying, “I’m here tonight to ask you to revisit ordinance 2006-171 and to revise the paragraph and remove the 300 foot limitation and restore the original building height limit of 100 feet.”

The minutes of the Dec. 11, 2006 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen indicate that “an ordinance amending the Land Use Regulations for Planned Development PD-98-007 known as ‘The Point Entertainment Complex’ located at 448 State Highway 248 Branson, Missouri” was discussed at the meeting. They further indicate that there was a tie vote on the issue with Aldermen Gass, Barker, and ex-Alderwoman Martin voting “aye” and Aldermen Purvis and ex-aldermen Edie and Huff voting “Nay.” Ex-Mayor, Lou Schaefer, voted “Aye” and the motion carried permitting the developer to build a 300 foot tall building. Ordinance 2006-171 also repealed, in its entirety, Ordinance 2006-132 which has previously authorized the building of a 12 story building.

At the conclusion of Edie’s comments Alderman Gass, who was one of the aldermen who voted for the 300 foot building said, “I have just one comment Dave. I don’t see that building ever being built. I just don’t know how that could ever be built to that size where it would make money and I think that if you talked to some of the developers around here they realize that. When we voted on that. I think that is a prime location and I agree with you, I don’t think you’ll ever see a building that tall built there even though we voted it in that night.” Edie agreed and said he would be surprised if it were but said he would still like to see the ordinance changed so that no one could do that. Gass said, “That’s a good question.”

There were no further comments or questions by the board or city staff. Without further action by city staff or an elected official to change Ordinance 2006-171 the 300 foot height limit will stand.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent. https://bransoncourier.com/view_article.php?news_ID=41

When the downtown Lake Taneycomo Bridge was closed for repairs for about a half a day in November, two major areas of traffic congestion were apparent. One was the back up of traffic coming off the south bound Highway 65 ramp to take Business Highway 65 back through Hollister. The other was turning west off the northern end of Gage Drive onto the Business Highway 65 portion of the interchange when coming from Harter House, McDonalds, or the other businesses located off of Gage Drive.

There are two road projects underway in Hollister that will improve both situations, the northern extension of Birch Street and the Gage Drive Loop. The west bound traffic turning from Gage Drive onto Business Highway 65, back to the traffic signal at the College of the Ozarks can, at times be, in the very least challenging and, at the most, dangerous.

Currently there is only one way in and out of the area accessed by Gage Drive and that is through the intersection of Gage Drive and Business Highway 65, which is part of the Highway 65 interchange. At certain times of the day there is moving traffic coming from both directions on the Business Highway 65 portion of the interchange, westbound traffic waiting to turn off of Business Highway 65 onto Gage Drive and traffic on Gage Drive waiting to turn west onto Business Highway 65 towards the College of the Ozarks traffic signal.

The situation gets even more complicated as those coming off of Gage Drive, westbound on Business Highway 65, wanting to go either into the College of the Ozarks or towards Hollister, have to cross two to four lanes of traffic to do so. It gets even more complicated because a lot of the traffic in those lanes, coming from the east, is also changing lanes trying to do the same thing.

Hollister City Administrator, Rick Ziegenfuss explained that the Gage Drive extension will not only help eliminate that situation but provide more parking area and safety for the Hollister Police Department. Gage Drive is being extended south, just past the front of the Hollister Police Department where it will turn west and proceed up to an intersection with Historic Highway 165. This will provide an alternate route to enter and leave those businesses located along Gage Drive and help alleviate the current traffic challenges at its intersection with the Business Highway 65 portion of the interchange.

Ziegenfuss also said that as the project is completed there will be some work and elevation changes at the Hollister Police Department on Gage Drive that will provide for better parking, security, and functionality. He indicated that the project is ready for gutters, curbs, and completion of the road as soon as weather permits.

The north bound Birch Street extension will provide more convenient access to the South Towne Center and the development taking place around it to those travelers coming from the east. Basically, the extension will proceed on a northerly line paralleling Highway 65, from it current intersection with Mall Avenue, and intersect with Business Highway 65 just east of the east end of the Highway 65 flyover bridge.

Ziegenfuss pointed out that the extension will also provide an alternate route to access the Highway 65 interchange which could help more evenly distribute the traffic using the interchange and help it operate more efficiently under heavy traffic situations such as that experienced when the Taneycomo Bridge was closed. He anticipates that the Birch Street extension will be open to traffic in Spring of 2008.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

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

“Christmas” has always been an inherent part of Ozark Mountain Christmas now it’s official. At the Dec. 10 meeting of the city of Branson’s Board of Aldermen, presided over by Mayor Raeanne Presley, and attended by Aldermen Jack Purvis, Sandra Williams, Stan Barker, Bob McDowell, Dick Gass, and Stephen Marshall, the board approved a resolution stating, “The Board of Aldermen hereby states its support of the celebration of Ozark Mountain Christmas.”

Originally, the resolution, entitled “The Support of the Board of Aldermen of the city of Branson to the celebration of Christmas in Branson as part of Ozark Mountain Christmas” (the resolution), was scheduled to be the last item on the meeting’s agenda. It was moved to the first item of business to accommodate those coming to the meeting who might have come just to speak to the resolution. The motion to approve the resolution was introduced by Alderman Marshall. There was no city report, recommendation, or input given from city staff as part of the introduction.

During the public comment portion of the meeting every speaker but one supported the motion. Representative of the comments would be those of Bob Simmons who stated his support for the resolution and said, “It reaffirms what our position on Christmas and this season which has meant so much to us in many many ways.”

The board’s discussion of the issue started with Alderman Purvis stating his objections to the resolution as presented. He stated he didn’t believe it would do anything for us, and said that he believed, “that there are some ramifications that could be of a negative impact that could draw attention to us as the super destination Christmas.” Alderwoman Williams stated her support of the resolution and pointed out that all it did was, “suggest and encourage the businesses in the city of Branson support and promote an event that we are marketing for the visitors that are coming here and that they expect to see and experience. She went on to point out that it is not religious at all and doesn’t tell anyone who does not want to celebrate Christmas to do it.

Alderman Marshall said, “The whole intent of this resolution had nothing to do with religion, zero, zip.” He went on to point out the vast support he has received from the public in support of the resolution, explain his rationale for why he believed the resolution was necessary, acknowledged the concern that some businesses in the community had that the ACLU would some to Branson because of the resolution and pointed out that the whole situation had become something bigger than it actually was. At that point he made a motion to amend the resolution to eliminate the last two sections from the resolution.

After the amendment, the operable portion of the resolution read, “The Board of Aldermen hereby states its support of the celebration of Ozark Mountain Christmas.” The first section that was eliminated read, “In furtherance of that support, the Board hereby urges Branson businesses to try to keep the word and spirit of ‘Christmas’ in Christmas and to foster the history and heritage of the traditional American Christmas in Branson, Missouri.” The other eliminated the section read, “The Board of Aldermen also hereby encourages all businesses and residents of Branson to show their support by the displaying of Christmas decorations during Branson’s Ozark Mountain Christmas to ensure that all visitors experience the old fashion Christmas they imagined.”

During the debate on the public debate on the amended motion, local editorial cartoonist John Logan spoke passionately against the amendment. From a conflict of interest perspective this writer spoke in favor of the amendment. The amended motion was approved by the unanimous vote of the board. Prior to the vote on the amendment, Mayor Presley stated her position that in the case of a tie she would be voting for the resolution.

Related Links:

1. Board to decide how much Christmas is in Ozark Mountain Christmas.
2. Branson’s resolution is about "Christmas" not the establishment clause!
3. Will Branson celebrate Christmas or some other neutered politically correct holiday?

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

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

Just how much “Christmas” is in Ozark Mountain Christmas may be decided by the city of Branson’s Board of Aldermen at its Dec. 10 meeting. At the Dec. 4 work session of the city of Branson’s Board of Aldermen, presided over by Mayor Raeanne Presley, and attended by Aldermen Jack Purvis, Sandra Williams, Bob McDowell, Dick Gass, and Stephen Marshall, Alderman Marshall presented a resolution supporting “the celebration of Ozark Mountain Christmas.”

Marshall said that the resolution was prompted by a column written by this reporter. That column entitled, “Will Branson celebrate Christmas or some other neutered politically correct holiday?” appeared in the Nov. 23 edition of this paper and on line at www.bransoncourier.com under “Editorials.”

The column said that the name of the celebration that the Branson community markets to the world is “Ozark Mountain Christmas” and that with every other festival or celebration, residents, businesses, and employees are encouraged to get with the spirit of the occasion being promoted. It expressed the writer’s hope that it would be important to that same community that Christmas is celebrated and preserved as its own holiday and not lost in a myriad of other holidays or hidden in a closet filled with “commercialism” and “political correctness.”

The resolution that Marshall presented contains three short operable sections. The first states that “the Board of Aldermen hereby states its support of the celebration of Ozark Mountain Christmas.” The next section says, “In furtherance of that support, the Board hereby urges Branson businesses to try to keep the word and spirit of ‘Christmas’ in Christmas and to foster the history and heritage of the traditional American Christmas in Branson, Missouri.” The last section reads, “The Board of Aldermen also hereby encourages all businesses and residents of Branson to show their support by the displaying of Christmas decorations during Branson’s Ozark Mountain Christmas to ensure that all visitors experience the old fashion Christmas they imagined.”

In introducing the resolution Marshall pointed out that the area markets “Ozark Mountain Christmas.” Marshall said, “People come to Branson because of Christmas’ and went on to say, “I believe that as a city we should endorse that.” He pointed out that as you drive around town you see less and less decorations happening and less and less use of the word “Christmas.” Alderwoman Williams said, “We do spend money marketing ‘Ozark Mountain Christmas’ and we pull lots of people here.” She continued, “I feel that if we are going to market it that we almost owe them what they expect when they get here.”

When the mayor referred the matter to the city of Branson’s attorney Paul Link, he started off by saying, “I can tell you that I haven’t seen the resolution but when I saw the topic I called the Missouri Municipal League about it and before I even got very far into the dialogue I was met with an absolutely do not do that….” Mayor Presley said, “We are fairly warned.”

At that point, Alderman McDowell said, “Wait, can you get clarification from them Paul on specifically what the areas of concern are?” Link responded, “The area of concern is the establishment clause of the United States Constitution. The government is not supposed to encourage one sect of religion over another.” When Link implied that the resolution somewhat mandated someone to say “Merry Christmas” both Aldermen Marshall and William pointed out that the resolution did not mandate anything. Link responded, “You are not mandating. What I am saying is that when you encourage one religion the establishment clause is set there to protect those so that they don’t think they are at a disadvantage with the government because they don’t follow the religion that’s being encouraged by that governmental entity.”

Alderwoman Williams then asked, “How can we take city money and market “Ozark Mountain Christmas?” Link said, “Um, as far as the difference, all I can say to that is I can’t guarantee you that someone that is not a Christian would not take issue with that and sue the city at some point for our financial support…” Link went on to say, “There are things that we do at this city that if the ACLU came down we would more than likely be prohibited from doing.”

Alderwoman Williams said, “Paul, let us know if you think we need to reword it.” Acting City Administrator, Frank Schoneboom, before Link could reply said, “I think what we are saying is that we don’t think you should do it.” Aldermen Williams and Marshall indicated that they wanted the proposed resolution reviewed. A comparison of the operable portions of the resolution, as presented on the city of Branson’s website and quoted above, are virtually the same as the draft resolution Alderman Marshall presented at the meeting.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

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

At its Nov. 26 meeting, the Branson Board of Aldermen might set a record for the number of requests for funding from the city’s Tourism Tax Contingency Fund (the fund) ever handled at one meeting. The board will consider two new requests and give its initial approval to another. The total amount involved with all three requests is $119,000.

The two new requests total $65,000. The National Center for Presidential Studies, doing business as the “American Presidents Museum” is requesting $50,000 for the “American Presidents” exhibit scheduled for March 4 through April 30, 2008.The second request is from the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB requesting $15,000 to hold the Billboard World Song Contest Show and Awards Presentation in Branson during March or April of 2008.

The American Presidents Museum (the museum) has been selected to host the traveling exhibit “American Presidents,” a one of a kind exhibit show featuring panels with original oil paintings of each President, from George Washington through George W. Bush, and support materials provided by the White House Historical Society. The exhibit has been traveling the country since 1999, has been in the state of Missouri twice, at the Presidential debates in St Louis 2000 and 2004, and has been displayed in Presidential Libraries, state Historical Museums, and the US Capitol Rotunda.

The funding request states that the exhibit is nationally recognized and was created by C-SPAN cable television network and the White House Historical Society. Although a one time event, the museum estimates that the exhibit will bring over 30,000 visitors to Branson specifically to view it.

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB (the chamber) is submitting its request for $15,000 to be used to host the “Billboard World Song Contest and Presentation” (the contest) to be held in Branson during March or April of 2008. The event has the endorsement of Billboard Magazine and highlights new and rising young talent in the songwriting field. The contest has been staged at various locations over the past 15 years, and the chamber hopes to make Branson its permanent location.

The contest features 15 different musical categories with songwriters competing for the title of “Best New Song” in each category. The chamber believes that the contest would attract songwriters, music industry leaders and performers from across the country. They also point out that the contest could be a way of elevating Branson’s status within the music industry.

At its Nov. 12 meeting, after two public meetings on the issue, the board directed that an ordinance and contract be drawn up providing for the funding of Christmas decorations in connection with Ozark Mountain Christmas. The ordinance, to be presented at the Nov. 26 meeting for its first reading, provides for the expenditure of $54,000 for Christmas decorations, $25,000 for the Branson Area Festival of Lights drive through and $29,000 for labor and materials for the rewiring, renovating and installation of Branson Area Festival of Lights stars. It also provides that the total amount “shall be made available to the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce who shall administer the project.”

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

“Thanksgiving Traffic Solution” is a plan where Branson police and public works departments team up to move motorists more efficiently around the city on Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24.

This is the 11th year for the Thanksgiving Traffic Solution that involves extra police officers at the 11 busiest intersections directing traffic, and public works employees wearing orange vests located around the city to distribute city maps, provide directions to visitors and answer questions.

Police Chief Caroll McCullough says his officers will be working 10-hour shifts both days.
“There will be 28 officers dedicated solely to directing traffic, and those policemen will be on duty 10 a.m. until the traffic subsides,” McCullough said. “Assigning personnel in this manner gives us time to prepare for the day and be at our posts by 10:30 a.m. These hours also give us the ability to have officers in place to help with the evening show traffic. If we see the need to keep officers longer at any location, we’re prepared to do so. ”

Intersections in the city where officers will be stationed are:

West Main and 7th St. West Main and Michel St.
West Main and Roark Valley Rd Highway 76 and Highway 165
Highway 76 and Shepherd of the Hills Exp Green Mountain Drive and Highway 165
Roark Valley Rd and Gretna Rd Gretna Rd and Wildwood Dr
Gretna Rd and Rosalee St Business 65 and West Main
East Main & Branson Landing Boulevard
The nine public works employees are scheduled Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or as the volume of traffic dictates each day, according to Larry VanGilder, director of public works.
VanGilder said visitors must be aware that due to ongoing road construction projects, Forsyth Road will remain closed and will not be open for any traffic. Also, Fall Creek Road at Highway 76 will remain under a construction status with no left turns allowed from 76 onto Fall Creek.

With new roads built during the past 16 years, streets other than Highway 76 can access every shopping area in Branson.

Three large outlets malls, a thriving downtown district, Branson Landing, and specialty stores throughout the city have combined to make Branson a major retail-shopping destination along with the music shows and theme parks.

“The holidays are a wonderful time of year to visit Branson,” said Jerry Adams, Branson’s public information director. “We encourage families to come and not only shop, but also experience our spectacular holiday lighting displays, dine in our fine restaurants, and enjoy wonderful Christmas shows at our theaters.”

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

The rejection of the Proposition A retail sales tax by Taney County voters on Nov. 6, doesn’t change the problems posed by the condition of the Business Highway 65/MO 76 Bridge across Lake Taneycomo between Hollister and Branson. The bridge’s deck is deteriorating, the Missouri Department of Transportation [MoDOT] has about $5.5 million for the rehabilitation of the bridge, it will be necessary to close the bridge for about a year to make the repairs, and those repairs could begin as soon as the late fall of 2008.

Taney County Presiding Commissioner Chuck Pennel said, “The election results don’t change the fact that I believe the Taneycomo Bridge situation is one of our top transportation priorities and that we must put all our efforts into meeting that need.” He went on to point out that, in large part, those efforts will guided by the final recommendations of the Value Engineering Study [the study] currently being conducted by the Missouri Department of Transportation [MoDOT] which he expects to be released in the very near future.

Taney County Road and Bridge Administrator, Frank Preston, said, “The Lake Taneycomo Bridge is one of the major pieces of a comprehensive county wide transportation system. Preston is a member of the study team currently working on bridges deck and traffic problems. The study team initially met in the MoDOT District 8 offices in Springfield, Sep. 10 through 13, gave a status report on Sep. 13, and continued to do additional traffic modeling and cost estimate adjustments for some of the recommendations and alternatives that they had developed.

On Nov. 7, the study team met again prior to the issuing of their final report in the near future. MoDOT’s District 8 Transportation Project Manager, Chad E. Zickefoose said that the additional modeling and cost estimates done by the study team indicate that the revised roundabout that was developed during the initial session of the group would bring the cost of the bridge rehabilitation and roundabout up from $5.5 million to about $9.9 million.

Zickefoose indicated that with the rehabilitation of the bridge and the revised roundabout the bridge would be able to handle current and projected traffic at acceptable levels of service for the next 20 to 30 years. He also pointed out that, even with the original roundabout design and rehabilitation of the bridge, there would be acceptable levels of service for a few years. He went on to point out however, that the limitations of the original design would be unable to handle the projected increases in traffic over the next 20 years without a compromise in the levels of service.

When asked how the difference between the $5.5 million MoDOT currently has for the project and the $9.9 million needed for the new roundabout would be resolved Zickefoose said that MoDOT would do the best they could with the resources that were available, $5.5 million. He indicated that they would give the priority to rehabilitating the deck, getting two 12 foot traffic lanes and a sidewalk but that there was a possibility that esthetic features such as ornamental railings etc. might have to be sacrificed for something more cost efficient and utilitarian.

Zickefoose said that the work on the bridge would cause its closing for about a year and that the work on the bridge could start as soon as the late fall of 2008. He expressed the willingness of MoDOT to work with the local community in an effort come up with a solution but pointed out that there are budget, safety, and time limitations that govern MoDOTs flexibility.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

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

On Nov. 8, Hollister City Administrator, Rick Ziegenfuss said, “The Business Highway 65/MO 76 Bridge across Lake Taneycomo between Hollister and Branson will be closed for repairs for 14 hours between 11:00 a.m. Nov. 12 and 1:00 a.m. Nov. 13.” He said that he was informed of this information by Missouri Department of Transportation [MoDOT] Region 8 personnel as he was leaving a meeting at their Springfield offices.

The repairs will involve the removal of asphalt and its replacement with an overlay. The end result should be a smoother ride for users of the bridge. Ziegenfuss said Nov. 12 was chosen because it was a Federal holiday, a lot of government offices will be closed, it will be after Veterans Day and it is hoped that there will be less traffic to deal with.

Commuters using the bridge during the evening hours are advised to plan an alternate route for the evening of Nov. 12.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

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

The Christmas stars that have lit up the Ozarks Mountain Christmases of the past might not be shining as brightly this Christmas, if at all. That possibility raised its head as the city of Branson’s Board of Aldermen held its bimonthly agenda work session meeting on Nov. 6. The meeting was presided over by mayor pro-tem Stan Barker and attended by aldermen Sandra Williams, Bob McDowell, Jack Purvis, and Dick Gass.

Ross Summers, the President/CEO Branson /Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB [the chamber], made a presentation asking the board to consider giving them $25,000 to assist in defraying the costs of the Branson Area Festival of Lights [BAFOL] for this year. Summers pointed out that the chamber thought they had a turnkey agreement worked out with a major Christmas lighting display firm for BAFOL this year. Under the terms of the agreement they would put up all the lights for the drive through display, the Christmas stars, and run the whole operation in exchange for the drive through admission fees.

During the last week in September, as the contract negotiations were getting down the wire, the firm backed out. Fortunately, they recommended another firm who also specialized in Christmas lighting displays, North Pole Productions from Albany, NY, who was available. They flew to Branson and, thanks to a Herculean effort on their part, volunteers, and the chamber, the Branson Area Festival of Lights opened on Nov. 1 and is running smoothly.

Summers pointed out that because everyone thought that BAFOL was going to be handled on a turnkey basis by the first firm its surprise withdrawal at the last minute wa a unanticipated financial surprise. He pointed out that in years past the city has contributed $25,000 from the Tourism Tax Contingency Fund to help fund the Christmas stars that were put on the poles up and down Highway 76 and on other key Branson roadways. He said that there would be no stars this year and requested that the $25,000 instead to help defray some of the general BAFOL expenses.

Interim city administrator Frank Schoneboom pointed out that there was a specific procedure that the board had put in place for requesting funding of this nature. While the discussion on the $25,000 request was taking place, the fact that the Christmas stars were not going to be displayed came to the forefront. The general consensus of the board members present was that the Christmas stars integrate the whole community into Ozarks Mountain Christmas and helps provide a Christmas feeling throughout the whole city.

While the discussion was going on it was also discussed that the Christmas stars on the Taneycomo Bridge have not been put up for a couple of years. There are approximately 280 Christmas stars that cost about $40,000 to put up, maintain, and take down. Alderman Purvis pointed out that most of the lights had been modified so that it was relatively easy and quick to install the stars.

As the discussion continued Summers pointed out that if the Christmas stars are going to be displayed that a decision would have to be made relatively quickly so that those needing refurbishing could get it and all the lights could be replaced. The matter of the $25,000 to help defray the costs of BAFOL and whether or not the city will get involved with helping to get the Christmas stars up for this years Ozark’s Mountain Christmas has been put on the agenda, as an item for discussion during the the boards next regular meeting which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13 instead of Monday, Nov. 12 because of the celebration of the Veterans Day Holiday.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

The little city of Branson, Missouri is hosting the nation’s largest Veterans Day event Nov. 5-11 as it holds its 14th annual Veterans Homecoming. The formal event grew from a Branson history and tradition of honoring veterans and is highlighted by the annual Veterans Day parade that has been held in Branson at the 11th hour of the 11month for 76 years. The theme for this years Veterans Homecoming is “Branson doesn’t forget the wounded.”

Sponsored by the non-profit group Branson Veterans Task Force, Veterans Homecoming is a tribute to all veterans and active military and those who support them. During this seven day tribute to veterans and their families, many Branson theatres, performers, theaters and attractions offer special events, free admissions to veterans and or special pricing. For a complete schedule of events and some of the discounts that are available click here.

Although the breadth of the even is mind boggling there are three main, free areas that veterans can go to for information and assistance. The main area would be the Branson Veterans Task Force Tactical Operations Center, Headquarters & Vendor Village [TOC] which will be open from Nov. 6 through Nov. 10. Located at Celebration Hall across from the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum on the Green Mountain Road, the TOC will provide a daily free lunch for veterans and active duty military, $3.00 to everyone else, from Nov. 6 to Nov. 10, courtesy of the Golden Corral and Branson Veterans Task Force. It will also have a Veterans Registry and vendor booths that will be open from 9:00a.m. (0900 hrs) to 4:00p.m. (1600hrs) daily.

The “Day Room,” located in Factory Merchants Branson [Red Roof Mall], which will be open 9:00 a.m. (0900 hrs.) to 6:00 p.m. (1800 hrs.), located next to Auntie Ann’s Pretzels lower level. It is a great place to relax, meet fellow veterans. The other place would be at the Veterans Registry at the Grand Country Square and BVTF Tactical Operation Center (TOC), Celebration City from 9:00a.m. (0900 hrs.) to 4:00p.m. (1600 hrs).

The phone number for the Branson Veterans Task Force is 417-337-8387 or or a complete schedule of events and some of the discounts that are available click here.

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

The final gross retail sales numbers for the city of Branson’s 2007 Fiscal Year will be in record territory by a huge margin. On Oct. 31, Ferris Brown, the city of Branson’s Finance Director said, “Once we get a final numbers for September we’ll be at a billion dollars gross retail sales for the Fiscal Year. That’s about $200 million over the best of any previous year.”

Brown emphasized that the monthly tax receipts from the tourism tax have been up for 19 straight months and that the city’s sales tax revenues have been up for 17 straight months. He said, “The encouraging thing is the way that the numbers continue to go up and that does not include the convention center or what will happen when the Wal-Mart Super Center and the other Branson Hills stores open.”

Data furnished by Brown indicates that all areas of Branson shared in the retail sales growth. As of August 2007, Branson Hills had a 12 month retail sales value of $41.6 million up from $20.3 million for the same period in 2006, Branson Landing $99.6 million versus $26.7 million in 2006, and all the rest of Branson, excluding Branson Hills and Branson Landing, $843.6 million versus $823.6 million in 2006.

Analysis of the data furnished indicates that the retail sales value in the retail areas outside of Branson Landing and Branson Hills actually went up about 2.4 percent between August of 2006 and August of 2007. During the same period, the retail sales values rose about 273 percent in Branson Landing and about 105 percent in Branson Hills. It also indicates that the August 2006 figures for Branson Landing and Branson Hills is based on retail sales revenues from a partial year of operation, March through August, and that the figures for the areas other than Branson Landing and Branson Hills reflects a full 12 months of operation.

Brown pointed out that the increase in the retail sales value in the areas of Branson other than Branson Landing and Branson Hills is important. During the planning stages for the approval and construction of Branson Landing, consultants hired by the city of Branson had forecast about a 19 percent reduction in the retail sales of existing Branson retail businesses outside of Branson Landing during the first two years that Branson Landing was open. The actual figures indicate that during the first full year of Branson Landing’s operation, not only did the forecast reduction not occur but that, as a class, those businesses actually had an increase in sales.

Brown attributed a large part of the current retail sales increases to Branson’s use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF). In terms of that success he said, “Branson Landing is a text book example of what a TIF should do. It should pay the debt and generate economic opportunity throughout the area.”

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

Some of the members of the city of Branson’s Budget and Finance Committee were surprised to hear that the city of Branson is paying $115,000 in fees for the maintenance of some common areas in Branson Landing. This is in addition to the up to $310, 000 per year the city is obligated to pay for the operation and maintenance of the Branson Landing Fountains.

The discussion came up at a work session of the city of Branson’s Budget/Finance Committee held at Branson City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. The committee is comprised of Mayor Raeanne Presley, Alderman Stephen Marshall, Alderwoman Sandra Williams, Acting City Administrator Frank Schoneboom, City Finance Director Ferris Brown, and two members of the community appointed by Mayor Presley, Bob Simmons and Mike Davis. All were present at the meeting.

One of the reports being developed for the committee is a “Branson Landing Expense Summary – Budget Report.” The one page report very clearly shows the expenses that the city must reimburse the developer of Branson Landing for each year. It indicates two general categories, “Fountain” and “Maintenance.”

In general, under the various agreements that the city has with the developer, the city is obligated to pay 50 percent of the costs of operating the Branson Landing fountain up to a maximum of $310,000 per year. Those same agreements require the city to pay 33.3 percent of the maintenance for certain common areas up to a maximum of $115, 000 annually. The report indicates that so far, in fiscal year 2007, the city has paid $277,045 for the fountain and $115,000 for the maintenance of certain common areas.

Without the $115,000 limitation on annual expenses, the report indicates that the city’s 33.3 percent contribution to the common area maintenance for 2007 would have been $267,084. The city would have had to pay the following amounts for the items indicated: $140,762 for Cleaning, $5,490 for Landscaping, $8,645 for Snow Removal, $46,449 for Parking and Roadways, $16,363 for Repairs and Maintenance, $1,549 for Elevators and $47,827 for General Building Services.

The committee also discussed the on going development of other reports that the committee wants. Most of the discussion related to the content and format of those reports.

Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

The Regular Agenda portion of the Oct. 8 meeting the Branson Board of Aldermen started with a report from Tom Leonard, director of the Branson office of the Missouri Career Center, on the status of the centers involvement with the area’s workforce. Leonard pointed out that since Jan. of this year over 14,000 people have come into the center for assistance and that the center has placed 56 percent of all those who have registered with them for help in finding employment. He said that there are over 204 jobs currently listed with the center and that in the last five days alone 86 additional listings have been posted. The career center is located at 2720 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway and the phone number is 417-334-4156.

The board also approved, on first reading, a resolution for the Preliminary Subdivision Plat and a Planned Development for TanStone Plaza. The 57.6 acre development is located on Forsythe Boulevard and is currently zoned Commercial. The proposed development will consist of a 31 parcel planned mixed-use residential and commercial development including stores, restaurants, and common areas. It will also involve the redirection of Forsythe Boulevard. Alderman Bob McDowell expressed the city’s desire to add a turn lane on Roark Road and to limit access to the development off Roark Road.

During the discussion on TanStone Plaza, the potential impact of a redesigned Forsythe Boulevard/State Highway 76 intersection on nearby businesses was discussed. City Engineer David Miller pointed out that the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) controls that intersection and that the impact on property owners cannot be determined until the final location of the intersection is determined. Currently there is some delay while the possibility of aligning the intersection with the Wal-Mart entrance is researched. The actual intersection is not part of TanStone Plaza or the developer’s responsibility.

The city’s trail development program took another step forward when the board approved an agreement to accept funding from MoDOT to help expand the city’s hiking and biking trail system. Under the agreement, MoDOT will pay 50 percent of the estimated $110,440 cost for construction of an additional hiking and biking trail segment through Stockstill Park. The trail would be on the south side of the creek, from near the pedestrian bridge to the west boundary of the park and could eventually extend to the west, as additional easements are obtained, and connect to Henning Conservation Area.

In other action, the board approved a funding agreement in the amount of $40,800 with the Branson Arts Council to help make artistic, cultural, and educational opportunities available to the public. It also approved a funding agreement with the Salvation Army to provide temporary emergency help to the public in areas such as housing, utilities, food, clothing, prescriptions, and medical bills in the amount of $5,000. Christian Action Ministry (CAM) was funded for $30,000 to provide food and shelter, utilities, prescriptions, and gasoline for the needy.

Approval was granted to replace nine tactical body armor vests and purchase three console workstations for the police department. The workstations are needed to accommodate the radio and electronic equipment necessary to complete the upgrade of the communication center. The board, based on a $104,850 grant from the State of Missouri Emergency Management Agency, approved the purchase of the digital and narrowband capable public safety communication equipment that will be used in the upgraded communication center. The equipment meets the federally mandated standards that must be met by 2013.

Mayor Raeanne Presley and Alderwoman Sandra Williams attended the meeting of the Historic Downtown Branson Business Owners held in the Shack Restaurant on Oct. 4, 2007. After making a brief presentation and commending them for the job they are doing the mayor took questions from the floor.

One of the merchants stated that they still had problems with skateboards on the sidewalks and inquired as to the status of the ordinance regulating skateboarding in the downtown area. Mayor Presley informed them that the ordinance had its first reading and would be on the consent agenda for the Oct. 8 meeting of the board of aldermen for final approval.

The group expressed concern about the preservation of some of the downtowns remaining historical sites. They said projects to preserve these sights would require funding and the mayor was asked if there was the possibility of getting funding from the city. The mayor made no commitment for the city to assist in such funding, said, “It is important to preserve what we have”, and suggested that they get their ideas in a written form.

It was the consensus of the group that there were still serious parking problems and that there was not enough parking on the streets for their customers. The group expressed their appreciation for the extension of the enforcement of the two hour parking limit to Saturdays. Prior to the recent extension, enforcement of the two hour limit was only done Monday through Friday.

While discussing employee parking in the new garage there was some confusion as to just whether or not someone with a monthly parking pass had a specific reserved space or not. Alderwoman Williams explained that they did not get a specific reserved spot just a parking spot from those available at the time the person enters the garage to park.

Other items discussed was a bus campaign to get more busses into downtown, the concern that busses appear to be down from last year, the formation of a committee to develop an interactive Christmas promotion similar to the “Ole Time Christmas,” and the beautification of the downtown area. One beautification project discussed was the possibility of establishing a “walk of fame” that would be a combination of the interactive aspects of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the stars on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame. When the research is completed the project will be more formally presented to the group for consideration.