Chamber gives 'OK' to proceed with
purchase of forest service property
By Janese Heavin, Rolla Daily News Editor
January 26, 2006
The Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce gave City Administrator John Butz a green light yesterday to proceed with plans to purchase the U.S. Forest Service property.
In a somewhat unofficial meeting, Butz said representatives from the chamber agreed that using a portion of the lodging tax to allow the city to buy the land is in the best interest of the community.
The city plans to use chamber funds to buy the 10-acre site, where the chamber’s Visitor Center and administrative offices are located.
Butz said the chamber was OK with the plan to pay for the land out of the chamber’s portion of the lodging tax.
The city charges a 3 percent tax on hotel and motel rooms, 90 percent of which is transferred to the chamber. Of the chamber’s portion, a third can be used for buildings and grounds.
If the city did not buy the property, the chamber would have to pay the Forest Service a new annual fee of $25,500 to continue using the site.
“I think the chamber understands that the Forest Service plans to impose this substantial increase so it makes sense to acquire the property publicly and locally,” Butz said.
The city is the only entity that can buy the land, which is appraised at $511,000.
Butz now plans to meet with the state historical preservation office to determine what limitations are on the property because of the historical value of the buildings. Historical easements are a requirement of the city buying the land from the Forest Service.
Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce board member and mayoral candidate Bill Jenks said he likes the idea of using the back portion of the site for a public park.
“I think it would be a nice park, particularly for walking,” he said.
Jenks said Rolla’s park system should include more natural areas that provide areas for hiking and walking, separate from the well-manicured parks and ballfield areas.
The Forest Service land “definitely” fits that bill, Butz said.
After some clean-up efforts, he said the land would provide a nicely wooded walking trail.
“There are rugged trails through the back part of the property that were forged out,” Butz said. “For that purpose, we would see the value from a parks standpoint.”
If the meeting with the historical office goes well, Butz said he could bring a purchase proposal to the city council as early as Feb. 6. If not, he said it will likely come to the council at the Feb. 21 meeting.
Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Linda Kuenzie did not return RDN phone calls.
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