The Platte County Commission has signed off on the Northland Sports Complex, where plans are under way to start installation of infrastructure for the $42 million project.
Matt Webster of the George K. Baum Company attended the Monday, Nov. 4 administrative session, representing the Platte County Industrial Development Authority. He presented the financing agreement among the Kansas City Tax Increment Financing Commission, the City of Kansas City, the IDA and Platte County for infrastructure work on not just the Northland Sports Complex but also improvements related to the replacement of the Old Tiffany Springs Road bridge.
The bulk of the allocations approved this week will be directed to the sports complex, however. Approximately $17 million will be directed to install and improve pavement, water and sewer lines on Line Creek Parkway.
Webster made clear the TIF funding mechanism wherein Platte County diverts half of its sales tax revenues from the TIF district to TIF projects originated in 2001 and is unrelated to the situation at Zona Rosa.
“These bonds are issued by the Industrial Development Authority and have no impact on Platte County’s credit rating or the county budget,” Webster said.
Proposals from private contractors to build, operate and maintain the planned 12-field soccer complex were received by the City of Kansas City last month and are undergoing review.
“As a recovering soccer mom, I’m pleased we will have this complex in Platte County instead of south of the river,” said commissioner Dagmar Wood. She applauded the efforts of former Platte County Economic Development Council executive director Alicia Stephens and Kansas City Council members Dan Fowler and Teresa Loar to bring the complex to the Northland.
Stephens, who was present at the meeting and will continue to work for the EDC as a consultant on the sports complex project, said talks for the complex started in 2010.
Funding for the project will come from the KCI Corridor TIF, Kansas City second district in-district capital improvement sales tax, capital improvement sales and park sales tax from expiring Northland TIFs such as the Platte Purchase TIF.
JAIL SHOWER REPAIRS APPROVED
Almost $100,000 in repairs and deferred maintenance at the Platte County Detention Center was also approved Monday. Inmate shower facilities have aged, with the surfaces becoming difficult to clean.
Sheriff’s Office officials have previously told commissioners of conditions in the showers, where rusting air vents provided inmates with improvised weapons. Since, the county has worked to replace dangerous items and will now resurface the floors and walls in the showers.
As the work will happen in the jail, special security measures will be in place and inmates will be shifted away from the area during renovation.
PARKS AND REC
Also at the meeting, the commission approved a more than $46,000 contract with Stinnett Stone and Supply to repair damages at the south trailhead at Prairie Creek Greenway. Due to a bank failure, a portion of the trail recently collapsed, prompting the emergency repairs.
Another bank failure off Crooked Road is under the Missouri Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction for repairs, Erickson said.
He also announced that the 2020 Parks and Recreation Outreach grant applications are now available online and at the administration center. A total of $250,000 will be awarded to municipalities, schools and other non-profit organizations. Applications will be due back in January 2020.
Routine equipment replacements at the Platte County Community Centers were also approved, with funding provided through membership fees.