Joplin City Council Road Project Meeting
By: Jessica Schaer
Updated: January 8, 2013
JOPLIN, MO.--- Council members heard from nearly a dozen business owners against the 15th Street viaduct plans and even one against the 20th Street plans. They worry a 30ft. viaduct would block business, causing a loss of jobs, tax, money, and revenue. City leaders have decided to go ahead with plans for the 20th Street viaduct but have removed the 15th Street plans from their grant application.
Federal Highway Administrator Kevin Ward says the City of Joplin was 1 of 24 applications out of 800 approved for the grant money. By removing the 15th Street project, Joplin risks losing the entire $12 million.
Joplin City Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean says, "It is very near and dear to my heart in pursuing on that grant. So I hate to see us lose any of the grant, but I do understand the concern of the businesses".
Negotiations will now take place with the Department Of Transportation, the City Of Joplin, and the Federal Highway Administration. City leaders hope to have an answer by the end of the month.
If the department of transportation decides to allow Joplin to continue with the grant, the city has until June 1st to decide how to use the funds. They will then have another 5 years after that to begin construction.
Also at the meeting, a plan to rezone the 3000 block of Main Street was tabled due to some construction delays. That bill will be reconsidered at the next council meeting in two weeks.
Federal Highway Administrator Kevin Ward says the City of Joplin was 1 of 24 applications out of 800 approved for the grant money. By removing the 15th Street project, Joplin risks losing the entire $12 million.
Joplin City Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean says, "It is very near and dear to my heart in pursuing on that grant. So I hate to see us lose any of the grant, but I do understand the concern of the businesses".
Negotiations will now take place with the Department Of Transportation, the City Of Joplin, and the Federal Highway Administration. City leaders hope to have an answer by the end of the month.
If the department of transportation decides to allow Joplin to continue with the grant, the city has until June 1st to decide how to use the funds. They will then have another 5 years after that to begin construction.
Also at the meeting, a plan to rezone the 3000 block of Main Street was tabled due to some construction delays. That bill will be reconsidered at the next council meeting in two weeks.
