Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010

ROSS: MIP delay ‘just a little hiccup’

Miranda Wycoff, Journal Staff

“It was just a little hiccup,” said Mayor Carson Ross about the recent news the University of Missouri has postponed its proposed Mizzou Center at the Missouri Innovation Park.

The center was to be the first phase of the development, but it was recently revealed to Ross and the city council in a confidential letter that the university is delaying the construction of the 32,000-square-foot building. The letter was leaked to The Examiner Feb. 12, and Ross and Brad Scott, a consultant for the project, are not happy about it.

“It was confidential information,” Ross said. “And someone leaked it.”

It is still unclear who leaked the information and what the entire letter contains, although it has been reported that the university has decided to lease a 9,000-square-foot space at the Heartland Financial Building in Blue Springs.

Ross and Brien Starner, president of the Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation, were in Jefferson City earlier this week for the Missouri Senate hearing on the Jobs For the Future Bill, which could bring the project some much needed funds.

“It would bring money to the park helping it with infrastructure and land acquisition, which is I think one of Missouri’s problems — how to pay for the land and infrastructure,” Ross said.

Scott said the Blue Springs Growth Initiative is waiting for a green light from the university to make any announcements about the letter.

Calls to Starner and the University of Missouri were not returned by press time.

To reach Journal reporter Miranda Wycoff, call 816-282-7017 or e-mail mwycoff@ bluespringsjournal.com