Jan. 31, 2007

For immediate release

For more information, contact:

Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993

DECKER ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF ENTERPRISE ZONE BOARD

Hears update on planned transportation projects in three-county area

OWENSVILLE—Jim Decker of Owensville was elected president of the Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone, a three-county effort to promote economic development. Decker replaces Jim Hulse of Linn, who had served the maximum number of terms as chairman allowed under the bylaws.

Also elected were Gary Reynolds of Chamois as vice president; Byron Baker of Linn as secretary, and Ray Schwartze of Maries County as treasurer.

The group meet Jan. 25 in Owensville at The Cafe Company for its regular meeting.

The group also heard a transportation update from MRPC Assistant Director Bonnie Prigge and received information on planned road work in Gasconade, Maries and Osage counties through MoDOT’s Safe and Sound 800 Better Bridge Program and its Better Roads, Brighter Futures program. Through the Safe and Sound bridge program, MoDOT plans to replace or rehabilitate some 800 bridges by 2012 by using a design-build team that would bring these bridges up to good condition and maintain them for 25 years. MoDOT will use its existing federal bridge replacement funds to finance the program, which is expected costs $400 million to $600 million.

Included in the bridge program are two Gasconade County bridges, six Maries County bridges and two Osage County. MoDOT is proposing to improve two Gasconade County Route W bridges over Puncheon Creek and Second Creek. In Maries County, the following bridges are targeted: Missouri Route 28 east over Dry Fork Creek, Route A south over Spring Creek, Route V south over Little Fly Creek, Route BB east over the Little Maries River and two Missouri 42 east bridges over Mill Creek. In Osage County, targeted for improvements are bridges on Missouri 133 south over Sugar Creek and on Route HH south over a fork of Bailey’s Creek.

A resurfacing project on Highway 50 in Osage-Gasconade counties has been accelerated through MoDOT”s Better Roads, Brighter Future project, Prigge said. This program strives to bring 85 percent of Missouri’s busiest highway miles up to good condition by 2011. The resurfacing of Highway 50 from near the Route 89 south junction east to just west of the Route 19 junction in Gasconade County is now planned for Fiscal Year 2007 instead of FY 2008. The $7.049 million project will include improvements at Route CC and Linn State intersections near Linn.

In other business, the group:

• Discussed its fund-raising efforts, which will begin in February;
• Directed MRPC staff to develop specifications and receive proposals for a website to promote the enterprise zone and its cities and counties. The site would feature information on transportation, enhanced enterprise zone information, demographics, industrial parks and available buildings and maps.
• Accepted a bid from Kim Staley of Chamois to review GVEZ’s financials. According to its bylaws, GVEZ is to have a third-party review of its financial information; and

Honored outgoing board member Jim Kleffner with a plaque of appreciation for his service to the board for 13 years. (See related story and photo.)

The Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone works to promote, coordinate and facilitate community and economic development in Gasconade, Maries and Osage counties. A portion of the three-county area is a state designated enterprise zone that offers certain property tax abatements to qualifying companies locating or expanding in the zone. For more information, persons may contact Bonnie Prigge at MRPC, at 573-265-2993.

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