Festus council approves hotel incentive, annexation and equipment purchases; hears firing-range sound concerns

The Festus City Council on May 20 approved a Chapter 100 incentive agreement for a proposed Hampton Inn, passed an ordinance annexing properties on CC Highway to allow city water service, and authorized several equipment purchases for public safety and parks operations.

The council passed Resolution No. 48-16.5, the Chapter 100 incentive memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the Hampton Inn project, after staff said the developer is ready to begin work. A city staff member told the council that the MOU “does contemplate a refunding of the $20,000 that they already have on deposit with us in the event that they do not pull their building permits,” and that the MOU includes “a penalty of up to two years of loss of the real estate tax abatement” if the developer does not obtain a certificate of occupancy within the agreed time frame. Council members confirmed that the incentive applies to real estate taxes only and does not exempt business personal property.

The council also passed Bill No. 48-18, an annexation ordinance covering properties on CC Highway. A city staff member said the annexation “wraps up all the properties out on CC Highway, in order for them to receive water from the city of Festus,” and noted contractor KCI is expected to begin substantial work on Highway 67 in May.

On public-safety equipment, the council approved two related purchases from…