Osage Beach TIF commission elects leadership, hears TIF '101' and schedules continued hearing for April 30

The Osage Beach Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Commission voted to continue the public hearing on the proposed Osage Marketplace redevelopment to April 30 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall after an introductory presentation and more than an hour of public comment.

Mark Spikerman, an attorney with Gilmore & Bell who represents the city on economic development matters, opened the meeting with a TIF “101” presentation for commission members and the public. Spikerman said TIFs are tax‑redirection tools used to remediate blight and stressed legal limits: “Our purpose is not to aid a private developer. Our purpose is to remediate blight,” he said, and described the “but‑for” test the commission will use to assess whether a project needs TIF support.

The commission first elected leadership for the new body. A motion to make Alderman Justin Hoffman chair passed by roll call. Members then approved appointing a secretary; the transcript records the vote but does not specify the secretary’s name.

Public comment produced a mix of endorsements and objections. State Rep. Joe Fornetti said he and state officials are prepared to support the project when the development team seeks state TIF assistance. Developer and owner representatives, including commercial real‑estate developer Jeff Tagetoff, argued TIFs can catalyze investment and benefit neighboring properties. “I think we all win together,” Tagetoff said.

Opponents raised equity and market‑risk concerns. Resident Don Duvart said tax‑preferential treatment can shift burdens and crowd out smaller local businesses: “A TIF or any other preferential tax treatment … will functionally, to one degree or another, result in regressive taxation,” he said. Hotel owner David Lamontagne presented a lodging market study and warned that the roughly 400 rooms proposed for one developer plus other projects could oversaturate the local hotel market, harming existing properties and employees.

Commissioners debated public‑comment procedures before the hearing continued. After discussion, the commission adopted a three‑minute limit for public speakers for this meeting and related public‑hearing processes. The commission then voted to continue the public hearing on the Osage Marketplace redevelopment to April 30 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall so that commissioners can review a revised redevelopment plan and the development team can present more complete financial information.

Votes at a glance - Elect chair: Motion to elect Alderman Justin Hoffman passed by roll call (recorded vote: 8 yes, 0 no). - Appoint secretary: Motion to appoint a secretary passed by roll call; the transcript does not record a named appointee (recorded vote: 8 yes, 0 no). - Public comment limit: Motion to set a 3‑minute limit for public commenters passed by roll call (recorded vote: 9 yes, 0 no). - Continue hearing: Motion to continue the public hearing to April 30 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall passed by roll call (recorded vote: 9 yes, 0 no).

What comes next The commission expects to receive a revised Osage Marketplace redevelopment plan before the next meeting. Spikerman told members financial analyses, rates of return and the applicant’s “but‑for” arguments will be provided with the final plan; the commission must evaluate those materials before making a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen.

The meeting adjourned after the scheduling vote.