The fate of a proposed enhanced enterprise zone (EEZ) in Warren County is now in the hands of the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED). The last local requirements — approval of the draft plan and adoption of blighting ordinances — were met last week when both the Warren County Commission and the Wright City Board of Aldermen voted to advance the project. A decision on the proposal could be made by DED officials by early June, according to officials who have been working on the project for approximately the past two months. If established, businesses which meet criteria established by an advisory board comprised of local residents and officials could apply for tax abatement on new construction and improvements to property. The program will not abate taxes assessed on a company’s personal property, such as equipment and vehicles. The designated area, which extends from the border with Montgomery County east along the Interstate 70 corridor to the eastern municipal limits of Wright City, follows census blocks, not geographic parcels used by the county assessor’s office, explained Grey Jackson, an economic development incentive specialist with the DED. Steve Etcher, executive director with the Boonslick Regional Planning Commission, pointed out that the blighting ordinance that the various governmental entities approved, applies to inadequate street or highway infrastructure. “It has nothing to do with housing or unsafe conditions,” Etcher remarked. “It’s simply a term that says the property is not being utilized to its full economic potential. It doesn’t affect land utilization.” Jackson also attempted to ease concerns which were raised previously by opponents that establishment of an EEZ could present a governmental entity an opportunity to employ eminent domain to obtain land for a business interested in locating its operations here.She explained that a law passed in 2006 states that “it is illegal in Missouri for eminent domain to be used solely for economic development purposes.”

Objections Raised During a public hearing before the county commission last Thursday, objections to the proposal were raised again. “It’s not your fault you don’t understand the proper role of government,” stated Bev Ehlen, Warrenton. “Your role as elected officials is to protect our life, liberty and property. “Many government programs sound so good, but when we lose focus on our roles, we get into things that help one person and take away from another,” Ehlen added.She asserted that the EEZ will enable the county to use Missouri taxpayers’ money to attract businesses to the area which may be relocating from another part of the country. “They’re going to disrupt that county or that city just to come to Warren County,” Ehlen said. Additionally, Ehlen remarked that she was “not convinced” that eminent domain still would not be used to obtain a parcel of property for an interested business. “We don’t believe in eminent domain here in Warren County,” stated Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage. “We want manufacturing along the interstate, but we also want to keep the rural atmosphere in the rest of the county.” Jackson also noted that many business consultants will not entertain proposals to establish operations for companies unless a given location is within an EEZ. “This will improve the quality of life,” Jackson added. “The program exists to generate revenue for public services. “If an industry wants to expand or a new business wants to locate here, they can choose to go into a partnership with the state and get a little tax break by giving local residents good jobs,” she said. Grey Jackson