Tourism Commission rejects funding for Outlaws

The Sedalia Area Tourism Commission passed on a proposal to jump start a professional indoor football team and fully allocated the remaining three applicants.

Commission members said they were unable to fund any part of a proposal submitted by the Mid Missouri Outlaws because the organization fails to have a non-profit status, which is required of groups receiving funds from the commission.

“I think that’s the fly in the ointment,” said commissioner Chuck Kempton. “... Right now, I think the problem is that you are for profit and we just can’t fund it. I think as a whole this group feels this (football team) is important.”

The commission allocates more than $170,000 each year collected from a $2 per bed tax on hotels and motels in Pettis County. Commissioners try to dole out the money to ventures that will create more tourism for the community.

President and co-owner Travis Jobe told the board the team was willing to pursue non-profit status. Chad Jackson, vice president and co-owner, said the team was willing to open its books to prove that no profit is being made.

“Travis and I put in a ton of our own money just to float this thing,” Jackson said. “We are bringing something to the community that I think will be beneficial.”

The team requested $50,000 to help pay for the turf and wall pads needed to outfit the Mathewson Exhibition Center for home games.

“This is kind of a one time deal for us,” Jackson said of the request. “I think we will be self-supporting after year one.”

In the meantime, the commissioners plan to talk with Missouri State Fair representatives to see about funneling some of the tax money to the Outlaws. The fair’s off-season events received its full request of $58,000, but often don’t spend the full amount requested.

Commissioners also discussed accepting applications for funding in the spring to allocate about $18,000 in reserves. Some of the money also could be used to create a partnership between the fair and the Outlaws, some commissioners suggested.

Other organizations receiving allocations were the Sedalia Area Chamber Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, $75,000; and the Scott Joplin Foundation, $13,000.

In other business, the commission discussed a motel that is more than a year delinquent in paying its bed taxes. The commission has sent a letter to Super 7 Motel to notify owners of the nonpayment and are pursuing enforcement of the tax law. The establishment owes an estimated $3,500 in back taxes, penalties and fees.
Councilman Bob Cross, the city’s representative to the commission, was absent from Wednesday’s meeting.