CCC renovation project stalled by funding
The CCC Lodge at Roaring River State Park was anticipated to be fully renovated by Opening Day in 2016, but funding issues may stall the project.
May 13, 2015
Charlea Mills
The renovation project to convert the CCC Lodge at Roaring River State Park into guest rooms is currently on hold because of funding issues.
The decision to renovate the lodge came at the annual informational meeting at Roaring River in September of last year. Missouri State Parks director Bill Bryan revealed the plan and said, “Our first project goal is to have the construction contract signed by the end of June 2015. While I hope it is sooner than that, that is our goal.” Now, it appears that the project could be on hold for some time.
The funding for the project was coming from a $20 million budget item approved by the Missouri General Assembly for the Department of Natural Resources to state park and historic site maintenance, repair, renovation and construction projects from General Revenue. Renovations put off for years at the Capitol were also planned in that budget item.
Linda Luebbering, the budget director for Missouri, said that about $5 million of the $20 million has already been spent, and part of that was used for the planning stages of the CCC Lodge project. However, not all of the funds were spent and were not reappropriated by the legislature in the newest budget. Governor Nixon requested for the $15 million reappropriation along with $50 million in the state’s bonding capacity for state park projects.
The State Parks are operated on a 1/10-cent tax for parks, soils and water. Use fees also help provide funds necessary for regular operation, but the money from General Revenue was going to allow for bigger renovations that would improve the quality of the parks with historic sites.
In total, the legislators approved $300 million total in bonding capacity for renovations and repairs to state-owned buildings but did not approve the $15 million of the initial $20 million allocated for DNR for projects.
Of the money from $300 million bond, $10 million will be used for state parks. Since the full $15 million was not granted to state parks, multiple projects were put on hold until the department can reevaluate their plans, including the CCC renovation which was estimated at around $1.25 million.
The renovation was slated to include 10 guest rooms that featured kitchenettes, bedrooms and bathrooms. Some rooms were also going to utilize the existing fireplaces on either side of the lodge.
The CCC lodge was originally built in 1933 after the Roaring River was deeded to the state of Missouri in 1928. Prior to that, the first mill at the river was constructed around 1840.
Charlea Mills
The renovation project to convert the CCC Lodge at Roaring River State Park into guest rooms is currently on hold because of funding issues.
The decision to renovate the lodge came at the annual informational meeting at Roaring River in September of last year. Missouri State Parks director Bill Bryan revealed the plan and said, “Our first project goal is to have the construction contract signed by the end of June 2015. While I hope it is sooner than that, that is our goal.” Now, it appears that the project could be on hold for some time.
The funding for the project was coming from a $20 million budget item approved by the Missouri General Assembly for the Department of Natural Resources to state park and historic site maintenance, repair, renovation and construction projects from General Revenue. Renovations put off for years at the Capitol were also planned in that budget item.
Linda Luebbering, the budget director for Missouri, said that about $5 million of the $20 million has already been spent, and part of that was used for the planning stages of the CCC Lodge project. However, not all of the funds were spent and were not reappropriated by the legislature in the newest budget. Governor Nixon requested for the $15 million reappropriation along with $50 million in the state’s bonding capacity for state park projects.
The State Parks are operated on a 1/10-cent tax for parks, soils and water. Use fees also help provide funds necessary for regular operation, but the money from General Revenue was going to allow for bigger renovations that would improve the quality of the parks with historic sites.
In total, the legislators approved $300 million total in bonding capacity for renovations and repairs to state-owned buildings but did not approve the $15 million of the initial $20 million allocated for DNR for projects.
Of the money from $300 million bond, $10 million will be used for state parks. Since the full $15 million was not granted to state parks, multiple projects were put on hold until the department can reevaluate their plans, including the CCC renovation which was estimated at around $1.25 million.
The renovation was slated to include 10 guest rooms that featured kitchenettes, bedrooms and bathrooms. Some rooms were also going to utilize the existing fireplaces on either side of the lodge.
The CCC lodge was originally built in 1933 after the Roaring River was deeded to the state of Missouri in 1928. Prior to that, the first mill at the river was constructed around 1840.