Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe

Missouri’s commodity groups praise farm tax credit legislation

October 5, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Governor Mike Parson (right) and the Missouri Pork Association’s Don Nikodim (center) visit with a Columbia resident at Columbia’s agriculture park on August 25, 2022 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri commodity group leaders are joining Governor Mike Parson (R) in Jefferson City this morning, as he signs key farm tax credit legislation into law.

Lawmakers approved legislation proposed by the governor that provides for a six-year extension of agricultural tax credits, including programs for biodiesel, ethanol, meat processing facilities and urban farming.

Columbia-based Missouri Pork Association (MPA) executive vice president Don Nikodim tells 939 the Eagle that the farm tax credits work, citing the track record of the Missouri Agriculture and Small Business program.

State Department of Agriculture (MDA) director Chris Chinn has told 939 the Eagle that these farm tax credits are vital to economic development in rural communities. Director Chinn notes Mid-Missouri Energy’s ethanol plant in west-central Missouri’s Malta Bend has expanded and has produced additional jobs, due to tax credits.

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe also supported the governor’s special session call, due to tax credits for urban farming. Mayor Buffaloe introduced Governor Parson during his August 25th visit to Columbia’s agriculture park on West Ash.

Response time to improve in southwest Columbia with new fire station, city officials say

September 29, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, city manager De’Carlon Seewood and other dignitaries break ground on the new fire station on Scott Boulevard on September 27, 2022 (photo courtesy of the city of Columbia’s Facebook page)

Columbia’s fastest-growing area will soon have a new fire station, along with 12 new firefighters to staff the station.

Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, acting fire chief Clayton Farr and other dignitaries helped break ground this week on the new fire station in the 6900 block of Scott Boulevard in southwest Columbia.

“And it was just fantastic to see all the movement that’s happening there,” Mayor Buffaloe tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.”

Construction of the new fire station is being funded by the voter-approved 2015 capital improvement sales tax.

(AUDIO): Columbia Mayor Buffaloe discusses I-70 and new fire station on 939 the Eagle

September 28, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has proposed a $140-million upgrade at mid-Missouri’s busiest interchange, the I-70 and Highway 63 connector. One possibility is a diverging diamond, but no final decisions have been made by MoDOT. Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” She emphasizes the project’s importance but notes the council has some concerns with the proposal, which she’s expressed to MoDOT. Mayor Buffaloe outlined those concerns on our program. She’s also voicing her support for possible new bus service between Columbia and Jefferson City, and she’s excited about the new fire station being built on Scott Boulevard in fast-growing southwest Columbia:

Columbia’s fastest-growing area to receive new fire station

September 27, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

An outside photo of Columbia fire station #2 (2021 file photo courtesy of the Columbia Fire Department)

You’re invited to Tuesday afternoon’s groundbreaking ceremony for a new fire station in fast-growing southwest Columbia. The ceremony will begin at 3 pm at 6909 Scott Boulevard, which is where the new station will be built.

The multi-million dollar project is being funded by the 2015 voter-approved one-quarter cent capital improvement sales tax. The budget approved this month by Columbia’s city council also includes money for 12 new firefighters to staff the station.

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Councilman Matt Pitzer and and acting fire chief Clayton Farr will speak at the ceremony. Construction workers have already been preparing the grounds for the laying of the building’s foundation.

The Columbia fire department serves residents in an approximately 68 square-mile area.

Missouri’s Chinn: Malta Bend plant highlights importance of agriculture tax credits

September 6, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Department of Agriculture director Chris Chinn (left) and Governor Mike Parson applaud comments from Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe at a special session event at Columbia’s Clary-Shy park (August 25, 2022 file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri’s agriculture director supports Governor Mike Parson’s special session call, saying farm tax credits are vital to economic development in rural communities.

Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) director Chris Chinn tells 939 the Eagle that a plant in west-central Missouri’s Saline County has produced jobs and has expanded, thanks to tax credits.

“If you look at the ethanol plant in Malta Bend, Missouri, that is a perfect example. For over 20 years, they have been using the tax credits from doing their feasibility study, the new generation cooperative tax credit,” Chinn says.

Director Chinn is referring to Mid-Missouri Energy’s ethanol plant in Malta Bend, a small farming town of 175 residents located between Marshall and Carrollton. Governor Parson vetoed legislation providing a two-year tax credit extension: he and Missouri’s commodity groups are calling for lawmakers to approve a six-year extension instead.

“They have truly helped that group (Mid-Missouri Energy) be able to establish their business in the state and then come back to continue to expand. To create more job opportunities, to add more value to agricultural products in that area of the state,” says Chinn.

Governor Parson is calling for a six-year extension on numerous tax credits, including programs for retail dealers of biodiesel and for establishing or improving urban farming operations.

The urban farming component is important to Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, who backs the governor’s special session call.