It's no secret that Missouri Western State University continues to negotiate fees involving the $25 million tax credit package that's set to bring the Kansas City Chiefs' summer training camp to St. Joseph.

However, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder decided to underline that to a state board last week, going so far as to describe the project as "in jeopardy."

His spokesman later clarified that Mr. Kinder didn't mean to imply the project is in danger of going belly up, but concerns exist.

"There are many details still being worked out," Gary McElyea said. "What he's trying to get across is it's too early to write a check when the cash isn't in the bank."

Talks are ongoing between Western and the Chiefs/Jackson County Sports Authority, but construction is scheduled to start this summer on the practice stadium.

Still, Mr. Kinder expressed some doubt last week during a meeting of the Missouri Development Finance Board, which authorized the credits in December. Final state approval came in early 2009.

The finance board is going to study the effects of Gov. Jay Nixon's plan to create a direct loan pool for small businesses before giving a final seal of approval. Mr. Kinder said the pool could compromise the availability of funds for the Chiefs' deal if the board approves the program before the negotiations are complete and the cash isn't there.

Sen. Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, who helped initiate the deal between Western and the Chiefs, said he's confident construction will go on as scheduled, but conceded that the parties are going back and forth on $2 million in tax credit fees they'd each rather the other pay. They're also still hammering out the training camp's operating agreement, which is extremely technical in nature, he said.

"I don't think it's in jeopardy, but it does need to get done," he said.

He said he believed the solution to the fee question would be to have each party pay $1 million instead of either Western or the Chiefs paying all of it. The Chiefs are set to receive $25 million in tax credits for parking lot and other improvements to Arrowhead Stadium, with the promise the team/Jackson County Sports Authority will give $10 million to Western to help pay for the training camp stadium.

"I think it will get worked out," he said. "I do not anticipate getting past another month before (it's resolved)."

First things first

Rep. Ed Wildberger could experience a legislative first since he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2003.

A bill of his likely will make it to the floor for debate, a rarity for members of the minority party.

Mr. Wildberger, a St. Joseph Democrat, is trying to streamline the mutual-aid agreements that exist between various emergency services throughout the state during natural disasters and other serious incidents. His HB 103, which would allow the state to manage the various agreements, received approval from a House rules committee last week and now rests on an upcoming debate calendar.

As a minority member, Mr. Wildberger said one of the only ways he's been able to push through his proposals in the past has been to ask Republicans to author his proposals or to amend Republican legislation.

Alyson E. Raletz covers the Missouri Legislature for the News-Press in Jefferson City, Mo. She can be reached at

alysonraletz@npgco.com.