Council committee says ‘yes yes yes!’ to KC plant relocation

The bigwigs seeking approval to relocate the Kansas City Plant are one rubber stamp closer to their goal. The factory, which makes non-nuclear components for nuclear weapons, will likely be allowed to abandon the Bannister Federal Complex for a new facility, to be built north of Missouri Highway 150 on Botts Road.

The suits piled into the packed 10th floor meeting room at City Hall included representatives from Zimmer Real Estate Services, CenterPoint Property Trust, the U.S. General Services Administration and the National Nuclear Security Administration.

As they presented their plan to city officials for the umpteenth time, this time before the City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it was interesting to note the former council members who stand to benefit from the project’s approval. Jerry Riffel, a former city councilman for the 4th District, was at the meeting in his capacity as a Lathrop & Gage  attorney representing CenterPoint and Zimmer in the development proceedings. Troy Nash, who left his council position in 2007 to join Zimmer as a development consultant, was present, and sounded like an auctioneer as he listed the economic prizes that await the City of Grandview if the plant is allowed to relocate.

From the remarks made by Councilwomen Cathy Jolly and Melba Curls in anticipation of the developers’ presentation, it was apparent that this deal was already sealed.