Council paves way for new animal shelter, Nortian protein facility

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — City Council took the final procedural steps this evening to kickstart two major development projects in the near future.

Councilmembers voted unanimously to approve two contracts at Monday’s meeting, one a $4.7 million contract with E.L. Crawford Construction to build a new animal shelter at South Belt Highway and the other a real estate contract to transfer 24 acres of city-owned land to build a new protein manufacturing facility at 2202 Alabama Street.

Council’s approval on the real-estate contract comes after Nortian Foodtech, LLC, — a Brazil-based company, announced its intent to build a new 160,000-square-foot facility at the Stockyards Industrial Park that will create 138 new jobs over five years.

“We’re going to have local people building it ... That should start pretty quick because they’ve already got their contractors lined up,” St. Joseph Mayor John Josendale said. “They are already making partners in St. Joe that they’ll be working with long term. So it’s a really good thing for the city.”

A $22 million investment, Nortian’s “state-of-the-art” manufacturing facility will utilize technology to convert by-products from the local meat industry into food-grade protein called collagen.

The St. Joseph Economic Development Partnership and Chamber of Commerce played a key role coordinating efforts between the company and local and state agencies, as well as utility companies like Spire and Evergy, to bring the project to the finish line.

“It’s the opportunity for a lot of new jobs. It was property that was sitting there and really doing nothing, and it had been for some time,” Josendale said.

Construction on St. Joseph’s new animal shelter is also expected to move forward in the next two months following approval of tonight’s $4.7 million contract. The 13,000-square-foot facility will be located next to the St. Joseph Recycling Center and is expected to be complete around November.

The existing facility on Southwest Lower Lake Road is deteriorating and in need of costly updates, upgrades and development and is located on a smaller lot, prohibiting adequate facility expansion.

Monday’s animal shelter contract also included transferring more than $1.6 million in contributions raised from the Friends of the Animal Shelter for the project, with the remaining funds coming from the city.

Council removes resolution supporting SJSD bond issue

An interesting development also took place at Monday's meeting. The council agenda initially included a vote for a resolution expressing the city's support for the St. Joseph School District's Proposition 2 bond issue on the April 8 ballot. 

That agenda item was removed pending additional information about the location of the school, according to city officials. 

City signs one-year extension to manage St. Joseph Museums

Councilmembers authorized a one-year extension with St. Joseph Museums, Inc, to operate, maintain and improve its facilities, which include the Glore Psychiatric Museum, Doll Museum, Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, Black Archives and its new Native American and Archaeology Galleries.

The city and St. Joseph Museums, Inc – two separate entities – have worked closely to improve communications and create a sustainable operating plan for the Museum’s future success.

The Museum is implementing notable changes with its budgeting process and business plan to better track and improve finances moving forward.

Council OKs new Hyde Park facility construction

A new maintenance building will be constructed at Hyde Park after council members approved an amendment to roll forward $288,000 in Parks Tax funds for the construction of the facility.

The new facility is needed to house and secure maintenance equipment, materials, and operations that will be removed from the Hyde Park Bath House, which will soon be renovated as part of the Northside & Hyde Park Aquatics Facilities project – currently estimated to be out for bid during the spring/summer of 2025.

Other bills approved

by Council

Councilmembers gave the green light on a $169,775 work order with Stearns, Conrad and Schmidt consulting engineers to provide Stage 8 construction quality assurance services at the St. Joseph Sanitary Landfill.

Devils Island Skateboard Co., a downtown skateboard shop, will make the move from 725 Francis Street to 114 South Eighth Street after councilmembers approved a lease agreement for use of office/retail space in the Missouri Theater Office Complex.

Councilmembers approved the transfer of $215,715 in transient guest tax funds to reimburse the nature center program for the final costs of replacing the existing ground source heat pump at the Remington Nature Center with an updated HVAC system.

St. Joseph will move forward with the execution of a Federal Transit Administration grant to provide $2.5 million to assist with Mass Transit operations.

Nominations and appointments

Mayor John Josendale nominated R. Patt Lilly to serve as a member of the Industrial Development Authority for a term expiring March 17, 2028; he is filling a vacancy on the Board