Council to discuss bringing large attraction to Webb City

Discussion of how Webb City can be involved in the effort to bring a major attraction to the Joplin region will be on the June 13 agenda of the Webb City Council.

Jeremy Evans, owner of Sleep Inn and Suites, addressed the council Monday, calling for the attraction be in Webb City. He suggested “a sports complex would be a “wise idea. Webb City is about sports.”

Although reservations at his hotel are increasing and it gets the highest ratings in the area, he said his situation is not what he believed it would be. A major reason for that is that plans for a convention center adjacent to the hotel fell through during the pandemic.

Also, he said the pandemic caused a large firm to renege on its guarantee that it would reserve rooms in bulk.

“I still think people need a reason to come to Webb City,” Evans said. “We need this,” referring to a major attraction.

Mayor Lynn Ragsdale told Evans the council “is not brand new to this” (reeling in a major attraction to Webb City). In fact, he said he would place it on the June 13 agenda for open discussion.

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In other action during the short meeting, the council approved a sun shade for the amphitheater in King Jack Park.

Steve Nelson Enterprises will provide and install the sunshade at a cost not to exceed $15,000.

City Administrator Carl Francis noted that the owners of the Praying Hands statue have completed a significant maintenance project. He called attention to the bright white color on the surface. Work was also done on the underlying structure, including installation of a fan inside to hopefully slow further damage.