Vision becomes reality with Mozingo center

By Phil Cobb | January 3, 2018 |

SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
Maryville City Manager Greg McDanel leads a tour Tuesday that includes members of the media along with State Sen. Dan Hegeman and State Rep. Allen Andrews at The Conference Center at Mozingo Lake. The group toured the facility before the open house event held later that evening.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — What began nearly six years ago as just a vision between a couple of former city councilmen, has developed into a crystal clear reality at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.

During Tuesday’s grand opening ceremony of the Conference Center at Mozingo Lake, Assistant City Manager Ryan Heiland said it in the most simple terms, “This is an exciting day.”

He then thanked all involved in the construction process, including: Project Contractors E.L. Crawford, all the sub-contractors, Maryville city staff, Maryville Public Works, Mozingo staff, the design committee, the Mozingo Advisory Board, current and previous elected officials and all community members.

“I can’t thank them enough for all their hard work,” Heiland said.

Maryville Mayor Jason McDowell said he had been looking forward to the opening since the voters approved the project.

“It’s a historic day for the City of Maryville, Nodaway County and the entire region,” he said. “I remember sitting in the county administration building waiting on the results to come in … and as the numbers rolled in we were all doing the math. It sure was pretty close. Once they all came in we figured and refigured and five votes difference later, we came out on the right side. It was five votes that changed the face of Maryville for decades to come.”

Josh McKim, Nodaway County Economic Development director spoke about the years of work and the vision of former city councilmembers Glenn Jonagan and the late Jim Fall.

“(They) came to my office and told me a lodge at Mozingo was a priority and a conference center was the next thing,” McKim said. “It’s fun to see that our current city council is very progressive and has a vision.”

He said from an economic development perspective, these kinds of facilities are useful while attempting to encourage businesses to invest in Maryville.

“It’s great when I can tell them, ‘You know what we’d like you to invest in our community, because we see the value of our community and we’re willing as citizens to invest in our community.’”

He said, the latest numbers he could find from the Division of Tourism of the Missouri Department of Economic Development for Nodaway County were from 2015.

He said Nodaway County in 2015 saw $26 million in economic impact through tourism. A study done by the city found that at least $11 million of that is associated with Mozingo, he said.

“It’s exciting to see that this conference center is the next step, in what I believe is going to be a bright future for Mozingo. So, I’d like to end with thanking you, the citizens, for choosing to invest in our community.”

Heiland introduced 12th District State Sen. Dan Hegeman and 1st District State Rep. Allen Andrews.

Hegeman began to talk and the microphone cut out. He joked that he, “broke that thing,” then proceeded to speak emphatically about his excitement for the new conference center.

“What a wonderful place here,” he said. “You all invested your own capital in this facility to make it a premier destination in northwest Missouri to provide great services and great opportunities for this community. It’s exciting to be your state senator in Jefferson City with all the wonderful things you’ve got going on here in Maryville. And might I say it’s great that a lot of the project was done locally with E.L. Crawford. … And I tell you what, it’s also great to have my daughter and son-in-law relocate here to Maryville and to have them in the community because they’ve seen all the wonderful things you have going on here in Maryville.”

State Rep. Andrews joked as he walked to the stage, that he used to call sheep and you didn’t have to be quite as loud as Hegeman who had to call cows in his youth.

“What a wonderful way to bring in 2018, celebrating the grand opening of a facility that we have been needing in this region for far too long,” Andrews said. “Mozingo was just a pasture, and now to see how that’s been transformed into something that’s going to prove and is already proving to be an income generator for the region. … It’s going to be a blessing to so many people for a long period of time. I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard and sacrificed so much to make this happen.”

He said that 52 percent of all revenue that’s generated at Mozingo is from outside of the area.

“That’s incredible,” he said. “That’s not my money. That’s not your money. That’s all new fresh brand-new money coming in from outside of the region pouring into this area to be reinvested. That’s great to see.”

He said from a state perspective whenever looking at economic development in light of the entire state of Missouri

“It’s tremendous what this is going to do,” Andrews said. “Because what is good for northwest Missouri, is good for northeast Missouri. All boats rise, you’ve heard of that. So, it’s incredible to see what the future of this facility is going to be.”

Maryville City Manager Greg McDanel said he and Assistant City Manager Heiland argued for about the last year on several things, but that Heiland only ever had the best interests in mind for Mozingo and city staff. McDanel thanked Heiland for his dedication throughout the project, from its very beginnings.

“The story of the Conference Center at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park is a story of partnership,” McDanel said. “It’s a story of vision, a story of leadership, a story of momentum, transformation and commitment.”

He said, “Twenty years ago this community’s leaders banded together to create a stable and soon-to-be better tasting water source.

“On Feb. 29, 2012, councilmembers Glenn Jonagan and Jim Fall came into my office to discuss a concept of a hotel lodge and conference center at Mozingo Lake. I remember that day because it was a pretty monumental meeting. They were very intense during that two-hour meeting where we had talked about this concept. I think eventually after those two hours were over I probably said something bureaucratic like, ‘Well let me look into that and I’ll get back to you.’ It was quickly made (known) from Glenn and Jim that this was not a request, this was a demand. They showed their passion and how much they believed in this project and what this could mean to the community. It was certainly bold considering that was my second day on the job.”

McDanel told the audience quickly the long history of Mozingo Lake Recreation Park and its facilities, up through the April 2016 vote that made it all happen.

“And now just a short 20 months later, we’re sitting in the facility right now that will guide Mozingo in the next 20 years,” he said.

Quoting Jonathan Swift from “Gulliver’s Travels,” McDanel said, “Vision is often the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”

He went on to say, “Unfortunately, former councilmember, the late, great Jim Fall did not get to see his vision come to reality, but I know he’s looking down today very proud of what’s going on.”

McDanel said he got to know Fall well shortly before he died and the two times he saw him smile the brightest were when he saw the last five votes come in and when crews broke ground at the facility.

“Jim was very proud that day to see it,” he said.

In the spring, the city manager said the city will invite the Fall family, his friends and the community back for a dedication ceremony of Fall Drive, the street leading into the facility from Liberty Road.

“The Conference Center at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park will permanently be addressed 1 Fall Drive in his memory,” McDanel said.

He then recognized Jonagan who was in attendance who spoke about the beginning process of the facilities.

“For those interested in the process, I have a few words: Sun room, Jim Fall, myself, Glenlivet. Sun room, Jim and the feasibility guy, still Glenlivet … And we passed the bottle again we just stood back and watched the change at work. So, I’m proud of you very much.”

Tour

McDanel led a tour of the conference center that included Hegeman, Andrews along with the media.

Andrews said he remembered driving by before even the lake was there.

“I was just thinking of what this used to look like before any of this was here,” Andrews said. “I’d drive by here growing up and it was just another pasture and man look at what has happened.”

Hegeman said, “It’s gorgeous. I think that this is just a wonderful facility. I think it will be a jewel for northwest Missouri up here. I think it’s a great destination location now with Boulder’s Inn (& Suites) over here and the location here right on the lake and the golf course. It’s going to be beautiful in the springtime and I can see a lot of corporate events coming here to utilize this facility. I think it will bring a lot of people in from all over the region.”

SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
Current and past members of the Maryville City Council, Mozingo Advisory Board, state elected officials, Maryville Chamber of Commerce and employees of general contractor E.L. Crawford are shown as Mayor Jason McDowell cuts the ceremonial ribbon at the grand opening of the Conference Center at Mozingo Lake Tuesday afternoon.

Skye Pournazari
The main conference room is shown Tuesday at the grand opening of The Conference Center at Mozingo Lake. The room will hold 500 people and can be split into four separate rooms that each hold 125 people.

SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
Local artwork is shown Tuesday on the walls in The Conference Center at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.

SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
The view from the deck outside the main conference room at The Conference Center at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park on Tuesday shows the silo pavilion, that will be used for outdoor events.

Skye Pournazari
State Rep. Allen Andrews 1st District

Skye Pournazari
State Sen. Dan Hegeman 12th District

Skye Pournazari
Jason McDowell Maryville Mayor

Skye Pournazari
Maryville City Manager Greg McDanel guides a tour through the the inside cart storage on Tuesday.

Skye Pournazari
Maryville City Manager Greg McDanel guides a tour through the Mozingo Golf Club Pro Shop on Tuesday.

Skye Pournazari
A shirt in the Mozingo Golf Club Pro Shop is shown Tuesday.

Skye Pournazari
Maryville City Manager Greg McDanel and Assistant City Manager Ryan Heiland guide a tour of the new restaurant space in the new Mozingo Lake Recreation Park Conference Center on Tuesday. Missouri State Sen. Dan Hegeman, Missouri 1st District State Rep. Allen Andrews along with Geoff Conn of KVVL, Matt Tritten and John Coffey both with KXCV radio also took part in the tour.