BANC asks commissioners for land

Members representing the Bloomfield Area Nutrition Center board visited the Stoddard County Commission Monday morning to request a piece of land that could be used to house the center in the future.

The land in question would be between 3-1/2 and 5 acres on the county farm just south of Bloomfield across from the Missouri State Veteran's Cemetery.

The original request was for the county to simply deed the land over, so that the board would have something tangible residents could see.

"We really want to put up a sign out there saying 'Future home of the Bloomfield Area Nutrition Center,'" said Board Chair Brenda Wilson. "Right now, because they're not seeing anything done, the people think nothing is happening and that's not the case."

Commissioner Frank Sifford entertained the possibility of giving the board an official option to buy instead of simply deeding the land over.

"That way no one would have to pay for surveys and everything just in case this doesn't work out," he said. "I'm not sure, but I think you could still even use it as equity as long as you had the option to buy for $1."

If the center becomes a reality, its goal is to serve people from Bloomfield, Aquilla, Bell City, Aid and Idalia, all areas that are not served by anyone at this point.

Currently, the board is working hard to qualify in a way that will allow them to serve more than just the 62 and over crowd.

"It's not just for the senior citizens, eventually we hope to have activities for everyone," said Hazel Williams.

While no decision was made Monday, Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said he hopes the Board will be ready to make a decision on the issue at the next meeting, Monday, Sept. 22, at 9 a.m. in the Stoddard County Courthouse.