Jan. 20 – NEOSHO, Mo. – Discussions continued Tuesday over whether the city council should award organizers of the Neosho Holiday Classic basketball tournament up to $15,000 in motel tax proceeds. city ​​hoteliers.

Organized by Branco Enterprises and the Neosho School District, the tournament took place in late December.

Justin Branham, chairman of Branco, told the board at its regular meeting on Tuesday that final expenses were not yet accounted for, but initial numbers showed more than $40,000 spent at Neosho businesses for food, accommodation, working hours, advertising, T-shirts and more.

Branham said he expects that number to increase as more numbers come in. Branham said he hopes to receive up to $15,000 in grants from tax revenue from hotels and motels in the city.

“I still think if there’s one event that meets the definition of what the hotel tax is for, this is it,” Branham said.

The council gave initial approval for the spending in November, but in December changed course after council members reported hearing complaints from voters. The complaints were about crews staying at Joplin hotels and eating at Joplin restaurants.

The matter should be considered again at a future meeting.

In other cases:

—The council discussed the possibility of obtaining a $25,000 grant from State Farm to build an all-inclusive playground capable of serving children with disabilities.

Initial plans called for the playground equipment to be placed in Big Spring Park, according to city documentation. However, council members and staff have raised concerns about the sufficient number of parking spaces in Big Spring and the floodplains of Morse Park.

After some discussion, council appeared to reach consensus on building the all-inclusive playground at Hawthorne Roadside Park, located north of Business Highway 49 and Neosho Boulevard.

—Council has given initial approval to the $89,300 continuation of the state’s recreational trails grant program. The money, if granted, would be used to further develop the High Ground bicycle reserve in Morse Park with a 9,420ft extension of the Down Stream Loop and a pedestrian bridge.

Final approval is expected at a future meeting.