During the meeting of the Saline County Commission on Thursday, August 5, it was announced a lease agreement has been signed, however the commission did not sign the lease, for a piece of property at Marshall Junction.

Bill Stouffer, the county’s lobbyist with Flotron & McIntosh and also is a lobbyist for the National Steamboat Museum, which is tentatively planned to be placed at the Marshall Junction on the southwest corner, further south than where the Countryside Palace was located, was said to have signed the lease.

A question was asked, “Under what authority would Bill Stouffer have to execute a lease on behalf of the county?” Commissioners explained it was not on behalf of the county.

Presiding commissioner Kile Guthrey Jr. and Northern District Commissioner Stephanie Gooden further explained.

In a phone call by KMMO to Stouffer, he clarified that it’s actually a memorandum of understanding signed by Stouffer and Greg Swift with the owner of 18 acres m/l of farm land near the Countryside Palace. Stouffer further explained PGAV, the company that performed the feasibility study for the project, gave them seven options, and this was the best spot chosen for the project. Stouffer said the memo lays out the broad plans, but a lease will not be signed until closer to time for construction to start.

Stouffer said the project is completely privately funded and will cost an estimated $50 million for Phase 1. Phase 2 will be about $100 million over a 20- to-25-year period.