Boone County’s presiding commissioner says Schneider Electric sees the need for the proposed $73-mllion expansion at their facility on Columbia’s Route B. Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Schneider Electric, which many of our listeners will remember used to be called Square D, is seeking property tax abatement on the expansion. Commissioner Kendrick says Boone County commissioners approved the request for Chapter 100 at Thursday's meeting. It now moves to the performance agreement/contract process. Commissioner Kendrick tells listeners that the proposed $73-million expansion would include $20-million in additional warehouse space. That would be a 58,000 square feet warehouse addition. Kendrick says another $53-million would go toward investing in manufacturing equipment line expansion. Schneider wants to add a significant amount of manufacturing lines. Commissioner Kendrick tells listeners that the proposed expansion is expected to create 241 new jobs which would pay above the Boone County average wage, so the jobs will pay more than $48,000. The city of Columbia has used what’s called Chapter 100 to help Kraft Heinz in 2015 and in 2024. They’ve also used them with Swift Foods in 2021. Commissioner Kendrick notes Square D was one of the first manufacturers on Route B about 50 years ago. Kip Kendrick grew up in northeast Missouri’s Monroe City. His father ran the Chevrolet dealership in town. Mr. Kendrick describes his father as his role model, noting he taught him the importance of community service and giving back to the community. Kip Kendrick moved from Monroe City to Columbia to attend Columbia College and to work at Job Point, which describes itself as Missouri’s premier employment center and Community Development Corporation. Kip Kendrick helped people find work while at Job Point, including many residents with disabilities. Mr. Kendrick tells host Fred Parry that his position with Job Point helped set him up for where he is today. Mr. Kendrick was elected four times to the Missouri House before being elected Boone County presiding commissioner in 2022. Commissioner Kendrick also briefed listeners Saturday on the new multi-million dollar Boone County Sheriff’s regional law enforcement training center being built in Columbia. Groundbreaking took place in April, and construction is progressing. He and Mr. Parry about discussed the issue of housing and the senior real estate tax relief program: