Vernetti Reacts To Post Dispatch Story About Ballparks National Federal Grant

Lake area State Representative Jeff Vernetti responds to a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the Missouri State Auditor’s Office is reviewing a federal grant tied to Vernetti and Ballparks National before he was elected to the House.

“There’s not one penny missing. There’s not one. There’s not one penny unaccounted for. It was brought up in the debates. It’s brought up in the article. If anybody would like to see the lien release for the check that’s mentioned, I will produce it. It’s vendor fully paid. It was just unfortunately for everyone’s sake they were paid incorrectly.”

A large portion of the $2.7-million grant was reportedly secured through the help of the Convention and Visitor Bureau and used for work done at the privately-owned ballpark in the Macks Creek area west of Camdenton.

Speaking on KRMS Radio and TV, Vernetti also says the situation was unfortunate.

“It’s a bad situation, but it’s it’s almost like you can’t make a mistake anymore without it being, you know, some, some big story.”

KRMS News has reached out to the State Auditor’s Office and has not received a reply back as of early Friday afternoon.

As of Monday, the new GM of the ballpark has also responded to the decision and investigation.