City Administrator Van Dee to retire after 37 years of public service - City of Lake Ozark

City of Lake Ozark Awarded $300,000 Community Development Block Grant for Demolition Project: Lake Ozark, MO — The City of Lake Ozark has been named the recipient of a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Missouri Department of Economic Development to support a $433,030 building demolition project focused on improving safety and redevelopment opportunities in the Bagnell Dam Strip area. The remaining $133,030 required to complete the project will be provided to the City by the property owner, Reese Development. As a result of the grant award, 23 structures on and around the historic Bagnell Dam Strip will be demolished. All properties included in the project are owned by Reese Development. Among the structures slated for demolition is the former Shoreland Motel located on the Bagnell Dam Strip. Additional buildings included in the project consist of a series of residential and commercial structures located along Carls Drive, Ballenger Road, Thornsberry Road, Beach Drive, and School Road. These structures were determined eligible for CDBG funding due to their advanced state of blight and lack of structural safety, in accordance with adopted building codes. Several of the buildings contain asbestos and other environmental contaminants, and all have been formally certified by the City as dangerous buildings. Buildings were prioritized based on safety concerns, structural deterioration, and overall risk to the public. To qualify for the grant, each structure was required to have been vacant for an extended period of time. Demolition work associated with this project is expected to commence in 2026. “We are proud to partner with the City of Lake Ozark and the Missouri Department of Economic Development to continue the momentum of the last two years on the historic Bagnell Dam Strip,” stated Peter Colovos, Chief Operating Officer of Reese Development. “Brick by brick and block by block we are committed to redeveloping this jewel of the Midwest,” he added. Reese Development has invested more than $600,000 over the last two years in cleaning up the Strip and demolishing dilapidated structures. City Administrator Harrison Fry expressed appreciation for the state’s support:“We are grateful to the State of Missouri for recognizing the opportunity to breathe new life into the Bagnell Dam Strip corridor. This project begins by removing long-standing, dilapidated structures so that safe, meaningful redevelopment can move forward. I would also like to thank Reese Development for their cooperation and commitment to property revitalization, as well as grant writer Tonya Raines for preparing a successful application that made this project possible.” For more information, please contact the City of Lake Ozark.

Posted on May 5, 2021, Edited May 5, 2021 by dan

City Administrator Van Dee to retire after 37 years of public service

After 37 years in public office, Lake Ozark City Administrator Dave Van Dee is retiring from public service.

Van Dee, who has been with Lake Ozark 12 years, announced his resignation and retirement in a letter to the mayor and board of aldermen April 28. His resignation is effective Oct. 29.

“I have enjoyed my tenure in public service and more specifically my time serving as the city administrator for the City of Lake Ozark,” he said in his letter of resignation. “It has been a unique experience.”

Van Dee moved here from Hiawatha, Iowa, where he was city administrator. He also served the Iowa communities of Dyersville and Waterloo having started his career in city government in 1984.

“I have made an effort to develop Lake Ozark organizationally to accommodate the growth I am confident the city will experience in the future,” he added. “I am leaving the city on a path that will provide for growth in utility infrastructure as the city will soon become debt free in both the water and sewer funds.”

Van Dee was also instrumental in starting the city on a path to resolve its need for improved streets, especially Bagnell Dam Blvd. and The Strip. Two significant ballot issues were approved in the last year that ultimately will help finance construction projects.

He lauded the support and vision of the boards of aldermen he has served over the last dozen years as the city has moved from a contentious environment to one that is united for the betterment of Lake Ozark.

“With the assistance of prior and current board members, and current and former city staff, the city now has a solid financial foundation upon which to build while maintaining and growing the community. I am confident the city has a bright future as it has a well-qualified and dedicated group of employees,” he offered. “It has been an honor to serve the city of Lake Ozark.”

If it is the desire of the board of aldermen, Van Dee said he will assist in the transition and in securing someone to fill his position.