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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.

TEST TW WEATHER

Posted on by dan

City, business owners meet to address Strip concerns

The City of Lake Ozark has taken the lead in working with businesses on The Strip in hopes of avoiding further incidents such as the deadly shooting last week.

The city hosted a meeting of Lake Ozark businesses that hold city/state liquor licenses with the intent of helping educate business owners and managers about local and state laws. Topics included: 

•Motorcycle club/gang activity

•Stricter enforcement of existing ordinances including disorderly conduct within an establishment 

•Reducing public intoxication 

•Enforcing occupancy limits 

•Increased business security with qualified individuals or security companies

•Open container violations

•Possible increase in Driving While Intoxicated (DUI) checkpoints

•Overserving of alcohol to patrons

•Underage serving and fake IDs

 

Consensus

“This is an opportunity for you to have input and be involved in the solutions,” City Administrator Dave Van Dee told the estimated 40 business owners and managers. 

City officials noted that while there are several state laws and ordinances in place that help regulate activity within the community, it’s ultimately up to each business owner/manager to control the type of clientele that enters their business. It’s up to business owners to regulate the conduct of their customers and there are local and state laws in place to help.

“We are going to do what we can to keep this type of incident outside of the city of Lake Ozark,” Police Chief Gary Launderville said. “Do we really want to allow them (motorcycle gangs) to take over our businesses and our city? Do you think people will continue to come here and visit our community?”

The chief urged cooperation between business owners, the Lake Ozark Police Department and the city.

“A few businesses have welcomed them into their business, catered to them and in some cases allowed them to take over your bar,” he noted. “It’s your establishment. If you want them coming in and taking over, that’s on you, but it affects the rest of the city.”

Launderville said Bike Night, which occurs the third Thursday of the month during the summer, has been cancelled for the balance of the year. Sponsor Benne Media has withdrawn its sponsorship.

“The LOPD will work with you for the betterment of the entire city, but the LOPD cannot lead this change by itself. We can if we work together, and you must step up as well. We must work together.”

Mayor Dennis Newberry echoed Launderville’s comments, adding that the Lake Ozark Police Department “did a wonderful job” in the aftermath of the shooting.

“It’s critical we have a working partnership with our businesses and look at this as a team effort to be successful,” he said. “It’s my intent to grow the relationship between City Hall and the business community.”