Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

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 purchases mobile radar trailer through cooperative effort

The private-public partnership concept is working well in the City of Lake Ozark.

Because a private citizen stepped forward, the Lake Ozark Police Department is now the proud owner of a mobile radar trailer.

Matt Wright, a local businessman and developer, approached the LOPD about the possibility of raising private funds to help purchase a mobile radar trailer to monitor traffic and encourage motorists to abide by the speed limit. Wright made the rounds among business owners and residents to raise funds to help cover the $9,800 cost of the demonstration unit. 

Ultimately, Wright – who is also a Ward 3 alderman — was able to raise $6,000 which he turned over to the Lake Ozark Police Benevolent Association. The LOPD provided the balance of $3,899.

As a result, the board of aldermen voted unanimously Aug. 24 to approve use of LOPD funds for the purchase, which includes a one-year warranty.

Police Chief Gary Launderville told the board that the radar trailer is loaded with the types of features expected on a demo. The price of a new trailer is $15,000, but because it’s a demo unit MPH Industries agreed to sell it at a discount.

“I’d like to thank Matt for stepping forward and soliciting funds,” Chief Launderville said. “His efforts raised $6,000.”

The LOPD has used the radar trailer for about two months, setting it up on better-traveled streets to discourage speeding. 

“This helps with traffic enforcement and if we want to do traffic counts we can do that too,” the chief said. “It’s not just a radar trailer, and it’s certainly a positive for the city.”

Several aldermen said they’ve been warned by the flashing lights at various locations around the community.

“It has slowed the traffic, and that was the intent,” Chief Launderville said.

Wright said previously he was motivated to pursue a radar trailer after observing vehicles speeding on Valley Road during an event on Bagnell Dam Blvd., on School Road and other areas of the city.

Aldermen were unanimous in their congratulations to Wright.

 

Search update

A committee being formed to search for a new Lake Ozark city administrator is nearly complete.

Current City Administrator Dave Van Dee announced in April he would be retiring effective Oct. 31.

Mayor Dennis Newberry told an interested individual attending the Aug. 24 regular board of aldermen meeting that he hopes to have the 12-member search committee filled soon. 

“It’s in the process,” Mayor Newberry told the individual. “I don’t have it totally completed yet. I should have it filled in the next four or five days.”

The 12-member committee would be comprised of Lake Ozark residents, business owners and/or business managers, according to the mayor. He said he would not be a voting member of the group, but the committee would decide which candidate was the best fit for Lake Ozark and make its recommendation.

“I will simply be the messenger to bring that information to the board,” Newberry said.

He noted that Assistant City Administrator Harrison Fry, who is also the city’s economic development director, would be the only candidate guaranteed an in-person interview. 

The individual made it clear to the mayor that he left his name at a previous meeting to be a volunteer on the committee. The mayor said he wasn’t aware of that and would consider the individual if a vacancy becomes available.