Clean bill of financial health for Lake Ozark - 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 4, 2021, Edited May 4, 2021 by dan

Clean bill of financial health for Lake Ozark

The City of Lake Ozark has received a clean bill of financial health for the fiscal year 2020.

Lindsay Graves, CPA, of Graves and Associates, presented the annual audit during the regular board meeting April 27.

She noted that the city had sound accounting and financial practices and meets most recommendations for communities of Lake Ozark’s size. One of the most important objectives which the city meets is having between four and six months of operating budget funds available in the various accounts.

She also commented that 2020 was “a good year” for the city financially despite the challenges communities and residents faced last year.

For a detailed look at the 2020 audit on the city’s website, click on https://bit.ly/3eYudw6.

Appointments

The board of aldermen also approved Mayor Dennis Newberry’s scheduled appointments to various committees as follows:

•Planning & Zoning

Reappointed Margaret Davis and Mark Maples.

•Utility Commission

Reappointed Mike Kolar, Dave Gardiner, Kristina Malloy, Ethan Shackleford, Pat Thompson, Dennis Klautzer, and Keith Vance to fill a vacancy.

•Budget Committee

Appointed Joseph Gibbs, Chris Wagner and Matt Wright.

•Joint Sewer Board

Appointed Dale Hicks.

The board also approved the reappointment of several staff members as follows:

Kathy Vance, city clerk

Gary Launderville, chief of police

Karen Hughes, treasurer

Trisha Kane, collector

Christopher Rohrer, city attorney/city prosecutor

Richelle Christensen, municipal judge.

Other business

•City Clerk Kathy Vance also administered the oath of office to Ward 2 Alderman Dale Hicks who was not available when the other elected officials were sworn in April 13.

•The board discussed possible solutions to trash dumpsters being located on the sidewalks or in public view on The Strip. The challenging topography surrounding Bagnell Dam Blvd. (The Strip) does not allow dumpsters to be placed behind most businesses.