City Services To Be Bid: At the June 29 Board of Aldermen meeting, Lake Ozark’s elected officials authorized two bidding processes that will have a significant impact on local residents. The first of these opportunities discussed is related to improving city streets. In April, the Board of Aldermen hired Miller Companies to establish a list of road maintenance projects to be paid for utilizing the city’s ARPA funds, and the road improvements reserve fund. Over thirty roads throughout the community have been identified for the micro-paving project, given their current condition. Miller Companies representative Ethan Shackelford states, “This type of project is designed to maintain and sustain the life of roads that are not yet in need of significant repair. For some higher traffic streets, this can expand the life of the street for two or three years, but lower traffic residential streets may not need to be addressed for another eight years.” After receiving this project report, the Board unanimously voted to issue an RFP for the project. Bidding will open on July 4 and close on July 27. City staff will begin crack sealing streets soon to prepare for the project. The city’s current solid waste contract with GFL Environmental was originally set to expire in 2022, but the contractor and Board of Aldermen elected to extend the contract through March of 2023 in their December 2021 meeting. The Board of Aldermen opted on Tuesday to issue an RFP for a new solid waste contract to begin at the termination of the existing contract. Among other items, bidders will be expected to identify operational plans, an ability to perform consistent routes throughout Lake Ozark, and what annual rate increases will look like for consumers. Mayor Newberry commended Derrick Standley, a local resident with expertise in solid waste management, for his work in helping city staff and the Board determine what the bidding process and documents should entail. As the bidding process for both of these items closes, the Board of Aldermen will be expected to make a decision on who to award each of these contracts to, based on qualifications, ability, and pricing.
