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City Receives Blue Shield Designation: The City of Lake Ozark and Lake Ozark Police Department are honored to have been named a Missouri Blue Shield City by Missouri Department of Public Safety.Of this designation for our agency and community, Police Chief James Boren says "I'm honored to accept this Blue Shield City designation, which reflects the outstanding work of our Board of Aldermen, city staff, and police department working in partnership. This recognition from Governor Kehoe and the Missouri Department of Public Safety validates what I've observed throughout my 20-year career here—our community's growing commitment to public safety. During my tenure as chief, I've seen firsthand how the dedication of our officers, combined with incredible community support, creates the foundation for this kind of recognition. This achievement belongs to everyone who has contributed to making our city safer."The Missouri Blue Shield Program, created by Governor Kehoe in January 2025 through Executive Order 25-03, recognizes local governments that make significant efforts to reduce crime, foster law enforcement collaboration, and build strong community partnerships for public safety. “Public safety is the foundation of a thriving community and state. It affects everything from families feeling secure to businesses having the confidence to invest and grow,” said Governor Kehoe. “We designed the Missouri Blue Shield Program to recognize communities that go above and beyond in creating a place where people want to live, work, and build their futures. A Missouri Blue Shield designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of local governments across Missouri who are leading the way in making public safety a priority.”“The Department of Public Safety is proud to work alongside communities like Lake Ozark, that have shown exceptional dedication to enhancing public safety,” said Mark James, Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS). “This program is about fostering collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Our goal is to support these efforts, providing resources and guidance to help communities build sustainable, long-term solutions for crime reduction and public safety.”Communities are eligible for a Missouri Blue Shield designation based on their dedication to reducing crime, making substantial investments in public safety, and developing strong collaboration with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders. Each participating community’s commitment will be reviewed annually to ensure continued alignment with the program’s goals. Communities that earn a Missouri Blue Shield designation will receive grant funding for law enforcement training and equipment as part of Governor Kehoe’s Recommended Budget for the State Fiscal Year 2026. Communities will also be featured on Governor Kehoe’s social media pages as well as the DPS website to highlight their participation in the program. The City of Lake Ozark earned a Missouri Blue Shield designation due to its exceptional commitment to public safety. Through officer recruitment and retention efforts, introduction of our K9 program, increased funding to public safety, and an enhanced approach to community policing, we have demonstrated a strong and ongoing commitment to protecting our residents and visitors.

TEST TW WEATHER

Posted on , by harrison

Mitchem Appointed City Administrator

At the October 26, 2021 City of Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen meeting, Mr. David Mitchem was appointed to serve as Lake Ozark’s next City Administrator.  The Board’s unanimous support comes after a months-long hiring process that attracted qualified candidates from around the nation, an interview process overseen by local residents and business leaders, and the opportunity to meet with the Board to discuss his role with the city moving forward.

 

Mr.  Mitchem comes to Lake Ozark with a strong resume showing a history of success in the private and public sectors, as well as educational experiences that will serve him well in Lake Ozark.  Having received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Business Administration from Lincoln University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Missouri at Columbia, Mitchem has spent much of his career working for and leading state agencies.  He served as the Director of the Colorado Division of Labor, the Deputy Director and Chief Operations Officer for the Missouri Department of Economic Development, and was the Executive Director for the Missouri Training and Employment Council.

 

He also brings prior experience in local government with him to Lake Ozark.  He worked as Pagosa Springs, Colorado’s Town Manager for several years, where he was able to guide the tourist community through the construction of a $6.8 million infrastructure expansion project. In his tenure with the community, Pagosa Springs saw a growth in tourism and attracted a diverse group of new businesses to invest locally.

 

About Lake Ozark’s future with Mitchem at the table, Mayor Dennis Newberry says, “The City of Lake Ozark is in a very fortunate economic position.  Post-COVID, our revenues are at an all-time high, and we will continue with this momentum.  With David Mitchem on board as our new City Administrator, and Harrison Fry continuing as our Assistant City Administrator, I am confident their collaboration will harness this momentum into achieving much needed infrastructure improvements and help guide us confidently into the future.”

 

When asked about his future as City Administrator, Mitchem offers, “I am looking forward to working in partnership with the talented team at Lake Ozark.  Given the strong Board of Aldermen and skilled staff, the next few years will be exciting and productive.”

 

David Mitchem will begin his service to the City of Lake Ozark on November 15.