The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published October 8, 2014

OB Board of Aldermen actions Thurs. Oct. 2

OSAGE BEACH - In other business at the Oct. 2 Board of Aldermen meeting:
* A proposed remodeling of the Public Works building brought a variety of responses from city officials.

Public Works Director Nick Edelman was seeking approval to engage an architect firm to design building improvements; improvements that significantly expanded from an original discussion at the April 15 board meeting.

Along with a new lobby area and improvements to the building’s heating and cooling systems, Edelman is proposing creating second-story office space to house the city engineering staff.

According to Edelman, the original improvements were priced at approximately $120,000; the new improvements would total out at approximately $200,000.

“Right now we’re not asking for any money,” Edelman told the board, only for permission to solicit designs from an architect firm. “It’s a request for qualifications,” Edelman said, adding that once that was done, he could bring a formal contract back to the board.

Alderman Kevin Rucker said that the city had earlier looked into moving the Public Works staff to City Hall.

“This new situation has value in it,” Rucker said. “I think this is a reasonable approach.”

Alderman Ron Schmitt disagreed. Schmitt said he saw more “cons” than “pros” in Edelman’s request, including the cost. “I can’t vote for it until we come up with a program with what we’re going to do,” Schmitt said.

Assistant City Administrator Jeana Woods said the cost for the remodeling project would be split up between the water, sewer and transportation funds.

Alderman Steve Kahrs suggested getting two designs: one for the original remodeling plan, and another for the expanded remodeling. The board agreed with Kahrs’ suggestion.

* State Rep. Rocky Miller spoke to the board about a proposed redefining of U.S. waterways (see Osage Beach board story) and the recent hearing in Jefferson City examining the merger between the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Water Patrol.

Miller said the meeting lasted almost five hours and revealed some alarming information: “There are some Water Patrol (officers) who cannot pass the swim test,” Miller said.

He implied that splitting the Patrol back into two separate entities would probably not be possible. “We can’t put the genie back into the bottle, but we can make the best situation possible,” Miller said.

However, later in the meeting, Alderman Rucker suggested making the Water Patrol a separate division again would be a good idea.

“It’s a very valuable service to our area and I don’t feel it’s being done top notch now,” Rucker said. “It should have been improved, not lessened,” Rucker added.

Miller encouraged everyone to attend the second meeting set for Oct. 14 at Osage Beach City Hall.

* No one spoke at a public hearing to amend a Sewer Development Charge (SCD) from $1,410 to $1,457. According to Public Works Director Edelman, the SDCs were created with estimated costs for various sewer system upgrade projects.

“These projects vary from the 24-inch sewer bypass force main to upgrading (Lift Station) 22-3 on Sunset.” The SCD in question is located in “Benefit Area 4” and runs east of Sands and upstream of LS 22-3. In addition, the board approved an ordinance amending the SDC.

* A contract to repair six damaged manholes running from Lift Station 53-1 to Dude Ranch Road was approved by the board. A $14,664 bid from Utility Solutions, LLC was accepted.

“(T)his project involves applying an epoxy lining to six existing manholes that have severe concrete damage,” Edelman said in a report to the board.

* The board approved an ordinance accepting a CenturyLink municipal tax settlement as part of a combined consent judgment. According to City Attorney Edward Rucker, the original lawsuit was “beyond the range of our capacity to pursue on a standalone basis.”

The city will receive $845.94 with $40.30 (five percent) going to the Missouri Municipal League.

* The board also approved a request from Edelman to apply for Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant funds for a sidewalk project. The TAP funds used to be part of the state‘s Transportation Enhancement grants.

“We have upgraded the sidewalks from Passover Road to the one-way couple and from State Route KK to Nichols Road,” Edelman said in a report to the board. “We would like to continue this project from a location near Arby’s easterly to the Grand Glaize Bridge.”

Funds are available up to $500,000 in an 80-20 grant. The city would have to provide $125,000 to the $500,000 grant for a total of $625,000.

According to Edelman, if the city receives the grant, the design work would be in the 2015 budget and the sidewalk construction would be in the 2016 budget.