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 April 17, 2019

New mayor takes over leadership in Lake Ozark

LAKE OZARK – A new leader took over the city last week as former alderman Gerry Murawski moved up to mayor following his resounding defeat of incumbent Johnnie Franzeskos.

Combining the totals of Miller and Camden Counties (since the city straddles both) Murawski ended up with 146 votes and Franzeskos receiving 111.

When elections take place, the old Board of Aldermen, including the mayor, open the meeting and do any old business up until they certify the results of the election.

The oaths of office are then recited and those who won their elections take over and the meeting continues.

Franzeskos did not show up at the meeting and no explanation was given for his absence so Mayor Pro-Tem (Aldermen Patricia Thompson) conducted the beginning section of the meeting.

Once the new mayor took over, the biggest financial decision of the night was the painting of the North Water Tower.

Maguire Iron will paint the tower for $210,000 and that could be split up into two payments of $105,000 (no interest would be charged).

The first payment would be due once the work was completed and the second payment due 12 months after that date.

The city was not going to paint the tower immediately but Maguire Iron is currently doing work for the City of Osage Beach so they were solicited for a quote.

This will allow the city to spread the payments out and get the tower painted ahead of schedule.

Both readings of the bill were approved giving the painting the green light to proceed.

In other business at last week’s Board of Aldermen meeting:

• Appointed Alderman Dennis Klautzer as Mayor Pro-Tem
• Approved a Special Event Application for Benne Media for Bike Night to be held April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15 and September 12.

Along with Murawski, Ward I Alderman Judy Neels and Ward II Alderman Vernon Joycox were re-elected and sworn in as was new alderman for Ward II Larry Giampa, who beat Dale Hicks by one vote.