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 August 13, 2014

OB Board of Aldermen actions Thursday Aug. 7

 

OSAGE BEACH - In other business at the August 7 Board of Aldermen meeting:
* A proposed agreement to award a construction contract for sidewalk improvements on the west end of Osage Beach Parkway was tentatively approved by the board, but only if the funding is assured.

According to a report to the board from Public Works Director Nick Edelman, the project was scheduled to be funded with a enhancement-funds grant through the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) with the city picking up 20 percent of the total cost.

“The funds from MoDOT come from the Highway Trust Fund from the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation,” Edelman said in his report.

However, the Highway Trust Fund would have a shortfall of funds without action from the House and Senate, Edelman had pointed out in his report.

The public works director told the board that a funding bill had been sent to President Obama on July 31. If the bill is signed into law, funding will be restored.

In addition, both Aldermen Phyllis Marose and Kevin Rucker wanted clarification as to who would be responsible for the maintenance on the proposed sidewalks.

“Lets be sure we can continue to maintain them,” Marose said.

Rucker pointed out that in other municipalities, it had been the homeowners’ and business owners’ responsibility to keep the sidewalks clear.

City Attorney Edward Rucker said he would research the matter and report his findings to the board.

The sidewalk contract was tentatively awarded to J.C. Industries with a low bid of $327,770.25.

“The improvements will provide accessible pedestrian routes from the McDonald’s near the (Parkway and Route KK) intersection to Arby’s near the Nichols Road intersection along the northwest side of Osage Beach Parkway,” Edelman said in his report,” and along the southeast side of Osage Beach Parkway from the Nichols Road intersection to Gran Rally Karts.”

* Procedural matters slowed down action by the board on a proposal that would authorize engineering services for the design of parking spaces and a fill plan at Peanick Park.

The board had discussed the matter at its July 17 meeting, with the Park Department pointing out that parking was rapidly becoming an issue.

Edelman said he had been in touch with officials from School of the Osage about using their parking lots for the park but no decisions had been reached.

A motion had been made for the first reading of the ordinance authorizing the contract but the board suggested tabling the measure. However, both Mayor Penny Lyons and the city attorney pointed out that the motion for the first reading was still in play.

Withdrawing the motion was discussed but Alderman John Olivarri pointed out that the board could second the motion, then vote against it. The board eventually did so.

The city had received approval from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in 2011 to expand the parking lot and has been receiving fill for the park for a number of years, according to an earlier report to the board from Edelman.

However, “The Parks Department would like to expand the (proposed) parking lot further than originally planned,” Edelman stated in the report. The public works director had said outside professional experience - through Cochran Engineering - was necessary for the parking lot expansion plans, but the board voted to table the request until Edelman could contact the school district about shared parking.

* The purchase of 60 water meters was approved by the board. According to a report by Edelman, the city received only one bid for the meters from Schulte Supply at a cost of $14,400.

The five-eighth inch meters will be used as replacements for failing meters as well as for new water projects.

* The board approved a request to apply for funding from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a well-plugging project.

According to Edelman, the maximum amount expected from DNR would be $25,000, leaving the city to cover approximately $16,000 of the total project cost.

DNR funds are running low, according to Edelman, and could lose approximately 19 percent of future funding from the federal government. “We need to proceed as quickly as possible of this is something the city wants to do in 2014,” Edelman said in a report to the board.

* A request from Assistant City Administrator Jeana Woods to sell seven surplus city vehicles via online auctions was approved by the board as well as a request from Mayor Lyons to appoint Helen Gross to the city’s Board of Adjustment.

Lyons also asked the board for additional candidates for an alternate position on the board.

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