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 September 12, 2018

Demand signals the need of a third well in OB

OSAGE BEACH – Due to growing demand for water the city is beginning the process of installing a third well to serve residents.

The Board of Aldermen last week approved the first step in the process – the approval of the first reading of the engineering design and surveying for the water well and well house.

The new well, if eventually built, will be on the west side of the city near the Swiss Village elevated storage tank. The city currently operates two wells in that area

Out of eight firms that bid on the project, the city choose HDR Engineering, Inc.

“A third water well is required to meet growing water demands of the City’s water system, and the well is the first priority identified in the 2017 Water System Master Plan,” Public Works Director Nicholas Edelman explained in his report to the board. “The well is proposed to be located on property owned by the Osage Beach Fire Protection District.”

The city has only budgeted $80,000 for the project but the cost came in at $99,250.

Edelman said there are Restricted - Other Funds available that the city may use to cover the additional cost.

“Within the Restricted - Other Funds we have self-restricted funds specifically for this well project as this has been an anticipated and planned need within the department, said Edelman.

The engineering services are scheduled to be completed within six months (by next March or April).

The services performed by the engineering company will be:

• Topographic and Property Survey, which will include easement legal description preparation for $11,400
• Design Phase – includes plans, specifications and contract documents for $87,850

The second reading of the bill is expected to take place at the next Board of Aldermen meeting later this month.

In other business at last week’s meeting:

• The second reading of an ordinance requiring one million dollars of insurance for anyone with a city contractor’s license failed (see sidebar story).
• Approved both readings of a request to financially support the 2018 Bikefest event. The original request was for $5,000 but the board lowered that to $3,000. The city estimates that the event brings 60,000 motorcycles and 90,000 bikers to the lake area for up to five days.
• Passed the first reading of a bill for a Pro-Tem Municipal Judge to serve when the normal judge is unavailable.
• Approved the first reading of an ordinance to Execute Amendment No. 1 to State Block Grant Agreement, Project with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.

This is the grant agreement for Phase 2 of the Lee C. Fine Taxiway Reconstruction Project providing and ensuring MoDOT / FAA funding. The engineering contract for Phase 2 was awarded in February of this year and the construction for Phase 2 was awarded in May.

Any of the above bills that need a second reading should be addressed at the second Board of Aldermen meeting scheduled for September 20.