The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

(Updated April 12, 2018)

Joint bidding saves city money on tower painting

OSAGE BEACH – A joint venture with the City of Lake Ozark will save almost $70,000 in the upkeep of three water towers, if a second reading is approved.

The city budgeted this year to paint the Columbia College Water Tower and clean Swiss Village and Bluff Towers. The project was bid out with Lake Ozark in an effort to save money.

Last year both cities joined forces to obtain better prices on water tower cleaning. Following that same pattern is saving both cities money again this year. Lake Ozark is painting the South Water Tower on Bagnell Dam Boulevard.

The cities received six bidders for both cities projects. The bidders and their amounts for the Osage Beach towers were:

• $456,600 from TMI Coatings Inc.
• $299,000 from Utility Service Co. Inc.
• $295,121 from Maguire Iron, Inc.
• $276,900 from Central Tank Coatings, Inc.
• $276,850 from D.E.M. Enterprises LLC
• $273,943 from SES Infrastructure LLC

The city had budgeted $340,000 for the project.

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Voters speak on higher taxes

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – One fire department tax increase has been approved by voters while two others went down in flames in the April 3 election.

In Camden County, the Mid-County Fire Protection District asked voters to approve a tax levy increase of “not more than nineteen cents on the one hundred dollars assessed valuation.”

Voters said no with 54.25 percent against (574 votes) and 45.75 percent for the increase (484 votes).

The Northwest Fire Protection District was asking for two tax increases on the ballot: one for “not more than 23 cents on the one hundred dollars assessed valuation” and the other for “not more than 37 cents on the one hundred dollars assessed valuation.”

Both increases were voted down by voters in Camden County with the 23 cent increase receiving 60 percent no (279 votes) and 40 percent yes (186 votes).

The second increase, 37 cents, was also defeated in the county with 64.32 percent no (301) and 35.68 percent yes (167 votes).

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Following the Dogwood Art Trail

CAMDENTON – The annual Dogwood Festival is offering something new this year: The Dogwood Art Trail.

Thanks to the support of the Community Arts League, the Dogwood Art Trail will showcase art at various locations during the week of April 17-21.

According to the art league, they exist “to recognize and promote the hundreds of artists who live in this area and to make Camdenton an art destination - a place people come to experience, enjoy, and purchase art.”

A portion of the City of Camdenton’s “Destination Camdenton” includes placing art in public places.

“Art will enhance the city’s appearance, draw people to the community, and have a positive economic impact,” the league says.

Prior to the Dogwood Festival, people will again see dogwoods painted on many of the business windows in Camdenton indicating that they are hosting artwork as part of the Dogwood Art Trail.

During that week people can follow “the trail” and enjoy the work produced by local artists.

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Caution: roads, water can be a danger in spring

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – Now that spring is here and the warm weather is drenching the lake area, causing an abundance of shorts, t-shirts and bikinis, safety needs to be foremost in mind.

First of all, you might freeze to death if, at the present time, you run around outside in a bikini (or less) since winter is refusing to let go.

As many found out last weekend, freezing weather can still happen and that means roads can be a problem.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) warns that road conditions can vary dramatically this time of year.

Widely varying temperatures can leave roadways or bridge floors covered with frost. Even though roads appear to be clear, it is important to slow down and watch for slick areas, especially early in the morning.

Temperature changes also cause fog to develop. Drivers need to slow down, turn on their headlights, and be prepared to stop in foggy conditions.

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OATS Transit announces new Lake of the Ozarks route

COLUMBIA - Starting in July 2018, OATS Transit will add another route to its system that will operate in the Lake of the Ozarks area. The route will operate under the name Tri-County Transit, and will be a deviated system running in Camden, Miller and Morgan counties.

This will be a deviated route, meaning the bus is allowed to travel up to two miles from the route to pick up those who might need the assistance and can’t get to an actual bus stop.

This new service, provided by OATS Transit, will service 18 communities in Camden, Miller, and Morgan counties with two buses, running 10 hours per day covering a 125-mile loop.

“Affordable, accessible, efficient and safe public transit can be a great connector between education, employment, housing, child care, medical care, and services that will improve individual’s quality of life” said Jack Heusted, OATS Transit Regional Director.

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