I AM Buddy, The BUDDHA From Mississippi ™: August 2018

Volume XII | September 2018

September 2018 News & Updates

September edition includes....

Ozark Comprehensive Plan Citizen Survey
Upcoming Programs and Events
Letter from our Alderman
Q&A from City Staff
Upcoming street projects impacting Ozark drivers

You can always find more information on our website at ozarkmissouri.com and connect with us on our social media pages, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Nextdoor

Visit our Website

A note from Alderman Nathan Posten, Ward

During my time on the on the Board of Aldermen I have seen tremendous changes in Ozark. We have made significant investments to modernize our water, sewer, and transportation infrastructure. We’ve seen the police department step up to become one of only 12 departments in the state to be accredited by the Missouri Police Chiefs Association. And the board has adopted a series of strategic plans to encourage responsible, sustainable growth while protecting the peace and tranquility that we love about our city.

Now it’s time to turn our attention to parks. Ozark residents value nature and want to be connected to it. That desire for more outdoor experiences is reflected in every survey the city has conducted over the last 5 years. Expanding parks, building new trails, and protecting green spaces are at the top of the list every time.

Earlier this year the city completed a park master plan that outlined potential park/trail locations, as well as the challenges and opportunities the lie ahead. This will not be easy, but it is a challenge we must rise to meet. Parks and trails offer affordable, healthy recreation opportunities. They offer alternative transportation routes. They protect our environment and improve property values. Perhaps most importantly though, parks enhance our sense of community. These benefits are too important to ignore.

It is going to take a community effort to see our goals come to life. I would encourage everyone subscribe to the city’s monthly newsletter, check out our website frequently, and following the city’s social media pages to watch for ways you can get involved and offer your input.

This is an amazing time to live Ozark. Get involved and help be a part shaping the city for generations to come.

Thank you for letting me serve our community. I’m proud to #BeOzark.

Making Progress, As Promised

3/8 cent Transportation Sales Tax Projects Update

The City staff has been working on the big “Cost-Share” projects with MODot, Christian County, and the Ozark Special Road District, completing the design and engineering phases of these projects. Many more projects are scheduled to be started and/or completed over the next 5-years and you can always access these construction schedules on the City’s website. Below are links for easy access for projects that will impact Ozark drivers.

The City of Ozark is dedicated to fulfilling our transportation commitments to you in order to improve safety, expand economic development opportunities, and improve our community’s quality of life overall. So if you live in a neighborhood where a project has been completed, or is going to be completed, and have questions you can always call the Ozark City Hall or go on line for Public Works updates.

Utility Billing Department

Have you called the Utility Billing Department lately? If you have you may have noticed a change.

The Ozark Water Billing Department has gone to an automated voice mail. When you call the Utility Billing number the automated system will prompt you to chose a department. Please listen to the options to know which department you will need.

It has also added the convenience of automated payments and balance check by phone. You will need to know your account number which is located in the top right hand corner of your bill.

We realize this will be an adjustment at first, we believe this will make the Utility Billing Department more efficient in servicing our customers. If you do not get an answer please leave a detailed message and we will return your call.

The City of Ozark contracts with Republic Services to provide trash service in the City of Ozark. Republic Services also works to provid recycling services.

This service is available to Ozark Water customers for $1.55 a month additional with your trash service on your water bill. The 95 gallon Recycle Cart is included in the recycle cost. Check out a recycling VIDEO by Republic Services:

Planning and Development Department

The City of Ozark has partnered with theSouthwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG) to facilitate an update to the city’s 2008 Comprehensive Plan. A Comprehensive Plan serves as a community’s official guide for growth, land use, and development. One of the first steps in the update process is gathering public input. SMCOG is asking Ozark residents to complete a short survey that serves as the guide to the city’s future. Citizens can follow along with the process via the online comprehensive plan. The update will conclude in December with a final draft to be presented in January.

Polce Department Update

Ozark Police Chief Tim Clothier is named one of Springfield Business Journal 2018 Men Of The Year.

Public service has been ingrained in Tim Clothier his entire adult life.

With more than a quarter-century of work in law enforcement, Clothier says he strives to be a good teacher, listener, role model and mentor. He became chief of police in 2015 for the Ozark Police Department.

“I have always practiced doing the right thing for the right reasons, simply because it was the right thing to do,” he says.....

Click HERE to read full story

Have you ever wanted to run from the cops without getting in trouble?!? Here’s your perfect opportunity! Hometown Sports in partnership with Southern Bank and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts will be hosting Ozark’s first ever 5K Run while runners avoid the cops and refuel at doughnut pit stops. The event will be on September 15, 2018 @ 9:00am!

Finish the 5K with all your flags and be entered to win a 32" television, and gift cards to local businesses! All runners will be outfitted with a flag football belt and will run the 5K course while avoiding the cops who will take your flags. Along the race route you will find safety zones where you will be able to power up with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. While in the safety zones you cannot be caught by the cops.

All participants will receive a finisher’s medal, a souvenir race t-shirt, and prizes will be awarded to age group winners. The race will begin and end at the Ozark Police Department, 201 East Brick Street. You can sign up by visiting: HERE or by visiting Hometown Sports at 202 E. Brick Street, Ozark, MO.

Registration prior to September 11 for adults: $30, for youths: $20

Proceeds benefit the Ozark Fraternal Order of Police annual Christmas “Cops for Kids” Program

Did you know there are two courts within the City of Ozark?

The court located in downtown Ozark, on Elm Street, is the 38^th Circuit Court. This court hears violations of the state criminal laws and civil cases. The Ozark Municipal Division of the 38^th Circuit Court, located on Brick Street, began operating in 2005.

The Municipal Division hears violations of the City Code including traffic violations, stealing, assaults, and possession of marijuana and/or drug paraphernalia. The City Code, Municipal Division Docket, and citation information are available on the City’s website. The Municipal Division holds arraignments at 2:00 p.m. on every Tuesday except the first Tuesday of the month. Trials are held at 3:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.

The Municipal Division clerk’s office is open daily from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. for payment of fines, filing documents, or all other inquiries. While this court primarily functions to hear criminal cases, the Honorable Jason Johnson also performs marriages. The Municipal Division has performed seventeen weddings since 2016.

If you need to contact the Municipal Division, the phone number is: 417-582-5883

If you need to contact the 38^th Circuit Court, the phone number is: 417-581-4523

Q & A:

Q: Does the City of Ozark own and maintain all the streets within the city limits of Ozark?

A: Actually NO, it is far more complex than that. The corporate limits of the City of Ozark sits within the three larger political boundaries of the State, County and Ozark Special Road District (OSRD). The City works in partnership with all of these agencies who also manage public transportation systems. We work together to develop long range transportation plans and use cooperative funding agreements to complete large scale projects we would not otherwise be able to do on our own. For example, by using the City’s new 3/8 cent transportation sales tax as matching funds (expected to generate $5.5M annually) we were able to create a 5-year transportation improvement plan worth over $20M dollars of community projects through cost-share agreements.

There are mainly three types of roadways – Arterials, Collectors, and Local Streets. The larger roadways carrying the heavy traffic are arterials, such as Highway 65, Business 65, Highway NN, 14, or CC, and are owned and maintained by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDot). It’s beneficial that MoDot owns these larger roadways as they are the most expensive to maintain. Most of the Collector streets in the City of Ozark such as Longview, Riverside, McCracken, Fremont, and Hartley Streets just to name a few, are owned and maintained by the OSRD. Most local or neighborhood streets are owned and maintained by the City of Ozark. Although Cristian County mainly owns those roadways outside of municipal boundaries, including rural gravel roads and bridges, they do provide a portion of their transportation sales tax revenue to the various special road districts and municipalities to help us fund local projects. For example, the new Riverside Bridge project is being completed through a cooperative funding agreement between the City of Ozark, OSRD, and Christian County.

As the cost of planning, building, and maintaining, a safe transportation system increases, it will be essential for all of our agencies to work together to fund a safe and efficient transportation system for the future.

Upcoming Programs