May 2019 News and Updates
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May edition includes....
- A note from Ward III Alderman Heather Adler
- Meet the Ozark Legal Department
- Summer Sewage Average and Swift911 News
- Q&A with Katherine Dowdy, Treasurer of Ozark Farmers Market at Finley Farms
- Ozark Employee Spotlight!
- Upcoming Programs & Events
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
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A note from Heather Adler, Ward III Board of Aldermen
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This year I am starting my third term as an Alderman for the City of Ozark representing the people of Ward 3 on the north side of Ozark, where I also reside. I have lived in this area around Springfield for most of my life. In 2002, I started Heather Hill Farms, a wine, cheese and gift store that I have run for the last 17 years. It is located on North 17th Street, right behind Lambert’s restaurant. Running a business in Ozark led me to become involved with the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce in Ozark, Nixa and Springfield. These organizations helped me to grow my business and connect with other community businesses and leaders. As I became more aware of the needs of our growing community, I came to serve on the governing boards of the Chamber of Commerce and the Carl G. Hefner Enterprise Center, which is an incubator for small start-up businesses here in Ozark. Now as an Ozark Alderman, I continue to work with many creative and dedicated city leaders to try to meet the many challenges of our community.
Being involved with the business of running the city has made me aware of the complexity of the job. I continue to become more appreciative of the dedication and commitment of our city leaders, department heads and their staffs. They continue to meet the demands and challenges of the everyday details of running a city while employing the vision and insight required to guide the city of Ozark into a healthy future.
A good example of the vision and planning involved in meeting the needs of Ozarks residents is the City of Ozark’s Planning and Zoning Commissions Comprehensive Plan which was adopted as the city’s main guide for planning, zoning and development in 1993. It has been amended along the way in 2008 and 2019 as a result of multiple studies involving present and future needs of retail and economic development, residential areas, downtown improvements, transportation needs, and parks and recreation areas. I encourage everyone reading to go to OzarkMissouri.com and find the 2019 Comprehensive Plan under Departments and Planning and Development. This will allow you to see the amazing future the City of Ozark has ahead of it. Additionally, it will also make you proud of living in such a progressive city that is working for a sustainable future for its citizens.
Our Board of Alderman members are all assigned to be a liaison to one of the cities departments. This year as the liaison to the Parks and Recreation Department, I would like to encourage you to visit the city’s website to see all the details of the available activities happening in our community. A major event The Ozark Community Center offers annually every summer is the Summer Camps for children of all ages, with registration beginning in late Spring. There are various age appropriate activities that keep the children active and entertained while parents work and kids are out of school.
The OC also provides opportunities for older adults in the community, which includes swimming, exercise classes like yoga, a fitness center and indoor and outdoor walking trails/tracks. The Finley River Park and Neal and Betty Grubaugh outdoor pool are great spots for families in the summer, too, so be sure to utilize what is offered there. A full list of opportunities available through the Parks and Recreation Department is online at OzarkMissouri.com, so make sure you check it out and invest in your health, well-being and happiness. There are so many ways to have fun and enjoy our city and its opportunities.
I would also like you to know that the City Council Meetings are open to the public and that we welcome everyone to attend so you can get to know all of your city leaders and be informed about current plans and issues. These meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Monday nights of each month at 7 P.M. at City Hall. Please come and be a proud part of the process. I hope you have a fun and safe summer.
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Meet The Ozark Legal Department
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Amanda Callaway, City Attorney
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Amanda Callaway is a southwest Missouri native and joined the City of Ozark in November of 2017. She graduated from Drury University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in both English and Writing. After graduating from Drury, Amanda attended the University of Missouri School of Law. She graduated in 2009 with a Juris Doctorate Degree and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution. Amanda comes to the City of Ozark from the City of Springfield, Missouri, where she was an Assistant City Attorney for eight years. Amanda is licensed to practice law in Missouri and the United States District Court Western District of Missouri. Amanda is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, Christian County Bar Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Immediate Past President of the Southern Missouri Women Lawyers.
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Bethany Hirsch, Paralegal
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Bethany Hirsch has been with the City of Ozark for the past three years as the Municipal Assistant Court Clerk. However, more recently she has taken on a new role as the new City of Ozark Paralegal. Along with this role, she has shown initiative by furthering her education with Drury University and streamlining the Ozark Municipal Court with the new statewide court system. Bethany has been happily married for the past nine years and has two daughters. Every evening she enjoys sitting on her front porch and watching the sunset over the hills with her family and three dogs. The best part of working in Ozark is how comforting and small town-like it is compared to other places she has worked. She enjoys the people that she works with so much more because of the pleasant nature of this community and the ongoing growth she has witnessed in the past few years. The City of Ozark has some of the best and kindest people she knows and respects. Bethany looks forward to a long and successful career with the City of Ozark.
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Rachel Underwood, Municipal Court Clerk
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Rachel Underwood is the new Municipal Clerk for the Ozark Municipal Court. Rachel previously worked as a paralegal for Christopher A. Hazelrigg in Springfield, Missouri for thirteen years, and then worked as a Court Specialist in the Branson Municipal Court prior to starting her new position with the City of Ozark. Rachel’s family moved to Ozark when she was just five-years-old, and she loves her hometown so much that she raised her children here as well. Most of Rachel’s family resides in Ozark too. Rachel has always dreamed of working in Ozark and utilizing her skills to have a positive impact on her community and this position allows her to do both. Rachel has witnessed the many positive changes to the City of Ozark over the years. Rachel enjoys all that Ozark has to offer such as the Ozark Park, kayaking on the Finley River, the walking trails, The OC, shopping, and movies at B&B Theatres.
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Janet Boone, Assistant Court Clerk
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Janet Boone is our Assistant Court Clerk and works part-time. She has been with the Municipal Court for seven years. Janet retired from the Derby Kansas USD where she was an elementary school secretary for 20 years. She moved to Ozark to be close to her daughter and family and says she didn’t want to miss another day of watching her grandson and granddaughter grow up. Municipal Court is a busy place with a small staff working together. Janet enjoys the diversity of her job duties and is always open to improvements and ideas to make the office more efficient.
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The weather is getting warmer, which means outdoor activities are becoming everyone's go-to plans again. Be sure to utilize the Disc Golf Course at Neal Grubaugh Park for a fun afternoon activity with friends and family. The Disc Golf Course map, above, shows you the different disc tee pads and baskets so you can plan ahead of time and be sure to bring your own equipment.
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Trenching & Shoring Safety Training conducted by Missouri Public Risk
The OC was happy to provide space for the Trenching & Shoring Safety Training conducted by Missouri Public Risk with the guidance of Kevin Parr where 7 municipalities participated on April 9th.
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Beginning May 1st, we will be starting the summer sewer average. We take your Jan., Feb. and March water and sewer totals to get an average. The customer will be billed the new averaged sewer rate amount figured within this time frame: May 1st - Oct. 1st.
If you have not signed up for Summer Sewer average in the past please contact Ozark Utility Billing Department at 581-2744.
For more information on Utility Billing click HERE
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Swift911 in its simplest form is a system that makes phone calls to specific people or areas in the event of an emergency or for sharing.
To provide more reliable communication with residents and businesses in the area,
please add your contact information to Swiftreach Networks, Inc.
If you have moved recently or changed your telephone number, you MUST change your address and phone number within the system to keep receiving calls.
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Ozark Finds New Way to Maximize Benefit of
Citizen Supported Transportation Sales Tax
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PRESS RELEASE
Released April 18
The City of Ozark has been working diligently to find ways to better our community and provide a more pedestrian friendly environment. The City has applied for federal funding to complete bike and pedestrian walk projects around the City. There was a total of $2.5 million in federal funding available and a total of 15 projects were selected by the Ozarks Transportation Organization to receive funding. The City of Ozark submitted 4 projects which we were honored to have them all selected for funding. The Ozarks Transportation Organization board approved on February 28th for Ozark to receive $813,089 of federal funding to add with our 20% local match for a total of the four projects cost of $1,016,361. The City will meet its 20% match by using funds from the 3/8 cent Transportation Sales Tax passed by voters in April 2017.
These projects will help provide safer pedestrian routes to our local schools, communities and businesses. The Governor and the Federal Highway commission approved these projects and the City of Ozark received the official notice on April 3rd.
If you would like updates on other 3/8 cent Transportation Sales Tax projects check out our website by clicking HERE.
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Q & A with Katherine Dowdy, Treasurer of Ozark Farmers Market at Finley Farms
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What is the history of the Ozark Farmers Market?
The farmers market on the Square in Ozark was originally a Main Street event. The Ozark Downtown Farmers Market (dba: Ozark Farmers Market) was officially established as an entity in 2012.
Where does the Ozark Farmers Market get its funding?
Vendor Fees.
Where will the Ozark Farmers Market be located and why did it move there?
OFM will be operating on the property of Finley Farms adjacent to the The Workshop (formerly Wheeler Gardens). The farmers market is a perfect fit for a collaboration with Finley Farms, as it is being built as an agri-tourism development that includes the Ozark Mill.
How can those who want to know more about the Ozark Farmers Market be able to reach you?
How can someone sign up to be a vendor and what is available at OFM?
We have an application review process (for vendors) and we have farmers, food trucks, bakers and salsa makers, and artisans. We are so excited to be bringing back our Market Music Program this year—customers may remember with fondness the music in the gazebo when we occupied the Courthouse lawn.
Is the Ozark Farmers Market a City entity or independent?
OFM has always operated as an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit entity, although it was organized as part of the City’s DREAM Initiative in 2012.
When does the Ozark Farmers Market open in its new location?
OFM opens on May 2nd and operates each Thursday through September, 3:00-7:00 pm.
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Note: The Ozark Farmers Market is open to people from any community that want to come check it out.
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Nick Conner, Fleet Manager
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Nick Conner is a Fleet Manager for the City of Ozark. He works to keep all of the police, public works, parks vehicles and equipment working. When he is not on the job, Nick enjoys fixing up old cars and trucks. He is originally from the Ozark area and says his favorite part of working in Ozark is all of the great people he works with that come together so well to keep everything operating properly. Nick's favorite parts of his job include the people he works with, the people he has a chance to meet on the job, and the pleasant work environment that has been cultivated there.
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Christian County Library Update
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For more information on event click HERE
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Ozark Police Facebook Page
March 29, 2019:
We have received multiple phone calls this morning from individuals in Texas, Virginia and New York stating they have received calls from the Ozark Police Department. The individuals involved in this scam are spoofing the Ozark Police Department’s main business number and they are targeting senior citizens. The caller is claiming a grandchild, either grandson or granddaughter, is in jail and needs to be bonded out. As a reminder, we will “never” solicit money to be paid to the Ozark Police Department for any reason, including bond money. This is yet another scam and should be treated as such. Please do not provide these individuals with any money, credit/debit card information, or any personal information.
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Upcoming Events at the Senior Center:
Wednesday, May 1st: Karaoke from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 21st: Free Blood Pressure Checks from 10:00 am to noon.
Thursdays, May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30th: Beginning Line Dancing from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 11th, Breakfast: $5.00 served from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 am.
Saturdays, May 4 and 11, County Line Band: 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18th, Dave Perryman Band: 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
You can visit the Senior Center website by clicking HERE.
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Upcoming Programs & Events
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