How do you know when summer is officially underway? For some folks it is that first 3-day weekend where we have a chance to reflect on and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. For some of us, this time of year is known as Decoration Day. Take a look at any of the cemeteries that are scattered throughout the Ozarks and you will see a plethora of flowers and decorations memorializing those that have gone before us. This is a time of year that provides us with an opportunity to honor those friends and family members that we just plain miss. Another indicator that summer is in full swing can be easily witnessed by traveling along any of our local streams, rivers and lakes. It is indeed boating season, and it doesn’t matter if you are at the helm of one of those floating monsters we commonly see on Table Rock or you are the proud owner of a more humble and versatile craft such as a kayak or canoe. No matter your vessel, we are truly blessed to have so many amazing streams and lakes on which to recreate when there is no better way to beat the heat.
There are several other signs that demonstrate that summer is upon us. However, at your Public Works Department, we know summer is here when we suddenly have multiple infrastructure projects that must be completed prior to the end of those warm days and nights. This year we will tackle another ambitious paving and resurfacing program. On May 6th, the Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the 2019 Paving Package. Thanks to our community's willingness to support repairing and replacing our local streets, the Public Works Department will be making significant improvements throughout Ozark.
Each year the Public Works Department proposes a “base bid” and “alternatives.” This allows us to identify a specific area that we know will be accomplished during that paving season (the “base bid”) and depending on how the work is coming along and how the budget has been impacted we then begin to accomplish the “alternatives.”
Your Public Works Department attempts to get the most amount of work accomplished that the budget will allow. No matter how much due diligence our crews do in an attempt to ensure that we are properly prepared to accomplish these projects, there are several unforeseen variables that can impact the overall scope of the project. Variables such as unsuitable soils, insufficient sub-base materials, lack of proper compaction and even weather can dictate the overall cost of the projects. It is amazing what you will find once you start digging out the streets in some of our older neighborhoods.
Site preparation has begun and these projects will begin to take shape over the coming months. Bingham Heights will be the first subdivision to see improvements. Once that is completed, we will work with Journagan Construction to re-mobilize over to the Sunridge Subdivision. (Pictured at the bottom).
We will do our best to keep the communities that will be impacted informed. Progress does come with a price, and sometimes a little inconvenience. So there will be online posts, community meetings and door hangers to notify the citizens that will be directly impacted. If you have a question, please feel free to call us or send us an email: 417-581-1702. We know that these projects can be noisy and messy, but when the cool winds start blowing again, we will be glad to know that we have done our best to live up to the mission statement our employees strive to abide by . . . Making Ozark Better Every Day!
So, the official beginning of summer can mean a lot of different things to people, but at your City’s Public Works Department, summer also means it is time to start paving!
Jeremy Parsons
Public Works Director
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