Ozark Newsletter April 2020 News and Updates Coronavirus Quarantine

If you have a photo you would like to share in an upcoming newsletter please tag @OzarkMO on Instagram with a caption and the hashtag #BeOzark or email spayne@ozarkmissouri.com.

April's edition includes.... Mayor's Corner with Ozark Mayor Rick Gardner A Note from City Administrator Steve Childers COVID-19 Updates from City Departments Stay-at-home order FAQ City News and Updates Republic Services Update 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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Hey Ozark - Are you tired of hunkering down in the house? If so, do what Pam and I are doing. When you're up to your ears in boredom or eating home cooked leftovers, go to your favorite local restaurant offering take out and order your lunch or dinner. We did that recently at B-29 Cafe and watched the sunset from the Price Cutter parking lot while listening to the radio and eating our yummy black and bleu burgers. It was delicious and actually a lot of fun.  On a more serious note, please watch the video below made by myself, Christian County Presiding Commissioner Ralph Phillips and Nixa Mayor Brian Steele. I know you're fed up with COVID-19 information, but this short video will explain how the three of us are handling this emergency. You can also check out www.ozarkmissouri.com and our city Facebook page for more information.  And please, PLEASE respond to the 2020 census. Then remind your friends, families and social networks to do the same. It is critically important to Ozark and the state of Missouri to have an accurate count. Stay home and be safe. Thank you.

A Note from City Administrator Steve Childers

Journey 2030 – Love Your City is off to a great start. The mission, the message, and the excitement being generated about recently completed city projects, to new citizen requested projects we want to complete, has citizens very engaged. We have been providing educational community meetings, presentations, videos, and further discussing with citizen focus groups their visions for the future. We have been working with our local agency partners along this road trip to coordinate greenway trail expansions, identify future transportation projects, plan for new park amenities, design public safety facilities and KABLAM…we had a flat tire called COVID-19.  In listening to our regional, state and national medical professionals we quickly realized that although difficult, the only way to get back on the road was to pass a “Stay at Home” Bill. After coordinating with our regional governmental partners, including the City of Ozark, City of Nixa, Christian County, Greene County, and City of Springfield, that Bill was passed on March 24th to stop the immediate spread of COVID-19. A video of our local leaders explaining why this bill was necessary can be viewed on our website at OzarkMissouri.com, or above under the Mayor's note. The City of Ozark has taken other precautionary measures by temporarily closing all city facilities to the general public, postponing youth sports, closing playground facilities in our parks, and adopting policies to allow for those who cannot find child care to temporarily work from home, among other things. City employees are considered essential employees because we must continue to maintain public facilities, public infrastructure, public safety, among many other hands on tasks. We must ensure that while we are asking our citizens to keep their families safe at home, we continue to provide you with essential public services.  Although not an easy decision, the action taken by the City of Ozark and other local leaders was essential in balancing the need to immediately protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens while trying to keep our local economy from collapsing entirely. This is why the Bill allows for the continuation of many important things in our community and defines what “essential businesses” and/or “essential activities" are. Temporarily we have pulled over to get things repaired. However, we have taken many actions, measures, and steps to get us back on the road to Journey 2030 – Love Your City as soon as possible. Now more than ever we need to pull together as a community and protect our neighbors by practicing social distancing. I know I will take time to reflect on why I Love This City and what I want for it in the future, and I would ask you: Why do you Love Your City?

City News & Updates

For all updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the City of Ozark and Christian County, please access these sources which include press releases, live updates, and specific city department cancellations, closings and alternative resources: CITY OF OZARK COVID-19 UPDATE PAGE CHRISTIAN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATE PAGE

The Ozark City Hall and Public Works Field Office lobbies will be closed to the public beginning March 23 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The City is encouraging residents to stay home as much as possible over the coming days and weeks and abide by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. Closing our lobby was not an easy decision, but it was a necessary step to help protect our customers and employees. For more information on how to pay your utility bill or reach city staff, see City Hall/Administration section below. We offer several options for customers needing to pay a utility bill currently. Customers can: Pay online by visiting www.ozarkmissouri.com and clicking "Water/Sewer Bill Pay." Pay 24/7 via our automated hotline, 417-581-2744 (you will need your account number and invoiced amount amount.) Pay by regular mail by sending in payment along with the statement you receive in the mail. Or use the night drop box located at City Hall For now the drive-thru window will remain open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for your convenience but making an online or phone payment is currently the safest option. While the lobby is closed, customers who need to connect or disconnect a utility service are asked to call 417-581-2744 for information. Call departments in advance to discuss issues you may have and determine if an in-person meeting is needed. City departments will work to schedule virtual meetings and conference calls to continue as much business as possible. City Hall: 417-581-2407.

Ozark Public Works

POSTPONED GROUNDBREAKING for Riverside Bridge Replacement over Finley River in Christian County  The groundbreaking ceremony previously planned for Friday, March 27, 2020 at 1:30 pm has been POSTPONED. Ozark Special Road District, Christian County and the City of Ozark hold the health and well-being of our communities as a top priority. While the groundbreaking ceremony is postponed due to the impacts of coronavirus COVID-19, construction of the project will continue to stay on schedule. Construction of infrastructure in Missouri is deemed an essential service and construction of the Riverside Bridge is slated to begin on April 6. The construction contract for the Riverside Bridge replacement was awarded to Hartman & Company, Inc. of Springfield, Missouri. The much-anticipated project replaces the historic one-lane Riverside bridge that was located next to the Riverside Inn. The Riverside Bridge replacement is made possible by Federal, State and Local agencies working together. Construction is slated to begin April 2020. It is anticipated that construction will be completed, and the bridge will open in the fall of 2020. Great River Engineering of Springfield, Missouri designed the new 2.5-million-dollar bridge. The threespan, 360-foot long bridge has 2 driving lanes as well as a bicycle / pedestrian lane to accommodate multi-modal uses. The bridge will also allow school buses and emergency response vehicles to cross, reducing travel and response times. The project will provide a more direct route to people living and working on both sides of the Finley River.

Originally posted on Ozark Missouri Facebook on March 24, 2020: There has been a lot on our collective minds lately. We have all been facing a lot of stress for a variety of reasons, as we are all aware. Well, you know what they say, “when it rains, it pours” and pour it has . . . Over the last 30 days, many places in the Ozarks have received north of ten (10) inches of rain (see photo below). That volume of precipitation, along with an already abnormally wet winter, has created an extremely high water table. All of these factors have led to numerous flash flooding events and ultimately even more stress on our community. We are not going to stop the rain anytime soon, after all it is spring in the Ozarks, but please know you do have a City that is working hard to clean up after each and every storm. Public Works employees will be making our rounds, doing our best to manage what comes our way. We will continue to return your calls and reply to all emails. We would respectfully ask that you bear with us, as we are currently receiving a very high call/email volume. And remember, this too shall pass. Those hot, dry, summer days are just around the corner. To report a concern please click here: https://bit.ly/3bmgf3n or give us a call @ 417-581-1702.

Ozark Police Department

The PD lobby will remain open for the use of emergency phone; however staff will not be available to assist walk-in citizens No fingerprints will be taken in the lobby; We encourage all citizens to call 417-581-6600 before coming to the police department to file a report; Ozark Police Officers will be limiting personal contact with citizens when appropriate by making telephone contact; If you need a copy of a police report, you can either call 417-581-6600 or email records@ozarkpd.org to process your request; OPD's citizen ride-a-long program will be suspended until further notice. We want to thank everyone for their patience as we deal with this unprecedented situation. Please know that we will still respond to all in progress crimes, be providing proactive patrols throughout the city and respond to any instances where preservation of life is required.

Lunch With The Chief has been postponed until further notice. Please be aware of scams that are currently being done in relation to COVID-19. Call the police if the above happens to you.

Park and Recreation Department

The OC is CLOSED. You may register for future programs/events or register on our website by clicking here. If you have questions about your membership or programs please call 417-581-7002 or email marissah@ozarkmissouri.com. For more information regarding program rescheduling and cancellations, what is closed, and more, please click here. Easter Egg Hunt: Cancelled Finley River Night Light 5K: Cancelled

Republic Services

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City of Ozark | 417-581-2407| ozarkmissouri.com

STAY CONNECTED WITH THE TRUTH  Think for yourself, research for yourself. Be a free thinker do your own due diligence to get to the bottom of anything that affects you or your family!

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