Photo by Elevate on Unsplash

The City of Lake Ozark is warning one local bar about how people can drink on the premises.

“Very often we have businesses who apply for extensions of their liquor licenses, so it can be outside the structure of their business” says Assistant City Administrator Harrison Fry, “maybe they’ll have tent set up out-front where they have a band and patrons maybe want to enjoy a beverage while they listen to music….those applications have to go through an additional process through our board, and very recently we’ve had an issue some businesses trying to circumvent that process.”

He tells KRMS News that bar got the attention of Lake Ozark police, causing the Chief of Police to scold the business for their mistake.

Fry says having a liquor license means you can serve alcohol to be consumed within the premises, but if you want to serve beyond those boundaries you’ll need a catering license.

Fry also says businesses owners need to know the difference between the two licenses and he also says a catering license for a special event will have a limited time frame.

***Additional Information***

For Immediate Release

5/14/2021

City of Lake Ozark officials have a stern warning for businesses that sell alcohol within the city limits:

Follow the rules or face possible suspension of your liquor license, or even worse your business license.

A local bar/restaurant recently violated city code when an employee allowed patrons to consume alcohol outside the boundaries of the premises three days in a row without the proper licensing. The business owner had acquired the proper state license but had failed to obtain a catering license from the City of Lake Ozark. Both licenses are required by law before alcohol can be consumed off premises – even then, the exact boundaries of the off-premises consumption must be outlined in the catering license application.

The issue arose when the bar/restaurant owner applied for a temporary catering license at the regular May 11 board of aldermen meeting for additional dates throughout the summer. The license was ultimately approved, but not before city staff and the Chief of Police scolded the bar/restaurant manager about the incident and warned him not to let it happen again.

“It was made clear to that business that he had to have a local city permit, but still continued to serve alcohol in the parking lot in violation of Missouri law,” Police Chief Gary Launderville said. “I have a hard time with the board okaying anything for this business. The license clearly states that the business is subject to all ordinances of the City of Lake Ozark and that the owner and employees agree to that, yet he violated those rules Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday.”

City Administrator Dave Van Dee reiterated that both state and city permits are required before alcohol can be served or consumed off the premises of a bar.

“The chief wants to know that the board understands that if it happens again the Police Department will issue citations and will forward the information to the proper state agency,” Van Dee said.

City Attorney Christopher Rohrer confirmed the violation. He witnessed the incident Saturday night of that recent weekend and alerted the chief of police.

Rohrer noted during the meeting that the police department is stretched well beyond its manpower with other issues and shouldn’t have to deal with permit violations when the owners or managers knowingly break the rules.

The business manager, given an opportunity address the board, said it was a misunderstanding as to what constituted the bar’s premises. He assumed it included the tent outside the business.

“The minute your patrons left your doorway and went to that tent, they crossed that line and put you and your license in jeopardy,” Van Dee said.

The bar owner said there are posted signs that alert patrons about taking alcohol off the property.

“I don’t see any ambiguity in this,” Mayor Dennis Newberry said. “It’s your job as business owner to know the rules and regulations.”

Chief Launderville said he and his officers will be watching closely for any violations and will take appropriate action which could include a citation or shutting the business down.

“From my perspective, we definitely want to support the businesses, but we also want to send a clear message that businesses must comply with our code,” Van Dee said. “We want to be user friendly and want businesses to be successful, but we have to have their cooperation and follow both state and local liquor laws. The responsibility is on the business owner, in my opinion.”

The city administrator stressed that following the rules and regulations of both the city and state applies to all businesses, not just those that serve alcohol.

The Aldi rumors are finally getting some teeth.

According the Lake Ozark planning and zoning commission, a site plan has been approved for the grocery chain at the Eagle’s Landing development.

The plan had originally been approved in 2018, however numerous revisions needed to be made before an official yes could be given.

The store will open just to the northeast of the recently approved Casey’s General Store site, both of which will face Business 54 and Krestel lane.

***Additional Details***

Osage Beach has openings in law enforcement, parks and recreation and public works – among others.

But there’s nobody putting in applications lately.

“I don’t know that we are dealing with anything that other cities, counties, other states across the nation aren’t deal with in some shape or fashion” says City Administrator Jeanna Woods, “I think it’s actually a national and state to state trend. All the meetings and different things that I’m involved with….I’m hearing that same story.”

She tells KRMS News the city wants police recruits “so if you are interested in receiving your post-certification….we will go through the hiring process, you get hired on as a police recruit. We will pay you salary plus benefits and we’ll pay for your academy.”

Woods says positions available in the City of Osage Beach include jobs at Parks and Recreation and in Public Works .

Woods was a guest on the KRMS Morning Magazine.

Plans are moving ahead in Lake Ozark to improve around 90 miles of streets in the city.

Voters in the city started the process last year by approving two ballot measures.

“The first of those was to have a use tax passed” says Community Development Director Harrison Fry, “if you live in the city limits, and you purchase something online…there will be an additional sales tax that goes to into our transportation fund.”

Fry tells KRMS News the second ballot measure passed was the green light to borrow up to $6 million dollars to improve Bagnell Dam Boulevard and other streets in Lake Ozark.

Later this year, voters could approve the creation of a Transportation Development District, which would bring in money to pay off the city’s debt “and it should go before the voters in August, who live within that district….as long as everything stays on track the way that it has.”

Fry says a future TDD could collect up to $275-thousand dollars each year to help pay for road improvements.

***Press Release***

For Immediate Release

5/10/2021

Progress is slow sometimes, and the path to improve the city’s 90 miles of streets is moving forward.

That was the scenario presented to Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen during a recent workshop.

Lake Ozark voters approved two ballot issues in June 2020 that will help fund the street construction projects:

One was a Use Tax on the purchase of items online. Previously, online sales tax collected from various vendors remained with the Department of Revenue. Now, those sales tax funds will be distributed to a special City of Lake Ozark Transportation Fund from which debt incurred will be paid.

The other issue was granting the city the authority – with board of aldermen approval – to borrow up to $6 million over the next several years to pay for the street improvement projects affecting the 90 miles of city streets.

Now, the third phase of the transportation plan – formation of a Transportation Development District — is moving forward. The TDD would collect a small sales tax and would oversee improvements to Bagnell Dam Blvd.

The board of aldermen earlier this year endorsed formation of a TDD which would be an independent authority to collect up to ¾ of a cent additional sales tax from businesses within the TDD boundaries. Those funds, along with Use Tax funds and other possible sources, would help pay off construction debt on Bagnell Dam Blvd. improvements.

Preliminary estimates are that as much as $275,000 could be collected annually, which would be earmarked for street improvements and maintenance.

City Attorney Christopher Rohrer updated the board of aldermen on the TDD progress during the workshop.

He said the petition for TDD formation is now before the Circuit Court, which is part of the state-mandated process. The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission also must review and sign off on the petition.

Rohrer said he hopes the TDD issue will be ready for vote by mail in August or September. Only registered voters within the TDD boundaries would be eligible to vote.

While the TDD commission would be independent of the city of Lake Ozark, it would include a representative from the city of Lake Ozark. The commission would be subject to the state’s open records laws.

City Administrator Dave Van Dee reminded the board that voters approved the Use Tax and authorized debt for the construction, but the city still has to find ways to pay for the debt. The Use Tax, which only recently went into effect, has generated about $18,000. If that trend continues, the Use Tax could generate between $130,000 and $150,000 a year – again, all earmarked for street improvements.

Van Dee reminded board members that there are four components to funding the estimated $6 million cost to fix the streets. Cost for upgrading Bagnell Dam Blvd. from Quality Inn to Bagnell Dam is estimated at $3 million alone.

• The Use Tax (approved by voters in June 2020).
• Debt Authorization (approved by voters in June 2020).
• Formation of the Transportation Development District (anticipated late summer, early fall).
• Possible slight increase in property tax that would help fund the remaining street projects.

“If you want the roads to be done, we can either do a halfway job or do it right,” Van Dee said. “If we’re going to do it right, it takes time and planning.”

Photo by Arturo Rey on Unsplash

Food truck owners in Lake of the Ozarks can set up for business in most cities, but not in Lake Ozark.

The Planning and Zoning commission sat down with several local food truck owners interested in opportunities along The Strip.

While the P and Z says it’s committed to protecting established brick and mortar restaurants on The Strip, it’s also aware of the demand on social media for options beyond packed restaurants during popular events, like hot summer Night and the Magic Dragon Street Meet Nationals, held earlier this month.

Lake Ozark says it’s working on an ordinance that would pave the way for local food trucks to operate within the vicinity of the Strip while protecting the restaurants already there.

***Press Release***

For Immediate Release

5/7/2021

Food trucks in Lake Ozark.

Currently, they are prohibited by ordinance. But growing interest from both the public and food truck vendors is keeping the issue on the front burner for city officials.

The Lake Ozark Planning & Zoning Commission spent about 45 minutes during its regular monthly meeting May 5 hearing from proponents of food trucks within the city and discussing the ramifications at length. No one spoke in opposition.

The issue was raised at the commission’s April meeting after the city received several inquiries from potential vendors. Social media was robust with conversation after the Magic Dragon Street Meet Nationals car show during which many visitors and residents complained they could not find a place to eat because of the crowds. The social media solution is food trucks.

One thing P&Z members made clear at their meeting was that food trucks would not be allowed within C-1 (commercial) districts – The Strip. Their intent is to protect existing restaurants from mobile food vendors that don’t have the same type of overhead that brick and mortar businesses do, and that don’t have the vested interest in the city’s long-standing business district. It’s feared that food trucks located on The Strip could compete with existing businesses, the members agreed.

However, the door was left open to seek an amicable solution so residents and visitors have access to food trucks. After hearing input from proponents of food trucks and research by city staff, the board asked Community Development Director Harrison Fry and City Attorney Christopher Rohrer to craft an ordinance that would address the issue.

The P&Z would then make a recommendation to the board of aldermen which would make the final decision.

Chairman Margaret Davis reiterated that the board is not in favor of taking away revenue from established brick and mortar businesses. There is also the issue of inadequate parking with food trucks possibly taking up valuable parking spaces.

“The discussion this time is the possibility of putting them someplace else,” she said.

“The simplest solution is that they not be allowed in a C-1 district, which is considered to be The Strip,” Fry noted. “As far as the parking issue, many communities don’t allow them on public spaces. But the city couild have mechanisms in place to allow them on private property during certain circumstances.”

Lake Ozark apparently is the only lake-area community that bans food trucks, according to one of the unidentified supporters of food trucks.

“There are several food trucks that are locally owned businesses that can’t operate in Lake Ozark. They can locate in Camdenton, Osage Beach and Jeff City but cannot operate in Lake Ozark,” he said.

It was noted that food truck permit fees range from $25 to $500 among those communities. Lake Ozark’s business license is $50.

Another proponent explained that he carries food liability and vehicle insurance, has property owner permission or leases property, is state certified and licensed, is inspected by Camden, Miller and Cole county health departments, pays sales tax, follows the same rules as brick-and-mortar businesses but does not have same overhead.

“My concern is that I’m not able to go out and make a living in Lake Ozark where I live,” he commented. “I’m president of the Lions Club (on Fish Haven) but can’t set up and do anything for the club because it’s residential even though the club owns all of the property.”

One food truck owner responded to the board concern that food trucks might cause a restaurant to fail.

“If that happens, they were going to fail already. It wasn’t the food trucks that did it,” he said. “We have an entirely different business model. With us, people say, ‘hey, there’s a food truck’ and buy a hot dog. We’re mostly a convenience, not usually a destination. Our business model is not to compete with the brick-and-mortar businesses.”

The discussion is expected to continue at the next P&Z meeting June 2.

Laclede Electric could soon be running electric service in the City of Lebanon.

Mayor Jared Carr says the talks are about figuring out whether or not customers would benefit from their electric service being managed by Laclede Electric Cooperative, as opposed to the City.

Lebanon and Laclede Electric say there will be transparent studies that’ll assess the pros and cons of the possible switch.

Carr says in a release all current city employees working in the city’s electric department would be retained even if the change does happen .

This is a developing story and we’ll keep you caught up with the latest here on KRMS.

***Press Release***

The City of Lebanon and Laclede Electric Cooperative to discuss the City’s Electric System

 The City of Lebanon and Laclede Electric Cooperative announced they have entered into discussions about the possible purchase or management of the City of Lebanon’s electric system by the Cooperative. The talks come as both organizations assess the uncertainty of increased electric distribution costs and labor, as well as forecasted increases in wholesale power supply costs.

According to Mayor Jarred Carr, the goal of the conversation is to determine if the City of Lebanon electric customers could benefit from increased efficiencies from the increased economy of scale.

Both parties will perform extensive and transparent studies to assess the potential benefits to the electric consumers of both the City and Laclede Electric. These studies will include long-range financial performance, rate stability, reliability, and operations.

City of Lebanon Mayor Jared Carr and Laclede Electric Cooperative CEO Marc Roecker commit that all existing employees, including the City’s electric department employees, will be retained if Laclede Electric Cooperative would purchase the City’s Electric System.

Officials expect these discussions will take several months before any recommendation can be made to either board.

Lake Race 2021 is less than a month away, and there’s another Lake Race social coming up Thursday night.

It’s going to be hosted by Paradise. It’s just a $10 donation, and you’ll get a fabulous appetizer buffet and all of the money raised goes back to Lake Race” says Executive Director Christy Janssen.

She tells KRMS News Lake Race is scheduled for June 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th “and it’s being returned to the Strip, where it was in the past, so we’re excited to have it back there. We’re going to have so many fun events…there’s just so much going on and we have so many people planning to come in for this year. It’s just going to be a fun event that nobody should miss.”

Janssen says more Lake Race socials are scheduled this month and you can learn more at http://lakerace.com

Wall-to-wall coverage of Lake Race will be happening on News / Talk KRMS and the Viper Communications family of radio stations.

For information on the social and how to get to Paradise, see below:

Paradise Tropical Restaurant & Bar

430 Tropical Trails End Rd

Sunrise Beach, MO 65079

24MM of the Main Channel by water

National Work Zone Awareness Week is not done, but MoDOT continues to urge caution as several projects are happening in and around the Lake Area.

“Our maintenance crews will be working on bridges over route 54 in Osage Beach, to try and improve some transition areas…when you go from the bridge onto the roadway. You’ll see that at Jeffries, Case and Nichols road” says MODOT Central District Engineer Bob Lynch.

He tells KRMS News MoDOT continues repairs on roads damaged by harsh winter weather and there are other projects happening as well “we’re also putting in pipe across the areas, some of the crews are patching various routes still coming out of the winter time, trying to repair the roadway that was damaged due to the winter.”

Lynch also says there is still some work happening at the new interchange just opened on Route 54 and Route W “contractor’s completing work up on 54 that we had to do, so pay attention to that work zone…..as there will be a lane drop through that area this week. We’re also beginning to build the new roundabout between W and Business 54, as part of the last phase of that project.”

He also says chip-seal work is happening near Lebanon in Laclede County.

Lynch says you can expect road construction and repairs to be happening all over Missouri throughout the warm summer months.

A rumor floating around social media says that Woods Supermarket in Lake Ozark is planning to close, is not true.

According to Store Manager Paula Gibbs, the only thing that will be changing is the meat counter operations.

Gibbs tells KRMS News the decision to replace its fresh cut meat section with pre-packaged options from a new vendor comes from corporate, not the local store.

At this time, Gibbs says she has not been given an official timeline as to when this change will occur.

The company also is planning a re-model of their Sunrise Beach store, which is one of the newest locations for Woods in the state.