Ozark Newsletter

Volume XVIII | March 2019

March 2019 News & Updates

If you have a photo you would like to share in an upcoming newsletter please email to spayne@ozarkmissouri.com.

March edition includes....

3/8 Cents Transportation Sales Tax Update
Public Works Director, Sewer Master Plan Update
Planning and Development Department update
Q & A section: Convenient store are an essential part of Ozark's economy
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 Cameron Smith

Director of Planning and Development

The City of Ozark’s Planning and Development Department had a busy 2018 and has continued to roll right into the 2019 year. The 2018 yearend for permits and applications were up over the previous year and the 2019 outlook is looking to be a steady year as well. We are constantly hearing of new opportunities and we continue to look for them as well.

A few changes as we begin the 2019 year. We have seen new businesses invest into the City of Ozark and we are greatly appreciative and excited for them. The residential subdivision platting and construction still continues to develop providing new opportunities for home owners and new residents.

The City recently adopted the 2018 International Building Codes. This is a routine adoption that they City reviews and adopts every 6 years. The City was recently under the 2012 building codes. The adoption of the updated codes will assist with keeping the City on tract of having the codes in place to accommodate new construction trends and keeping our new structures in compliance with the latest standards.

The City has revisited the permits and permit fees and have incorporated changes to those as well. We continue to work to get more information online and to evaluate ways to be more customer friendly and to offer multiple ways that customers can access information. If you plan to make any improvements to your property, please reach out to our department to see how we can assist you.

As the weather begins to change, this begins a busier time for our Code Enforcement officer. The vegetation begins to grow, greater outside activity occurs and citizens tend to be more observant of our City. To help with keeping our City aesthetically pleasing and considerate of your neighbors, please do your part in maintaining vegetation and minimizing long-term outside storage.

There have been a few department changes that brings excitement. We have been working diligently to give our department a face lift, provide better security measures and efficiently make use of our space. In March, we expect to be a team of six people. We have a great team in the Planning and Development Department and are as passionate as the citizens about our City. As we work through all tasks, our goal is “ Making Ozark Better Everyday” so that we leave our City in a better state than we found it .

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Planning and Development Department to see how we can assist you.

Thank you,

Cameron R. Smith, PLA

Director - Planning and Development

3/8 Cents Transportation Sales Tax Update

You can stay up to date with project timelines on our website HERE

Q & A

Q: Does the City of Ozark charge local sales tax on the sale of gasoline? Then why are there so many convenience stores?

A: Yes, but gas tax is collected by the State of Missouri not by the City of Ozark. Local sales taxes are not applied to the sale of gasoline like other taxable items. It is the state that collects the gas tax then remits a portion of that revenue back to the city, not based on the total number of gallons sold, but based on our population. Therefore, the number of gallons of gas sold in Ozark doesn’t necessarily equal the amount of gas tax revenue the City of Ozark receives. When I visit with my friends, neighbors, and our customers at city hall this seems to be a common misunderstanding.

None the less, the sale of gasoline in Ozark and the fact that you buy your gasoline in Ozark is important because it supports our local convenience stores which do produce sales tax revenue on almost everything else they sell. Think about it, your local gas station is much more today than it was 20 or 30 years ago. These aren’t just gas stations anymore, but local markets who provide snacks, pizza parlors, chicken/sandwich shops, sit down restaurants, basic automotive care items, technology needs, or just about anything else you want. They provide what we need, when we need it, open late, and are there for your convenience. In a bedroom community like Ozark where 75 percent of our population leave to go to work every day, or the fact that we are along Route 65 on the way to Branson serving a large tourist population, our convenience stores are an essential part of our economy.

So although the City of Ozark doesn’t generate “direct” revenue from the sale of gasoline, we greatly appreciate our neighborhood convenience stores that sell us gas and hope that you support them to by shopping local.

Public Works Update

It’s a Dirty Job, but somebody has to do it . . .

The City of Ozark greatly values environmental sustainability. In fact, one of our goals within our STRATEGIC PLAN is to “Remain committed to improving and conserving our natural environment through sound management practices and stewardship.”

The City’s Wastewater Management Department works day and night to ensure that we properly collect, manage and treat all of Ozark’s sanitary sewer. This is an extremely laborious process that often goes unnoticed. The City collects on average nearly 1.5 Million Gallons Per Day (MGD). Even though it is a dirty job, it does have its rewards. All of this wastewater is treated and then returned to the local watershed. Some might call this process, recycling at its absolute finest.

In order to ensure that the City remains dedicated to environmental sustainability, the Public Works Department is currently working with Cochran Engineering to complete a sanitary sewer study. This master plan will provide an up to date analysis on the entire sanitary sewer collection and treatment system. Capital improvements will then be recommended to the Board of Aldermen based on projected growth and operating efficiency. This planning document will project population growth over the next 30 years and calculate the anticipated sewage flows. The data will then be utilized to help identify current and future improvements needed within the City’s sewer system. But perhaps most importantly of all, this study will help Ozark continue to protect and properly manage one of this region’s most valuable natural resources: our ground and surface water.

The City is currently 70% complete with the sanitary sewer study. Once approved by the Board of Aldermen, the study will be available online.

Statewide Tornado Drill

The City of Ozark will be participating in the Missouri Statewide Tornado Drill on Tuesday, March 5 at 10 a.m. If you would like to learn more about Emergency Management in Ozark, visit us here:

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