OCTOBER 2021 | ISSUE 59
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Are you a Missouri Renter financially impacted by COVID-19?
You may be eligible for rent and utility payment relief through the SAFHR (State Assistance for Housing Relief) Grant.

For more information on the SAFHR program visit their Missouri Covid Rental Assistance Page.
City News and Updates
Ozark lost one of its biggest cheerleaders and finest community citizens when Ted Smith passed away on September 21st. Ted served the City of Ozark as Ward 2 Alderman for four (4) elected terms from April 2013 until April 2021. For the last six years of that period, he served as Mayor Pro Tem for the Board of Aldermen. As an Alderman, Ted also served as the liaison to the Administrative arm of the city government and was an active part annually in the preparation of the city budget. He put his talents as a Certified Public Accountant to good use for Ozark.

While elected officials and city staff knew Ted best for his contributions in recent years, he was also a military veteran and retired after 21 years as an Air Force Captain. Ted understood and practiced service to both his country and community.

Ted Smith made a significant contribution to the City of Ozark and will be greatly missed.
Southwest Missouri Council of Governments Survey
Christian County has partnered with the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG) to update the county's comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan serves as a guide for the community's future goals, development, and land uses for the next 20 years. By answering the following questions, you will help guide the county's future.

The survey will close on October 10, 2021

Take the survey here.
On behalf of the Ozark Chamber of Commerce, Ozark School District, Christian County, and the City of Ozark we would like to invite you to attend Salute to Community 2021. This will be a special evening to celebrate our community and review accomplishments from the year with a peek ahead into the future of Ozark business and the community of Christian County's upcoming projects. You won't want to miss this unforgettable evening & dinner! 

For ticket pricing and information visit the
Ozark Police Department
Congratulations to the Ozark Police Department!
On Monday, September 20, 2021, at the Board of Alderman meeting, Glenn Eidman, Accreditation Manager for the Missouri Police Chief's Charitable Foundation, presented the Ozark Police Department with its second hard-earned Accreditation status. Ozark Police Department is one of 65 other agencies across the state of Missouri to achieve this Accreditation from the Missouri Police Chief's Charitable Foundation. 
Chief Arnold was in St. Louis this week, receiving the 2021 Missouri Municipal League “Innovation Award” for OPD’s Hero In Training Program. The purpose of the award is to provide innovative ideas to other municipalities throughout the state. Thank you to the Ozark community for partnering with us to make this program a success!! 
Ozark Fire Protection District
Greetings Everyone,

The Ozark Fire District began a comprehensive strategic planning process in July of 2020 to critically evaluate the opportunities of serving our community. The Board of Directors formally adopted the plan in December of 2020, which led to the decision to place a general obligation bond initiative on the April, 2021 election. The initiative was successfully passed through the feedback and support of the community and is focused on operational and capital improvements. The bonds will generate $12.5 million over the next 20 years. The bonds will be issued in October and we will immediately begin taking action. The following highlights our immediate plans:

  • Paying off a lease obligation of Fire Station 2 which will provide the funds to hire three additional firefighters in 2022.  
  • Remodeling Station 3, which is currently unstaffed because of mold and air quality issues. We anticipate this to be completed in 2022.  
  • Purchase a fire apparatus to supplement our current fleet. 
  • Purchase land for the future replacement of Station 1 and a new training facility.  

These are very important and exciting improvements that will enhance our capabilities in serving our community in the future.  

Through the process of performing our strategic planning process, we conducted a risk assessment, which included an updated review of our Public Protection Classification (PPC) through the Insurance Services Office (ISO). A community's classification is graded from a 1 to 10, with 1 representing exemplary fire protection. The three areas of evaluation include the fire district operations, water distribution system, and emergency community (911 service). Because of improvements in these areas since our last evaluation, we are excited to announce our community rating has been reduced from a 4 to a 3 in areas that have fire hydrants. In the areas where there is not a water supply system and are located within 5 road miles of a station, our rating of a 5 remained the same.  Reducing our ISO rating is a community wide effort and represents potential savings to homeowners and businesses through reduced insurance rates.  

The implementation of the improvements allowed through the bond initiative will provide us the opportunity to continue advancements in reducing our ISO rating in the future. On behalf of the firefighters and Board of Directors of the Ozark Fire District, we want to recognize the City of Ozark and the Christian County Emergency Services (911) for their commitment to public safety in the insurance rating process. We would also like to thank the community for your trust and support as we proactively seek opportunities to improve our capabilities.  


Jarett Metheny, Fire Chief
Ozark Fire Protection District
Upcoming City Events
October 4, 2021
Board of Aldermen Meeting
Location: City Hall | Zoom
7 - 9 p.m.
October 18, 2021
Board of Aldermen Meeting
Location: City Hall | Zoom
7 - 9 p.m.
October 25, 2021
Planning and Zoning Meeting
Location: City Hall | Zoom
7 - 9 p.m.
Cant make it to the meeting? Watch them live on our YouTube channel
Check out October's holidays to celebrate
October 1, 2021
World Smile Day
October 10, 2021
World Mental Health Day
October 4, 2021
National Taco Day
October 12, 2021
Farmers Day
October 14, 2021
National Dessert Day
October 28, 2021
National First Responders Day
October 31, 2021
Halloween
Let us know how you're celebrating these holidays by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Upcoming Community Events

Grand Opening: Finley Farms & The Ozark Mill
October 7 - 10
7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
7th Annual
Trunk or Treat
Downtown Ozark
October 31, 2021
5:30 - 8 p.m.
Parks and Recreation
FESTIVAL OF FRIGHTS
October 23
5:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Join us for our annual Festival of Frights!
Trick or treating will be put on by our sponsoring organizations. Afterward enjoy carnival games for candy and prizes in the gym, hayrides, & s'mores, and more! Our event will also have a "sensory sensitive" area put on in partnership with CC Links - so all are welcome at this event.

Find more information on the Facebook Event Page

Want to become a sponsor?
Come sponsor your business by handing out candy to the trick or treaters and other business "swag" of your choosing.

For more information about becoming a sponsor, contact Hayden Ponsar, Recreation Supervisor at haydenp@ozarkmissouri.com or
417-581-7002 ext. 2005
Kids Day off
Location: The OC
Date(s): November 1 - 2
Time: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Cost: Members - $22 / Day
Non-Members - $25 / Day
Rocktober
Location: The OC
Date(s): The month of October
Cost: Members - $30 / Month
Non-Members - $40 / Month
Kids Night In
Location: The OC
Date(s):
September 10 | October 8 | November 12 December 10
Time: 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Cost: Members: $15 First Child / $10 each additional sibling
Non-Members: $20 First Child / $15 each additional sibling
Dance & Cheer Class
Location: The OC
Thursdays:
Date(s):September 9 - October 28
Time: 6 - 7 p.m.
Cost: Members - $55
Non-Members - $65
On the Road Again
Location: War Eagle Mill Craft Fair
Date: October 14
Time: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cost: $15
Swim Lessons
Location: The OC
Lessons run monthly
Start times vary according to swimmers level
Public Works
September 29, 2021 Project Update: Downtown Street & Sidewalk Improvements
Tomorrow morning the milling machine is scheduled to be in Downtown Ozark around 6:30 a.m. This machine will mill down the top two inches of the areas identified with a purple color in the attached map.  By getting these areas on Church, Elm, 2nd Ave and 6th Ave milled, that gets the City one critical step closer to laying the final lift of asphalt around the square. Our crews will open up the roadways immediately after we complete the milling and we will keep social media updated as we work through the day.
Thank you again for your patience and for your support in preparing for this amazing project. None of this is possible without the help and support of our community partners and our citizens. For a draft project schedule, key milestone dates and for overall project details, be sure to bookmark our Project Homepage here: https://bit.ly/3la4IMJ.
MoDOT Update
 
MoDOT TRAFFIC ALERT: 14th Street CLOSED at Missouri Route 14 (Jackson Street) In Ozark 
Tuesday, October 5 For Pipe Installation 
  
What: 14th Street CLOSED at Missouri Route 14 (Jackson Street) in Ozark

When: 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 5
Details: Contractor crews to install new drainage pipe as part of the Jackson Street (Route 14) Widening Project

Traffic Impacts: 
14th Street CLOSED at Route 14 (Jackson Street) in Ozark
• Route 14 (Jackson Street) Open
• Drivers will be able to get to driveways and entrances on either side of the work zone, but will not be able to travel through the work zone
• Drivers can use 18th Street to get around the closure
• Drivers urged to find alternate routes. No signed detours are planned.
• Electronic message boards located near the planned road work will alert drivers to any changes in the work schedule
• Check MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts
(Weather and/or construction delays will alter the work schedule)

Project Summary:
Widen Route 14 to five lanes between 32nd Street west of U.S. Route 65 and the Finley River bridge (two through lanes and a center turn lane)
• Widen the intersection of Route 14 and Route NN (City of Ozark is sharing in the cost of this part of the project.)
• Improve sidewalks and traffic signals in various locations
Completion Date: December 2021
Prime Contractor: Emery Sapp & Sons, Columbia
Estimated Total Project Cost: $9.3 million
Project website: Jackson Street (Route 14) Widening
END 


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