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Ozark aldermen adopt ordinance to seek state traffic-enforcement grant
Summary
The Board of Aldermen voted 4-0 to adopt Ordinance 25-012 authorizing the city to apply for a Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Highway Safety Program grant for Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026, requesting $4,500 for DWI enforcement and $5,000 for hazardous moving-vehicle enforcement.
Ozark City Board of Aldermen adopted Ordinance 25-012 on Tuesday, authorizing the city to apply for and accept a Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Highway Safety Program Traffic Enforcement Grant covering the grant period Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026.
Police Chief Justin Arnold told aldermen the city intends to request $4,500 for driving-while-intoxicated enforcement and $5,000 for hazardous moving-vehicle enforcement. "This year, in this grant program, we're asking for $4,500, from the state for driving while intoxicated and $5,000, for hazardous moving vehicle enforcement," Arnold said, adding the funding would support the department's traffic-safety efforts and allow the city to accept smaller, time-sensitive state mini-grants under a single authorization.
The chief emphasized the enforcement program's safety aim. "There's there's no revenue generated from it. The sole purpose is to make our streets safer," Arnold said, later noting that "over 80% of the traffic stops that we make do not result in any form of citation." Alderman Alan Campbell asked for recent arrest figures; Arnold said he could provide those numbers to the board after the meeting.
Alderman Alden Snyder moved to adopt the bill as an ordinance; Alderman Galloway seconded. On roll call, Alderman Campbell, Alderman Agan, Alderman Galloway and Alderman Snyder voted aye; Aldermen Hutchinson and Metcalfe were absent. The motion carried 4-0 and the bill became Ordinance 25-012.
The ordinance gives the city authority to apply for and accept grant funds if awarded; the application deadline noted in meeting materials was March 1, which city staff requested the board expedite to meet. The grant appropriation and any resulting enforcement activity would be carried out by the Ozark Police Department if the funds are awarded.
City staff did not specify how many additional personnel, if any, the grant would fund. Chief Arnold said the program also allows the department to apply for time-sensitive mini-grants the state offers during the grant year. No additional amendments to the ordinance were made at the meeting.
Ordinance 25-012 takes effect under the city's standard ordinance procedures and authorizes the city administrator and police chief to take the administrative steps necessary to submit the application and accept award funds.
