Ozark board adopts ordinance to join regional Stockton Lake water-storage agreement

The Ozark Board of Aldermen adopted bill 3669 on second reading, authorizing the city to enter a contract with the Southwest Missouri Joint Municipal Water Utility Commission to acquire reallocated water storage space in Stockton Lake.

The measure, moved by Alderman Aiken and seconded by Alderman Metcalfe, passed on a roll call with five “aye” votes; Aldermen Aiken, Metcalfe, Schneider, Campbell and Hutchinson voted in favor. The ordinance becomes city ordinance 25-049.

Director Jeremy Parsons, responding to the council during the second-reading discussion, said he was available to answer questions and called the project “an exciting day for Southwest Missouri and our partners.” The council did not raise additional questions before the vote.

The ordinance authorizes the mayor and city staff to finalize a contract with the regional commission to secure reallocated storage space in Stockton Lake, a step the city’s presentation described as part of broader regional water planning. The text on the agenda identified the contract as the explicit authorization before the board.

By adopting the ordinance on second reading, the board completed the formal local approval required for Ozark to enter the contract; the adopted ordinance number was recorded in the minutes and the roll call was included in the record. No amendments were offered during the meeting.

The city clerk will post the ordinance and contract documents to the public record as required by city procedures; the transcript shows the measure carried by unanimous vote of those present.