Ozark aldermen approve election ordinance, subdivision plat, zoning change, contractor licensing and utility franchise; fee update passed, trail contract tabled

The Ozark City Board of Aldermen approved several city ordinances and administrative items during a meeting that also included routine minutes approval and a presentation from the Historic River District.

The board voted unanimously to enact an ordinance calling a general municipal election for April 8, 2025, and to certify that election in time for county processing. City staff said the certification must be delivered to the county clerk by Jan. 28 so the item was expedited.

The board also approved a preliminary plat for the Ozark Marketplace subdivision and authorized the planning director to accept dedication of streets and easements when a final plat is filed, and it approved a zoning change for property at 1767 South 15th Avenue. Planning staff and the public works director confirmed the streets within the Marketplace plat that will become city-maintained and said Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Ozark Special Road District have reviewed the development's traffic study. On the zoning change, aldermen asked about existing stormwater concerns near the parcel; the public works director said the city and MoDOT have identified the area as a stormwater concern that will be considered in future MoDOT roadway improvements.

On administrative matters, aldermen approved a contractors-license ordinance that requires companies pulling city permits to hold a local license. The board also adopted an amended update to the city fee schedule that, by motion, removed four fees tied to the residential rental inspection proposal (which the board later rejected) and left the contractor-license fee and other fees in place.

The board tabled indefinitely a contract ordinance to award work for phases 4, 5 and a spur of the Chadwick Flyer Trail to Rademacher Brothers Excavating Co.; staff said requested substantive contract changes must be resolved with state grant administrators before a new bill is reintroduced.

The board enacted an ordinance granting White River Valley Electric Cooperative Inc. a franchise for electric distribution in the city.

Votes at a glance — key adopted and tabled items - Bill 3629 (ordinance 25-001): An ordinance calling and giving notice of the April 8, 2025 general municipal election. Outcome: enacted. Vote: 6–0. - Bill 3619 (ordinance 25-002): Approval of the preliminary plat for Ozark Marketplace and authorization for acceptance of public streets/easements upon a conforming final plat. Outcome: enacted. Vote: 6–0. - Bill 3620 (ordinance 25-003): Zoning reclassification for property at 1767 South 15th Avenue. Outcome: enacted. Vote: 5–1 (one alderman voted no). - Bill 3622 (ordinance 25-004): New chapter adopting contractor licensing for businesses required to pull permits. Outcome: enacted. Vote: 6–0. - Bill 3623 (ordinance 25-005, as amended): 2025 fee study amendment (board removed four fees tied to the residential rental inspection ordinance before final vote). Outcome: enacted as amended. Vote: 6–0. - Bill 3624: Contract with Rademacher Brothers Excavating Co. for Chadwick Flyer Trail phases 4/5/spur. Outcome: tabled indefinitely by board action; staff will return with a new bill after contract edits and grant approvals. - Bill 3625 (ordinance 25-006): Franchise granted to White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. Outcome: enacted. Vote: 6–0.

Minutes and routine actions - The board approved the Dec. 2, 2024 special session minutes (show-of-hands approval; one disapproval was recorded). The board approved the Dec. 16, 2024 regular meeting minutes as amended (the amendment added the executive director's last name, Richardson) and approved the Dec. 19 special closed-session minutes.

Discussion vs. decisions - Several items required only technical or staff clarifications and carried with little debate (election ordinance, contractor license, franchise). The Ozark Marketplace plat and the South 15th Avenue zoning change generated questions about traffic and stormwater; staff indicated MoDOT and the Ozark Special Road District are reviewing relevant traffic materials and that stormwater work is tied to future MoDOT widening projects. The Chadwick Flyer Trail contract was delayed because staff and state grant administrators identified substantive contractual language that needs revision before final award.

What happens next - Staff said it will return with a revised bill for the trail contract after completing negotiations with state grant managers and the contractor. For the Ozark Marketplace plat and the zoning change, implementation steps (final plat recording; permits; any required off-site improvements) were not specified in detail at the meeting.

Sources and quotes - Ashley Hawkins, vice president of Historic River District, provided the board with the district’s quarterly update and data on local businesses and volunteer hours. Assistant city staff and the city attorney answered procedural and legal questions during the ordinance votes.

Ending — administrative notes - City staff and aldermen said several of the enacted items must be delivered to the county or carried out by staff in the coming weeks (for example, certification for the April municipal election). The board scheduled no public discussion on second-reading items because those were second readings.