Ozark aldermen back four Ozarks Transportation Organization trail grant applications totaling about $2 million in requests

The Board of Aldermen unanimously adopted four resolutions endorsing City of Ozark applications to the Ozarks Transportation Organization (OTO) for trail and pedestrian projects, including the Jackson Street connection, the Findlay River Trail extension, a western Findlay expansion and engineering for the Avenue of Heroes project.

Public Works Director Jeremy Parson presented staff’s selections, saying the projects aim to fill gaps in the city’s trail network and link nodes of activity, including the Chadwick Flyer spine to downtown. Parson described the Jackson Street connection as a designed project moving from design (an 80/20 design grant) to construction; he said construction costs for that segment were substantial (about $318,000 total; city share roughly $63,000 for the first listed project) and noted significant grading, retaining walls and right‑of‑way work would be required.

Parson said the Findlay River Trail extension would span under a bridge and into Findlay Farms and that a pedestrian bridge and floodplain work raised costs. He said the city plans to phase the projects because of high costs and the OTO’s competitive funding rounds. Parson estimated the four applications together would request roughly $2 million after staff reduced an earlier $2.6 million ask to improve competitiveness; OTO awards will be decided later in the summer and construction work would not begin until 2026. The Avenue of Heroes item seeks engineering‑only funding to advance design and preserve right‑of‑way and on‑street improvements.

Board members asked whether the city could receive some or all of the grants; Parson said all four could be awarded or a subset and staff would pursue any awards. No members of the public spoke for or against the resolutions during the meeting. The Board passed the resolutions by voice vote and then by show of hands when adopting; Resolutions 2024–2027 were each adopted in succession.

Parson said work would be phased as funding becomes available and that the city carries project costs up front and is reimbursed (the 80/20 reimbursement model for OTO grants). He cautioned that competition for trail funding is strong and that staff prioritized projects that connect to existing trail spines and downtown activity centers. Parson also noted the projects would proceed through the OTO Technical Planning Committee and board of directors before any construction contract work.

The Board’s action authorizes staff to submit the applications and continue through OTO review; work on awarded grants is expected to follow the OTO schedule, with construction projected in 2026 for selected projects.