Board hears requests for culvert replacements, ADA sidewalks and airport fuel truck replacements

Transportation staff told aldermen that two failing culverts — one on Ash Road and one on Nichols Road — need replacement with concrete box culverts. Staff presented contractor estimates and said excavation, temporary detours and construction labor were principal cost drivers; total cost estimates presented for the two culverts were in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The superintendent recommended prioritizing Ash Road because of drainage impacts and resident complaints.

The board discussed material choice and timing. Staff preferred concrete to reduce long‑term maintenance, and said one culvert is an urgent need likely to require attention within a few years unless repaired earlier.

On sidewalks, staff described a phased ADA upgrade of Osage Beach Parkway. The Special Road District committed partial funding that will reduce the city's immediate share; staff said the board would see the revised impact to the general fund.

Airport and fuel operations prompted a significant discussion. Staff described two separate fuel trucks (a jet fuel truck and a separate avgas truck) with differing functions and said airports generate meaningful fuel revenue that depends on truck availability. Board members debated whether to buy new trucks or purchase used replacements to conserve budget; staff cautioned that eliminating a truck could reduce fuel sales and increase subsidy requirements for other departments.

Transportation also requested equipment to support snow removal and maintenance (a snowplow/spreader to be combined with a shared dump truck) and asked the board to weigh rentals versus purchases. No formal funding decisions were made at the workshop.