Your Input: Fireworks inside Ozark City Limits

Howdy!

This year was the first year in ??? years that the City of Ozark has permitted the setting off of fireworks within its city limits. How do you think it went?

When the change to allow fireworks came before the board, I was excited that they were going to change the code to allow it. As you may have noticed, I like freedom and less government, even when it comes to something as trivial as fireworks. However, I have received some complaints, and I would like your opinion on the topic.

My question to you: Do you think Ozark should continue to allow the shooting of fireworks in city limits? What is the appropriate course of action against those who cause unreasonable litter or damage to their neighbors' property while legally shooting fireworks?

Your Input: Future of Ozark's Historic Community Building

Howdy!

The NewsLeader did a piece on Ozark's Historic Community Building today.

What are your thoughts on the Historic Community Building? A lot of groups are interested in it. Some want to protect the historical architecture, to others it holds sentimental value, and some would like to see it torn down and replaced with a modern building that could take advantage of it's prime location. It is an intersting topic, and I can honestly say I don't yet have an opinion on it yet.

My question to you: What do you think should happen to the Historic Community Building and why?

REMINDER: Community Breakfast is tomorrow morning at the Village Inn from 8 to 10. If you have any ideas for good legislation, bring them with you tomorrow. I would love to hear them.

Your Input: Springfield College Station vs. Ozark Downtown Redevelopment

Before the start of Monday's city council meeting an article regarding the development of Springfield's Collage Station was brought to my attention.

During an update from Darrel Groves, one of the city's consultants on the downtown redevelopment, Dennis Sparrow asked Darrell if there was anything we could learn from Springfield's experience. Darrell said that they were getting copies of the College Station agreement to look over and compare it to our project here in Ozark.

I just read the article, and I have to say, there are striking similarities between the two projects and it concerns me. It seems the plans of action for both projects say: movie theater + a downtown feel = economic revitalization. Unfortunately, this equation is not working out for the city of Springfield.

I am anxious to see what results will be produced from negotiations currently taking place between the city, city consultants and PlazaCorp. I hope all parties can come to an agreement that protects our tax dollars from undue risk. These results will be presented and voted on by the council next Monday at 5:30.

My question to you: Are there similarities between the two projects that cause you concern? Do you see characteristics of our project in Ozark that you feel would make it more successful than the Collage Station project?

Your Input: Audit = Money Well Spent? or Money Wasted?

This Saturday, at the community breakfast, the audit took up a large portion of our discussion. Not to mention all the attention it's been getting in the local media. As I have mentioned before, I believe the audit was well worth the money and am relieved everything is out in the open. Now, as a community, we can move forward. Also, I believe the staff has done a good job in working toward making sure the problems revealed in the audit do not continue, as was mentioned by Susan Montee.

In light of audit discussions at this Saturday's community breakfast and today's News-Leader's editorial (found here), I would like to pose the question to you, the citizen: Was the audit money well spent or money wasted?

Is there anything the city could do to show you that Ozark has changed course and is moving in the right direction?

Community Breakfast

Howdy!!

I will be hosting my 2nd monthly Community Breakfast Saturday 23rd at the Village Inn from 8 to 10 am. The meeting will be informal, and no topic is off limits. See you there!!

Your Input: Property Rights Vs. Pleasant View

Howdy!

The board of alderman will be hearing testimony on a touchy subject coming up this Monday.  The matter at hand is weather or not people should be able to park their vehicles on the non-paved portions of their own property. In other words, Should citizens be able to park their cars in their yards?  There are a lot of angles to this argument and I’d really like to get your input.

This is such a touchy subject that it made the paper this week:

http://www.ccheadliner.com/articles/2009/05/01/news/doc49f77f65509f9731027800.txt

http://www.ccheadliner.com/articles/2009/05/01/opinion/doc49f732cb65189303225684.txt

The Ordinance:

Section 355.130: Parking prohibited by certain types of vehicles in residential areas

A.     This Section will use definitions that are contained in Section 301.010, RSMo., and as those definitions may be changed from time to time.

B.     It shall be unlawful for any person to park or store any motor vehicle or trailer of any type without current license plates or any inoperable vehicle on any street, highway, private road or driveway in any area zoned "residential" within the corporate limits of the City of Ozark as established by the Official Zoning Map except that such motor vehicle or trailer may be parked or stored in a completely enclosed building or garage.

C.     All vehicles permitted to be parked in residential areas shall be parked on a paved surface.  (Ord. No. 06-016 §2, 2-20-06; Ord. No. 08-028 §1, 7-21-08)

My Thoughts:

I can easily see both sides of this argument.  The problem lies in that either way you go, you run the chance of stepping on someone’s property rights.   If you allow people to park their cars in their yard, it may decrease the property values of the neighboring properties.  As I see it, my rights end where yours begin.  However, I do not believe that parking a vehicle in your yard, whether it is legally tagged or not, will diminish property values in and of itself.  If that vehicle is on blocks and is leaking oil and rusting…that is a different story.  On the other hand, shouldn’t you be able to park whatever you want on your own property?

Personally, I don’t like the way the ordinance reads.  At my house, we have 4 vehicles.  One of which is a huge 1983 suburban that we rarely drive.  Like a lot of folks, our garage is a storage unit for everything other than our cars.  Luckily, we have a street that is wide enough to park on so we can park a vehicle in front of the house.  There have been times where we have needed to make space in the driveway and have parked our suburban in the back yard or at the side of the house for days at a time.  If our road wasn’t wide enough to park on, that suburban would stay parked in the yard all the time. Frankly, it’s my yard and I should be able to park in it if I want to, and it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if my neighbors did the same thing.

Regardless of how I feel about the ordinance, it exists.    And while the law exists, it should be applied equally.

As for my opinion about this specific case, I will hold my judgment until I am able to hear all sides on Monday. 

Let me know what you think about the way the current ordinance is written.  Do you think it should be revised and how?  What is your common sense approach that would allow people to park in the yard when they need to, but would maintain the beauty of our city?