The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published September 24, 2014

Osage Beach praises Citizen Advisory Committee

By Jeff Thompson
OSAGE BEACH - City officials have nothing but praise for the recommendations presented by the Citizen Advisory Committee to stimulate business interest on the west end of Osage Beach Parkway.

The Board of Aldermen was united in its admiration for the efforts of the committee at its regular meeting last Thursday night.

A six-page letter presented to the board detailed the committee’s suggestions - both short-term and long-term - and included:
* Commission videos and commercials to promote the area;
* Make extensive use of social media including Facebook, Twitter and You Tube;
* Hire a full- or part-time economic developer;
* Widen Nichols Road;
* Beautification efforts for the entire parkway;
* Further develop and streamline checklists and policies for events;
* Encourage outside involvement from civic organizations; and
* Simplify and color-code directions to street addresses.

Other ideas presented by the committee included possible primitive camping sites at PB #2; verifying traffic counts; creating family events such as car and boat shows, parades and Geo-Cache scavenger hunts; and creating an “anchor” for the west end of the Parkway.

Geniece Tyler, committee chairman, ended the letter by pointing out that one such event - Passport to the Parkway - is already scheduled for next month.

“We have tried to identify some of the suggestions that may be more long-range and permanent in nature,” Tyler stated in the letter. “We hope the city will include in their budget some money for navigational assistance and some additional funds for advertising and exposure.”

She also noted that non-traditional forms of advertising could be cost-effective.

“Creative use of social media may require some funding but not as much as traditional advertising,” Tyler stated.

Alderman Steve Kahrs - who has long been a driving force for the revitalization of the west end of the Parkway - immediately wanted to accelerate the city’s response to the committee’s findings.

“How will we move forward with some of these suggestions,” Kahrs asked. He suggested budgeting time to examine and prioritize the committee’s ideas.

Alderman Kevin Rucker agreed, saying the city needed to develop an action plan.

“A lot of good work (has been) done,” Rucker said, “we can’t do all of them but we can do an awful lot of them.”

Mayor Penny Lyons suggested holding a special workshop to address the committee’s idea.

“I think that’s a great idea,” Alderman Tom Walker said.

Kahrs agreed, adding that committee members as well as local businesses should attend the workshop.

“The more people you put in the room, the more eyes you have out there, the faster the board can get something done,” Kahrs said. “It’s refreshing to see everyone getting involved.”

Alderman Phyllis Marose sees the committee’s efforts as something of a milestone.

“This is definitely a turning point for the city of Osage Beach,” Marose said.

Alderman John Olivarri praised the teamwork between residents and business owners in creating the recommendations while Alderman Rucker echoed Kahrs’ suggestion.

“Anything anyone wants to put on the table, I’m receptive to listening to as long as it’s legal and moral,” Rucker said.

The board unanimously agreed to schedule a special workshop to address the committee’s ideas but no firm date was set.