The Regular Agenda portion of the Oct. 8 meeting the Branson Board of Aldermen started with a report from Tom Leonard, director of the Branson office of the Missouri Career Center, on the status of the centers involvement with the area’s workforce. Leonard pointed out that since Jan. of this year over 14,000 people have come into the center for assistance and that the center has placed 56 percent of all those who have registered with them for help in finding employment. He said that there are over 204 jobs currently listed with the center and that in the last five days alone 86 additional listings have been posted. The career center is located at 2720 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway and the phone number is 417-334-4156.
The board also approved, on first reading, a resolution for the Preliminary Subdivision Plat and a Planned Development for TanStone Plaza. The 57.6 acre development is located on Forsythe Boulevard and is currently zoned Commercial. The proposed development will consist of a 31 parcel planned mixed-use residential and commercial development including stores, restaurants, and common areas. It will also involve the redirection of Forsythe Boulevard. Alderman Bob McDowell expressed the city’s desire to add a turn lane on Roark Road and to limit access to the development off Roark Road.
During the discussion on TanStone Plaza, the potential impact of a redesigned Forsythe Boulevard/State Highway 76 intersection on nearby businesses was discussed. City Engineer David Miller pointed out that the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) controls that intersection and that the impact on property owners cannot be determined until the final location of the intersection is determined. Currently there is some delay while the possibility of aligning the intersection with the Wal-Mart entrance is researched. The actual intersection is not part of TanStone Plaza or the developer’s responsibility.
The city’s trail development program took another step forward when the board approved an agreement to accept funding from MoDOT to help expand the city’s hiking and biking trail system. Under the agreement, MoDOT will pay 50 percent of the estimated $110,440 cost for construction of an additional hiking and biking trail segment through Stockstill Park. The trail would be on the south side of the creek, from near the pedestrian bridge to the west boundary of the park and could eventually extend to the west, as additional easements are obtained, and connect to Henning Conservation Area.
In other action, the board approved a funding agreement in the amount of $40,800 with the Branson Arts Council to help make artistic, cultural, and educational opportunities available to the public. It also approved a funding agreement with the Salvation Army to provide temporary emergency help to the public in areas such as housing, utilities, food, clothing, prescriptions, and medical bills in the amount of $5,000. Christian Action Ministry (CAM) was funded for $30,000 to provide food and shelter, utilities, prescriptions, and gasoline for the needy.
Approval was granted to replace nine tactical body armor vests and purchase three console workstations for the police department. The workstations are needed to accommodate the radio and electronic equipment necessary to complete the upgrade of the communication center. The board, based on a $104,850 grant from the State of Missouri Emergency Management Agency, approved the purchase of the digital and narrowband capable public safety communication equipment that will be used in the upgraded communication center. The equipment meets the federally mandated standards that must be met by 2013.
