Branson City Administrator, Dean Kruithof used the Sep. 4 Work Session meeting of the board of aldermen to announce an unusual joint budget meeting on Saturday, Sep. 6 at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is unusual in terms of being held on a Saturday, its location, the Branson Rec Plex and that it will be a joint meeting of the city’s three standing committees, Personnel, Finance, and Capital Improvements.
Kruithof said it would include a presentation of some of the issues dealing with the upcoming Fiscal year 2009 Budget and relating to some of the decisions the aldermen will have to make as part of that process. He acknowledged it was unusual to have a Saturday meeting and said it was caused by scheduling conflicts especially with John Petty and Janice Larned of District Offices, the city’s financial consultant. He said David Cochran, the city’s auditor and Lori Helle, the recently hired Finance Director for the city, would also be in attendance.
Alderwoman Sandra Williams strongly encouraged the public to attend the meeting. She said, “Press and public, we are asking you to please take an interest in this meeting.”
In other business, Kruithof reported the presentation on the development of new blasting regulations, scheduled for the meeting, would be delayed to allow participation by Alderman Rick Davis who was absent. One of the purposes of the new blasting regulations will be to create a more sloping perimeter when blasting instead of the typical cliff wall as evidenced in the TanStone development on Forsythe Road. He anticipated the process would be completed shortly.
Jerry Adams, the city’s Public Information Director, made a presentation on the progress being made to explore the possibility of using a public-private partnership to help create more attractive entrances to Branson off the three Highway 65 exits. He handed out a list of the citizens and businesses that have expressed an interest in serving on the Community Pride Committee. Alderman Stephen Marshall said the Branson CVB had also established a committee to help beautify Branson and increase its “curb side appeal.
During the discussion it was pointed out MoDOT had recently mowed the areas, businesses have already volunteered to beautify certain areas, and maintenance would require an ongoing effort. Alderman Bob McDowell expressed his belief that the beautification of Branson and its maintenance would be a permanent task requiring a tie in to the budget to ensure adequate funding to do the job.
Chad E. Zickefoose, MoDOT’s District 8 Transportation Project Manager made a presentation explain the details of the two options MoDOT had presented for the new bridge across Lake Taneycomo and asked for an indication of the board’s approval of Option A for presentation to MoDOT’s Cost Sharing Committee. Option A will provide a new bridge connecting with Branson Landing Boulevard, the rehabilitation and repair of the current bridge and a roundabout on the eastern edge of the bridge.
Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent https://bransoncourier.com/view_article.php?news_ID=41