LAKE OZARK, Mo. — The Smokefree at the Lake Coalition on Tuesday urged the Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen to pass an ordinance to ban smoking in city bars and restaurants. 

At Tuesday’s board meeting, several representatives of the group were in attendance to ask during the public comments portion of the meeting for the aldermen’s support for a ban. 

Because the issue wasn’t on the agenda, the board took no action on the request, nor did any aldermen signal they would bring up the issue at a later board meeting. 

Mayor Johnnie Franzeskos told the audience in the relatively crowded board chambers that, since the item was not on the agenda, they would be limited to three minutes of discussion – the mayor’s standard line at every board meeting. 

But then he went a step further. To keep supporters or opponents from “saying the same the same thing over and over and over” the mayor asked that each side deploy a single spokesman. 

“Is that fair enough?” Franzeskos asked. Hearing no objections, he placed a timer on the counter in front of him. 

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Leah Martin of the American Lung Association stepped to the lectern first on behalf of the Smokefree  at the Lake Coalition. She passed out packets to the aldermen that included data about the health risks from second-hand cigarette smoke. The packet included a sample ordinance that mirrors laws in other Missouri cities and included a list of those that are smoke-free. 

She also cited articles and studies that show no disparate economic impact from smoking bans in other cities. 

“In a (Centers for Disease Control) study of 11 cities in Missouri,” Martin said, “eight showed an increase in business and three showed no impact.” 

Martin also presented more than 1,000 survey cards from Lake Ozark residents and tourists who support a ban on smoking. 

Dean Nelson, who owns the Rock Island Line bar on the Strip, spoke against a ban. 

“I agree smoking is bad for your health, 100 percent,” he said. “I also feel that people know, as soon as they open up the door, I am a smoking facility, and they do not have to come in here.”

He said a Lake Ozark smoking ban would send large events like Bikefest, car shows and boat shows, and Hot Summer Nights to Osage Beach, along with the revenue those events bring to the city. 

“If a majority of the people want it, that’s fine,” Nelson said, “but I don’t believe politicians should tell (business owners) what we can or can’t do.” 

Other Business

In other business, the board approved spending nearly $58,000 with Vandevanter Engineering for two Flygt grinder pumps for the city’s wastewater treatment system. 

Public Works Director Matt Michalik said the pumps, which were not in this year’s budget, became a priority when one of three pumps at the lift station along Highway 54 across from Isleworth Avenue failed. 

“We installed a spare that we had in stock, and it did not make it through the night,” Michalik said. 

The pumps are at least 15 years old and have been rebuilt and restored several times already, he said. 

“We simply can’t have this pump station running on one pump, as it conveys all the wastewater from the North Shore area to the wastewater treatment plant,” Michalik said in his report to the board. “Also, if there is a complete failure of the pump station, wastewater overflows manholes adjacent to Osage National Golf Course.” 

The board also approved:

  • Donating $1,000 to the Lake Ozark Anniversary Planning Committee for activities planned for Aug. 12-13 to kick-off the city’s celebration of its 50th year of incorporation. 
  • Approved changes to the city code regarding street specifications. The changes affect requirements for street widths, thickness of pavement and classifications based on traffic volumes and residential development. Included in the changes is a clause exempting existing streets and giving city officials some leeway to waive some of the new standards when existing streets are rebuilt. 
  • Tabling an agreement between the City of Lake Ozark and Lake Ozark Climate Storage.
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