LAKE OZARK, Mo. -- The mayor of Lake Ozark stepped to the plate last night calling a special session to fix center-lane parking for motorcycles during Bikefest on the Bagnell Dam Strip.
After a couple of comments from two aldermen, the board voted unanimously in favor of emergency permission allowing bikers to park in the center lane during the enormously popular event that brings economic benefit to the Strip and Lake of the Ozarks as a whole. The board also agreed to a plan to close the Lake Ozark Strip to cars from 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Wednesday-Saturday, Sept. 15-20, for Bikefest. During those times only motorcycles and pedestrians will be allowed to enter the Strip from Ballenger Road to the Bagnell Dam.
This is the first time the city has moved to close the Strip for multiple days for an event.
The issue arose after Bikefest organizers had failed to request the necessary permits to allow center-lane parking on the Strip for Bikefest and the chief of police publicly stated he would have motorcycles towed if they parked there.
During the special meeting Tuesday night Mayor Dennis Newberry said, “We all know there’s a process and a protocol for this event to be handled correctly and we wouldn’t be here today. It sort of slipped through the crack and I believe it’s my responsibility as mayor to try to wedge that gap and make this happen. It’s just goodwill, it’s goodwill to our community.”
photo by Zach Del Valle Photography, courtesy of Lake Ozark Helicopters
Vernon Jaycox and Dennis Klautzer expressed concern for employees and business owners who need to park in the area, difficulties for Celebration Cruises, and potential liability for the city.
Newberry responded by saying these changes to the center lane were no different from other events and no different from past years of Bikefest.
There was also some concern over an adequate police presence at Bikefest among the board with Chief Gary Launderville making a statement about the challenges of accommodating such a short-term request.
Chief Launderville had previously warned publicly that he would tow anyone parking in the center lane.
“This is why the city requires these applications for any event to be turned in 60 days prior so we have time to work on it," Launderville said. "This year no one turned in the event until Heather [Heather Brown, director of Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau] showed up today.”
In the end, the Board of Aldermen sided with Mayor Newberry's last-minute solution.
