Galvin's News and Views from Lake of the Ozarks

August 2009 NO. 13

Galvin’s News and Views from Lake of the Ozarks

News from around the Lake…...

AmerenUE provides guidelines for posting permit and address signs of Lake of the Ozarks boat docks AmerenUE is encouraging Lake of the Ozarks dock owners who are replacing permit and address signs, or installing new signs, to follow UE’s latest guidelines that now include posting the property’s 911 address. Posting requirements include displaying the permit number, street address and zip code in three-inch block lettering of a contrasting color from the background material. The sign should be placed on the lake side of the dock in a location most visible from the cove or channel. Continued on Page 3.

Page 1 Real estate more stable at the lake While recent U.S. Department of Commerce statistics show an 11 percent increase in new single-family home sales from May to June, the lake doesn’t fit the national average mold. While the market here for the sale of new homes doesn’t reflect the national percentage, Steve Gum, Lake of the Ozarks board of realtors president, said home prices around the lake have remained stable compared to other parts of the country. With a majority of interested buyers coming from second-home owners, Gum said they’re not necessarily interested in a “new” home, rather the key phrase is “lake” home. People are coming into the area thinking that the prices of our lake homes have dropped like in other parts, Gum said. Gum explained that if there is a drop with lake homes, it’s only at about 3-4 percent, whereas nationwide, some areas are seeing the value of homes drop 20 percent or more. Gum said starting late June to early July, he has also seen an increase in interested buyers more than any other time this year. While more people are looking, Gum said they’re holding off for now when it comes to buying. “What I’m hearing is that they’re waiting for interest rates to bottom out, thinking they might drop,” Gum said. Buyers are also more interested in the lower-priced homes around the area. During the period of Jan. 1, 2008-July 28, 2008, the average sale price of a home was $235,065, compared to $199,141 the same period this year. Gum explained that these numbers show that buyers are cutting back and looking for more affordable homes, it doesn’t mean the value of the homes have dropped very much. Andrew Connor, certified mortgage planning specialist and licensed mortgage banker, said on the lending side, he’s seen loan ap- plications for people wanting to purchase homes increase. With the $8,000 tax credit for new home buyers, low interest rates, lower home prices and high inventory, which leads to more choices - all of these factors are spurring people’s interest in buying. While certain factors tempt people to buy, applying for a loan works differently these days. Connor explained that people are having to verify more information with documentation, but it doesn’t necessarily mean getting a loan is “harder,” just more detailed and cumbersome, and it doesn’t mean the money is not available. While Connor said the rates are historically low right now, he also said they fluctuate daily, so it’s hard to pinpoint what they are and will be. Though, he said he’s seen that most people’s mortgage interest rate is somewhere between 5-6 percent, depending on one’s credit score and how much equity they have in their home. Jul 30, 2009, Lake Sun Leader, Esther Cho.

DNR: Water is fine, July tests indicate lake is back to normal Come on down the water is fine. Based on the most recent water quality tests released by the Missouri De- partment of Natural Resources, the impact of heavy late spring and early summer rains has dissipated. Of the 55 sites tested, only one showed elevated levels of E. coli. The rest were below the standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency. The tests included coves from the Linn Creek and Hurricane Deck areas along with the Niangua Arm of the lake. The only site that showed an elevated level of E. coli in the sample was taken from Laurie Hollow Cove. That particular site will be investigated by DNR’s regional office to try to determine the source of the contamination. In May, 29 of the 55 sites showed elevated levels. Heavy rains, run-off and flooding were the most likely culprits for unusually high number of elevated samples. According to Susanne Medley, communications director for DNR, the ongoing testing being conducted at Lake of the Ozarks indicates heavy rainfall events will cause a jump in the amount of E. coli found in the water. Heavy rains were reported in the lake area throughout the late spring and early summer. Runoff from heavy rains may transport waste found in soil from faulty septic tanks or sewer systems, wastewater treatment facili- ties, large concentrations of waterfowl, and animal waste and manure, she said. The cove testing is being conducted through a partnership with the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, the Missouri Depart- ment of Conservation, DNR and AmerenUE. Jul 17, 2009, Lake Sun Leader, Joyce Miller.

Page 2 AmerenUE provides guidelines for posting permit and address signs of Lake of the Ozarks boat docks Continued from page 1. “These requirements will not only assist dock owners and neighbors in reporting an emergency, but will also assist 911 centers in dispatching the appropriate personnel to the proper location,” says Jeff Green, UE supervisor, Shoreline Management. For a diagram showing the proper permit and address sign layout, go to www.ameren.com/LakeOzarks/ADC_911Addresses.pdf. UE conducts a range of shoreline management activities at the Lake of the Ozarks under provisions of its federal license for the op- eration of Bagnell Dam and the Osage Power Plant, which created the lake in 1931. For information on these activities, visit www.ameren.com/LakeOzarks, or call the Shoreline Management Office at 573.365.9252. UE, a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation, serves 1.2 million electric customers and 127,000 natural gas customers over a 24,000-square-mile area of north, central and eastern Missouri. August 10, 2009. The Lake Sun Leader

Lake meets sky Although the "floating bar" has only been open for about two months, co- owner Dave Yeager is confident it has the "best view view of any bar at the Lake of the Ozarks." After hearing him out, it's easy to understand his claim. The bar at The Palms Restaurant and SkyView Bar is located on top of a dock that extends out into the lake. Once used as a commercial observation deck, owners Yeager and Nick Hanson decided to convert it into a bar. The bar sits on a 1,600 square foot dock top that is 120 feet from shore, and is suspended 25 feet in the air. The result is a panoramic view of the lake, on the lake. On Saturday nights when Justin Colvard and the Taste of Texas Band play at the bar, the view becomes more exciting. "On Saturday nights with our house band, it's really difficult to stay in your seat, they're the type of band that makes you want to get up and dance," Yeager said. Aside from the bar, there's also the restaurant, which is located on the land. Yeager described it as a "fried chicken and pizza joint." The restaurant also has house smoked burgers and barbecue. For those cruisers going by water, Yeager said they have covered slips to keep boats safe while hanging out at the bar. Overall, Yeager said it's a laid back atmosphere, and said he's been told there's no other place like it in Missouri. If you go Address 30703 Rustic Rd., Rocky Mount By lake, 5 MM (6/10 of a mile into Lick Branch Cove) By car, take Hwy. W, to W-12, to the T intersection. Follow signs from there. Contact 573-52-8027 Hours Tues. - Sun., noon to close Price range for menu items: $6.95 - 22.95 Specials Food specials on Saturday nights Online www.myspace.com/skyviewbar Aug 7, 2009, Lake Sun Leader.

Construction Contract Awarded to Widen Route 5 Through Sunrise Beach Route 5 will soon be widened to three lanes through the Village of Sunrise Beach to allow for a center-turn lane. The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a construction contract for the improvement during their monthly meeting on Wednesday. The project will extend from Route F to the north for approximately one mile. The work includes widening Route 5 to allow for two 12-foot driving lanes and one 12-foot center turn lane. The current highway consists of two 11-foot lanes. H.B. Construction, Inc. DBA Hill Brothers of Platte City, Mo., submitted the lowest bid of $974,759.33. The work will begin this fall and will be completed by next summer. The work is being completed to improve safety and traffic flow through the area. The project is being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. For more information about this project, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or log onto www.modot.org/central. You can also follow MoDOT's Central Dis- trict on Twitter, at https://twitter.com/MoDOT_Central. Aug 5, 2009. The LakeSun Leader .

Page 3 City installs playground into park, scoreboards, bleachers to come Additions to the Osage Beach City Park are changing the look and functionality of the park. A new playground, which was approved to be installed at the July 9 Board of Alderman meeting, has been bolted into the ground, and is still waiting for mulch to be laid down and other cleanup work to be completed before it is open for use. "In four weeks, I know it will be done," Jeana Albertson, assistant city administrator, said. Cunningham Associates Inc. installed the playground and has now handed the project back over to Osage Beach Public Works to complete the project. "It's back in our hands," Albert- son said. In addition to the new playground, both Osage Beach parks will receive new solar- powered scoreboards. Albertson said the City Park will receive six scoreboards — one for each baseball and soccer field. Peanick Park will receive two — one for each of its Little League fields. Albertson said the solar-powered scoreboards were purchased because the city hopes to save money with them in the long run, because the scoreboards require no electricity. "Once (the scoreboard) is installed, it's ready to go," Albertson said. There are currently sponsors for two of the soccer field scoreboards — Mid Missouri Credit Union and Jerry Frank American Family Insurance. Albertson said sponsorship information is available through the city's Web site, www.osagebeach.org, and those wishing to sponsor a scoreboard may inquire so by contact- ing Albertson at 302-2000, extension 290. A third element, bleachers, are expected to be delivered by the end of this week, Albertson said. A total of six bleachers will be installed next to the baseball fields in the City Park. The bleachers will be installed by Public Works. "We plan to have everything done by the Fall Festival (Sept. 12)," Albertson said. "That's our goal." Aug 11, 2009. The Lake Sun Leader . Jennifer Hollis.

Land donated for storm warning siren The village got a little help with future plans for projects in the Route TT area. Jack Tezak is donating just under two acres off Route TT between Route MM and Doctor’s Landscap- ing to Sunrise Beach for another early storm warning siren location and possibly a future site for a water tower for that area. The board thanked Tezak and will be having an appraisal done on the property to give him a receipt for the gift. The board approved a new attorney retainer agreement with Greg Williams. The monthly fee was raised from $1,200 per month to $2,000. While he is no longer handling the legalities of the water and sewer projects, Williams advises the board on all other legal issues and is the prosecuting attorney. Planning and zoning is one of the new issues Williams is advising the village on these days. Trustee Charlie Bott, a planning commissioner, reported that Williams had recently completed a review of the proposed zoning ordinance. Suggested changes will be addressed at the next meeting of the planning commission, Bott said. Williams also informed the board of a public financing request by a developer for property near the intersection of Routes 5 and F. While the village cannot afford to help finance the $4.5 million re- quested by the developer out of the total $12 million shopping center project, according to Williams, it could be possible through a joint effort with Camden County. The developer, MJS Investments LC, he said, was seeking permission to approach the county about the possibility. The proposed development includes a grocery store and other retail and commercial stores. The letter from the developer’s attorney stated, “A combination of one or more of the following incentives may be necessary to finance the Development — Transportation Development District (“TDD”), Community Improvement District (“CID”), Local Tax Increment Financing (“TIF”) and Neighborhood Improvement District (“NID”). The board gave its blessing to MJS to approach the county. This proposal is in a very preliminary part of such a process, according to Williams. David Morgan of Midwest Engineering reported that the north end of the current water project is about 90 percent done and service meters are being installed. The foundation for the standpipe is done, and he estimated that the water tower on Route 5 across from the Hurricane Deck Ele- mentary School could go up sometime around the 4th of July. Jul 11, 2009, The Lake Sun Leader . Julie Wilson

Page 4 UPCOMING EVENTS

Hot Summer Nights 14 Aug Lake Ozark, MO Phone: 800-451-4117 Golf Appreciation Night for Veterans – Old Kinderhook 18 Aug Camdenton, MO 573-317-3500 21st Annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout Festival 22-30 Aug Sunrise Beach, MO 573-374-5852 Ellis Fischel Summer Celebration Gala 22 Aug Lake Ozark, MO 573-365-3000 Christ the King Bi-Annual Auction 29 Aug Lake Ozark, MO 573-365-5212 30th Annual Versailles Old Tyme Apple Festival 5 Sep Versailles, MO 573-378-4401 Majestic Oaks Annual Labor Day Smoke-off Contest 5 Sep Eldon, MO 573-365-1890 Bear Bottom Resort Fireworks 5 Sep Sunrise Beach, MO 573-374-6905 Labor Day Celebration Lodge of the Four Seasons 6 Sep Lake Ozark, MO 573-365-3000

Closing of 100 days of Summer 7 Sep Sunrise Beach, MO 573-374-5852 Apple Butter Days Fall Festival 9-10 Sep Linn Creek, MO 573-346-7191 Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Sept. Boat Show 11-13 Sep Sunrise Beach, MO 573-480-2300

Westlake Street Machine Fall Follies Car Show 12 Sep Laurie, MO 573-374-9500 9th Annual Lake Area Fall Festival 12 Sep Osage Beach, MO 573-302-2000ext.290

Blue Moon Sanctuary Golf Tournament Osage National 16 Sep Eldon, MO www.bluemoongolf.info

Check reaffirms developer's interest in High Pointe project A $20,000 check from Raul Walters Inc. gives what Osage Beach City Attorney Ed Rucker calls, "a small blip of positive news" concerning the developer's interest in the High Pointe TIF project. "(The check) was a good indicator they are still interested in an agreement," Rucker said. The check came as a result of funding the company owed the city for work it had done organizing the TIF agreement. Once the issue of the owed money was brought to the developer's attention, Rucker said they were quick to resolve the issue. Currently, Rucker said discussions are ongoing between the city and developers to work on the fine points concerning a final agreement. "(The Board) takes these things seriously," Rucker said. "They are interested in getting this deal correct, with the same scrutiny that they gave other such projects." The High Pointe Center TIF project has been the green vegetable on the Board's plate in the last few meetings — it's been held off for further discussion in every meeting the last couple of months. The $33 million redevelopment project is at the site of the old Wal-Mart across from the Factory Outlet Village mall on Highway 54. Raul Walters is asking for $5 million in TIF reimbursements. Aug 11, 2009, The Lake Sun Leader . Jennifer Hollis.

Page 5 Vacation News: Seeking thrills on the water: Even if you don't own a boat, there are plenty of ways to get on the lake If it's enjoying a few hours on Lake of the Ozarks you are after, there are plenty of places to go. Even if you don't own your own boat, that doesn't mean you have to watch everyone else have a good time. You can get behind the wheel of a rental boat and pull out the waterskis, dine on a yacht or hit the wakes on a personal watercraft. Here are a few ways you can cool off on the water this summer. Celebration Cruises The 150 passenger, 80' Celebration is the Lake's largest climate controlled motor yacht. Lunch and dinner cruises take off from the Kirkwood Lodge. Check www.celebrationlakeozark.com for a list of times and dates or call 573-480-3212 for reservations or information. Smaller vessels for private charters available. Sea Rocket Rides For a high speed thrill ride come onboard the Sea Rocket. It's the Lake's fastest Coast Guard approved excursion boat. The Coast Guard licensed captain will take you on a tour of the Lake. Seats up to 12 passengers. Contact 573-286-4306 for ride information or visit www.pelicancharter.com. Tropic Island Cruises Departing from Tan-Tar-A Resort, the 150-passenger motor yacht officers daily scenic cruises and private charters. Sit out on the deck of the Tropic Island II or relax in the air conditioning and enjoy the view. For more information call 573-348-0083 or visit www.tropicislandcruises.com. Tom Sawyer The turn-of-the-century style cruise has been around the Lake for years. You can take a 90-minute scenic cruise or a have sunset while sailing down the main channel. Custom charters are also available. Departs from Bagnell Dam. Contact 573-365-3300 for information. For a complete list of boat rental places go to www.funlake.com While on the water please obey all the rules and regulations on Missouri Waterways. Jul 17, 2009, The Lake Sun Leader.

Sue Olive’s legacy lives on: Sue’s Shoes is annual LAMB House event to provide shoes for Camden County children It was a tradition and through the efforts of the LAMB House board and the volunteers, it is a tradition that will continue for years to come. Not long before the start of school every year, Sue Olive and her husband, Kenneth, would make the rounds of shoe stores to find the best buys. Not for their own children but for others in the community who otherwise might have gone without. Through her efforts, Sue’s Shoes became an annual event at the LAMB House. It came about through her work as a teacher and with many other organizations where she would come across children who’s parents needed a little help getting kids ready for back to school. Working with school nurses in Camden County, it was her personal mission to make sure that any child in need of shoes received a well-fitting brand name pair for the first day of school. Over the years she was responsible for providing shoes for hundreds of children. Children who otherwise might have gone without. Although Sue passed away last year, not long after completing her annual shoe drive, her work continues. The LAMB House has recently dedicated the month of August as Sue’s Shoe month, because “one person really can make a difference.” Now, more than ever before, Sue’s Shoes will be looking to the community for donations to help kids go back to school in new shoes. LAMB House, like so many other organizations who serve those in need, is seeing an increase in the number of people need- ing a helping hand. Those who knew Sue describe her as on of those individuals whose life truly did make a difference. Not just to some but to all who knew her. Because of her, lives changed. By nature, she was kind and compassionate. She shared her love and happiness with others. Her family, church and the community she choose to call home were the benefactors. Sue passed away last November at the age of 80. For more information, contact the LAMB House at 50 Illinois Street, Camdenton.

Aug 9, 2009, The Lake Sun Leader. Joyce Miller

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