Galvin's News and Views from Lake of the Ozarks
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
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 ongo- ing 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 proj- ect, 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.