City Beat

by Steven Diegel

A number of items received attention at the March 2 City Council meeting, including adjustments to the city's dangerous-building code, a proposal to accept donations for future Team Spirit Leadership Conferences for area youth, and several zoning issues on properties throughout the city.

Council members heard discussion on several proposals which allow the city to condemn right of way for two improvements projects slated for the intersections of Battlefield Road and Glenstone Avenue, and Battlefield Road and Campbell Avenue.

While much of the necessary approval for work has already been granted, obtaining right of way remained a necessary step before commencing work at the intersections, according

to Marc Thornsbury, director of

Public Works for the city of Spring-field.

"We are probably not going to have to condemn for either of these projects," said Thornsbury, who added the city wanted obtain the right to do so to avoid any potential problems the recent bankruptcy of Venture Stores Inc. might cause.

Plans call for widening the dimensions of the two intersections to allow for additional left-turn lanes and easier right turns into the flow of traffic. The moves should ease congestion from the more than 65,000 cars passing through the area every day.

Thornsbury said the city expects the proposed improvements to cost approximately $1.5 million each, to be funded through the eighth-cent sales tax. Completion dates are not yet available, though at least one project should be completed by the fall.

Council members also heard proposed changes to the city's dangerous building code.

City officials have recommended an adjustment to make the property owner personally responsible for any charges incurred for demolition or clean-up work on property deemed a safety hazard, rather than just placing a lien on the property.

"Currently, we just put a tax bill or a lien against the property," said Bob Turner, director of Building Development Services for the city of Springfield. "Though this prevents the property from being sold or transferred without paying off the lien first, the owner is not personally responsible."

If approved, the ordinance would place the fines ÐÐ which average between $5,000 and $7,000 per demolition directly on the owner.

Turner said that nearly 60 unpaid liens have accumulated over the past 10 years, and he estimated that perhaps half of that number would ever be

paid.

Several area residents spoke out in support of the measure, with one calling for even more stringent guidelines for future cases.

The council is expected to consider the evening's discussion and vote on the matter at the March 16 meeting.

Council members began the March 2 meeting by approving a motion to authorize the refinancing of debt obligations for the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport improvement projects.

City officials said the move would allow the city to take advantage of declining interest rates to refinance more than $7.4 million in debt, saving in excess of $300,000.

About $1.6 million would also go toward improvements to the air cargo complex, according to Rob Hancik, director of the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport, including a 20,000-square-foot expansion to handle increased demand expected from future growth.

Council members applauded the efforts, voting unanimously in favor of the move.

The night's business was concluded with a proposal to include escort services on the list of prohibited home occupations.

City officials felt the addition will help clarify the matter and avoid future problems with several area escort services currently operating out of the home.

No discussion took place on the measure, which was approved unanimously.

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