Ozark prepares for tax proposal as Deerbrook advances

The city of Ozark is promoting a transportation sales tax on the April ballot an official says is crucial to improving economic development in the area. A previous transportation improvement in the community is said to be the catalyst for the Deerbrook Marketplace that’s underway.

Voters are being asked to support a 3/8-cent sales tax that would sunset in five years. Along with federal and state funding contingent on the tax, voter approval would provide $19.6 million for community transportation improvements, said Ozark City Administrator Steve Childers.

“Not only will this tax help Ozark catch up with its much-needed maintenance on local streets — of which 50 percent of the sales tax revenue will be dedicated to local neighborhood streets — but make the improvements to business 65 and its major intersections to prepare for the growth and economic development that is coming,” he said.

Projects in the pipeline include:
    •    lane expansion improvements to Highway 65 and South Street and Highway NN and Jackson Street;
    •    sidewalk and crosswalk projects;
    •    improvements to Riverside Bridge; and
    •    neighborhood street maintenance designed to bring a 17-year plan down to five years.

Childers pointed to roadway improvement and the creation of a diverging diamond interchange at Highway 65 and State Highway CC as proof transportation projects bring about economic improvements.

At the northwest corner of 65 and CC, Deerbrook developer Mike Sietz recently began moving dirt, about two years after Ozark aldermen approved a multimillion-dollar incentives package for the development. Commercial Realtor Brad Thessing, who is marketing the development, could not be reached for comment by deadline.

Springfield Business Journal previously reported tenants included Kum & Go and McDonald’s. Thessing recently told KY3 Zaxby’s is also a tenant. He expects the three tenants’ buildings to be completed in the summer or fall.

“The roadway improvements that were made on Highway CC were instrumental in getting this going,” Childers said.