The Lebanon City Council Monday took action to proceed with planned sidewalk improvements for Beck Lane and Ivey Lane.
The council approved a task order with Toth and Associates to work on right of way clearance and engineering work for the project. The amount is not to exceed $57,652.50.
Assistant Public Works Director Tammy Young told the council that the project has been in planning stages for some time. On Nov. 14, 2022, the Council approved a task order in the amount of $45,000 for the project. This was prior to a portion of the project along Beck Lane being approved for a MoDOT TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) Grant. Because of the grant requirements established by MoDOT and the Federal Highway Administration, additional engineering services are needed to complete the grant process.
“The city was awarded the MoDOT grant in 2023, which required the additional design documentation to keep federal compliance for the project. The initial plans and estimates were for approximately 9,300 linear feet of sidewalk,” Young said.
City officials said surveys have shown that residents want more sidewalks and connectivity. Beck and Ivey Lane Sidewalk Improvements were placed in the 2020 Sidewalk Master plan adopted by City Council in 2021. The sidewalk improvement project begins at Elm Streetand Ivey Lane and ends at Beck Lane and Ice Cream Way, for a total of 9,270 linear feet, serving over 2,400 citizens in the southwest area.
In other business, the council approved an agreement with the James R. Thomas Construction Company to build a new concession building and restrooms at Atchley Park for $397,856.
Parks Director John Shelton said the original concession and restrooms building was constructed in the 1980s to support two ballfields and league play only. He said the city now has four ballfields and tournaments were played 30 weekends out of the year.
“Obviously that building was built in 1984 when we played two softball games there on two softball fields at a time,” he said. “Now there's four baseball (or) softball fields. We've tried over the years to renovate the bathrooms and stuff to keep up with the demand. It just doesn't work. It just needs to be replaced.”
City Administrator Troy Schulte reported that the city plans to interview candidates for the golf course general manager position next week. He said five candidates are being considered.
The Council gave second and final reading approval to an ordinance setting procedures for administrative search warrants. Police Chief Jerry Harrison said that city codes already allow administrative search warrants but that there had not been a specific procedure for them.
“This ordinance amendment establishes a process, provides transparency, protects due process, and provides a framework that keeps us in line with constitutional authority,” Harrison said in a written memo to the council.
The council also adopted an ordinance to prevent tent camping on private or public property not located on city parks.
“We are experiencing mass campsites with waste and trash creating nuisance and safety issues for those living in or near these encampments,” Harrison said in a written memo. “Adding Sec. 26-10 will allow nuisance inspectors to address camping within the city.”
The council action also gives nuisance inspectors the ability to address non-permitted storage and shipping containers in residential zones on lots of less than a 1/2 acre.
The Council also approved a special event permit for the Dec. 12 Lighted UTV Parade downtown.
The next council meeting is set for Dec. 8 and will be the final council meeting of the year, Mayor Jared Carr said.
