BRANSON MO NEWS:
Each week Branson Mayor Larry Milton releases a letter to the community. OI has been reprinting them as a public service to our Branson area readers.
Hello Friends,
As we conclude April and begin May I want to point out that May is designated as National Military Appreciation Month. While Branson honors servicemen/women and Veterans every day, this is a month set aside nationally to honor the current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces. As a proud Veteran myself, I salute all who have served or are currently serving. There is also a special military day this month. If you are looking for a way to start your May 15, Saturday morning, I recommend waking up at “o-dark thirty,” knocking out a ten-mile run with a rucksack and ending with a few pushups, sit-ups and pull-ups. At least that’s the way SOME will choose to celebrate Armed Forces Day. A slightly easier way might be to simply pay tribute to men and women who are currently serving in the armed forces. If you know someone who is currently serving, give them a call and thank them for their service. OORAH!
I’d like to give a special recognition to one of our own veterans who is currently serving us in a different capacity. Missouri State Representative, Brian Seitz has been hard at work in Jefferson City representing our area in a number of important ways. Earlier this week he stood for 5 hours without any breaks, and through dinner, in order to get an amendment heard on the House Floor. This amendment started as House Bill 1249 which would recognize PTSD as an occupational disease for workers compensation purposes when diagnosed in first responders. Knowing that there is a short amount of time left in the session, but also knowing how important this issue is, Rep. Seitz chose to offer it as an amendment to another bill in order to give it a chance of passing this session. The amendment passed with resounding bipartisan support, and the underlying bill is headed to a conference committee before going back to the Senate for a final vote. Rep. Seitz is working hard for our first responders and all of us here in Branson, and I wanted to make sure that hard work was noticed!
In case you missed it, May 4, 1872, marks Harold Bell Wright’s birthday. Harold is the author of The Shepherd of the Hills. This bestselling novel from 1907, is what helped to create the Branson Region as a tourist destination before Branson was even a city. Thank you, Mr. Wright, and Happy Heavenly Birthday.
Important Reminder – May 9 is Mother’s Day. This has been an official holiday in the U.S. since 1914. As we used to say in the Marine Corps, this is not a plan you want to “skate on.” I highly recommend using the resources and beauty of our great Ozarks to plan a great day for the mothers in your lives.
National Public Works Week is in two weeks, the week of May 16. The theme this year is “Stronger Together.” This theme is to challenge public works and utilities personnel and citizens to think about the role public works plays in creating great places to live. These tireless workers take care of our most important needs including bringing us clean water, disposing of unclean water, and giving us a road network to go about our daily business. Thank you Team Utilities and Team Public Works for all of your excellent work.
Items of Interest for the Upcoming Board Meeting include a presentation by the Planning Department; resolutions to accept grants for the Compton wastewater treatment plant and Elevate Branson Housing project and to sell city property; a contract regarding court management; and an ordinance to adjust money for the water and sewer internal service fund. While the agenda currently shows a bill regarding the annexation of 134 Country Bluff, it is the board’s intent to postpone this to a future date. The full agenda can be found on the city’s website. As always, we hope to see you in the Council Chambers this Tuesday at 6:00 PM.
Interesting Factoid of the Week: The Branson Municipal Code Book is approximately 3.75 inches thick. This “book” constitutes the general and permanent ordinances of the City of Branson. Your Board of Aldermen will be aggressively working over the next two years to reduce this set of rules into a manageable and commonsensical guide with a focus toward “limited government.” You can find the entire current Branson Municipal Code Book on the city’s website, www.bransonmo.gov.
For the People,
Mayor Larry Milton
City of Branson
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