Aldermen approve clearing roadbed through park woods; McFadden unhappy with width

By Dave Marner, Managing Editor
Posted 12/11/19

While city aldermen on Dec. 2 authorized creation of a gravel connecting road from the Memorial Park arena to Olive Street, at least one aldermen was concerned about how wide it became this past …

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Aldermen approve clearing roadbed through park woods; McFadden unhappy with width

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While city aldermen on Dec. 2 authorized creation of a gravel connecting road from the Memorial Park arena to Olive Street, at least one aldermen was concerned about how wide it became this past week.

At the city’s Parks Commission meeting Monday, Ward 1 Alderman Kevin McFadden questioned who gave authority for the final width of the road.

The city’s contracted engineer had previously sought to insure a “process” was following in creating the roadway and granting the Gasconade County Fair Association an easement from the nearly 9-acre tract of land being purchased along Olive and connecting with Memorial Park ground. The acreage adjoins a wooded area above the arena used for tractor pulls, demolition derbies, and rodeos.

The hauling road leading to the arena’s west gated entrance bisects a paved walking trail which looped through the upper woods.

According to draft minutes of the newly reorganized Parks Commission, commission members felt there were more trees removed and the road was made much wider than originally anticipated.

Commission members learned that Mayor John Kamler authorized Mike Miller and Tom Lahmeyer, who purchased the land with the intent to sell it to the Fair Association, to push back additional trees to create a wider pathway.

Remnants of an old road, including ditches cut into the banks for drainage, were identifiable in the proposed work area. The road project was pitched as a haul road wide enough for two pulling tractors to pass each other. The existing roadway they discovered was approximately 20 feet wide between ditches, according to Lahmeyer.

Lahmeyer told The Republican that the mayor had instructed them to clear off additional scrub brush and trees through the intended roadway.

McFadden expressed three concerns on how the project was handled including “how wide the easement road is, the number of trees removed, and the lack of communication to the Board of Alderman,” as cited in the draft minutes.

Minutes reflect the Commission’s desire that “In the future if there (are) more questions about this they should be directed to the Parks & Rec director who will follow up with the City Administrator.”

Kamler had attended a portion of the meeting Monday but left to attend to a vocal music obligation. He returned after the discussion was completed.

Aldermen on Dec. 2 had granted approval to allow creation of the roadway to expedite a request from Kamler. He told aldermen that volunteers were ready to do the excavating needed to create the road and hoped to use a window of good weather to complete the work.

On a 3-0-1 vote, aldermen granted permission for the road to be cut in with the finalization of the easement documentation to be completed at a later date. Ward 1 Alderman Cathy Lahmeyer abstained from the vote since her husband is involved in the road project and the land acquisition.

McFadden had shared similar concerns on Saturday with The Republican on how the situation was handled. He said he was “disappointed” on how things turned out.