OWENSVILLE — The Owensville Board of Aldermen passed several ordinances this week including increasing application fees for certain city permits, buying software for the Owensville Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), adding access requirements to multi-family residential and commercial developments, and changes to public hearing requirements as they relate to the Owensville Planning & Zoning Commission.

A public hearing was held prior to Monday’s meeting to discuss proposed revisions and additions to Chapter 400 of municipal code.

During the city meeting, the aldermen passed all four ordinances.

First was changes to application fees for conditional use permits, variances and appeals to the Board of Adjustment due to the costs incurred for such needs.

According to Bill No. 2025-29, the city incurs costs in the review, administration and consideration of applications including administrative staff time, mailing costs, publication costs, engineer review and court reporter fees, and currently, the fees are “far less” than the costs incurred.

The bill became Ordinance 1492 through approval by the board, with the new fees at $100 for site plan review, $200 for conditional use permit, $500 for appeals and $500 for variance applications.

The motion for a first reading was made by Ward 2 Alderman Denise Bohl, a second reading requested by Board President and Ward 1 Alderman Dr. Cathy Lahmeyer, a third by Ward 2 Alderman Matthew Kramme and passed with all in favor.

OPRD’s request for the RecDesk software purchase was formally approved with the creation of Ordinance 1491, formed by the passing of Bill No. 2025-28.

OPRD Director Angela Lairmore requested approval for the software in earlier meetings to provide the department with means to run a more efficient program with use of technology, freeing up staff’s time spent on manual tasks. The new technology will also allow for increased accessibility to booking of OPRD offerings online.

The approved contract outlines a three-year agreement with RecDesk with a base subscription fee of $5,800 annually which includes training. An additional cost of living increase of up to 5 percent after the first 12 months and renewal period.

The motion for a first reading was made by Kramme, a second by Bohl and a third by Lahmeyer.

Ordinance 1493 was established with the passing of Bill No. 2025-30, enacting a new section in Article III of the code relating to access requirements for certain developments.

The purpose of the bill was to address proper vehicle ingress and egress to multi-family and commercial developments due to increased traffic to “minimize risks and inconveniences to both the residents and visitors… as well as adjoining property owners.”

The addition of the new section will require all multi-family and commercial developments to have direct access to a public street as the primary ingress and egress with sufficient width to accommodate at least two lanes of traffic and depending on traffic expected, a potential width or turn lane may be required. Additionally, no new multi-family or commercial developments shall be approved if the primary access or only full access is via an easement across property belonging to another person.

The motion for a first reading was made by Bohl, a second reading requested by Kramme, a third by Lahmeyer and passed unanimously.

Also passed Monday was Bill No. 2025-31, establishing Ordinance No. 1494 – an amendment that changes public hearing requirements between the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) and Board of Aldermen. Prior to the passing of the ordinance, public hearings were required at both levels. With the new code in place, P&Z will make their recommendations to the Board of Aldermen and only one public hearing will be held at the city board level.

Bohl made the motion for the first reading, Lahmeyer the second, Kramme the third and the bill passed with all in favor.

Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (MIRMA) representative Kelly Beets presented a $3,375 grant to Owensville Police Chief Scott Griffith and Owensville Safety Coordinator Kara Meyer Monday during the city meeting. The grant will provide for a car camera for Owensville Police Department which Beets called a great officer safety and liability tool for the department providing defense for any situation.

Beets advised that MIRMA tracks areas with greater losses, concerns or losses in liability. Owensville’s liability evaluation had a score of 97 with most of the towns he represents hitting around 85-93 and first-year towns, such as Owensville, usually in the 60’s.