Two Sides to Every Story

Council votes to rezone 400 North Main, 111 West Walnut and 113 W. Walnut

In a four to one vote, the El Dorado Springs city council voted to allow property belonging to Brian Hansel to be rezoned from R-1 low density residential to B-3 Highway Business. Before the rezoning vote, citizens at the meeting were invited to speak for or against the rezoning in a public hearing. Since the reason for the rezoning was to accommodate a Dollar General grocery store. Most of the people at the meeting were in favor of the rezoning siting the numerous people in the northern area of El Dorado Springs that do not have vehicles and must walk out to Hwy 54 to get groceries.

However, there were several people that stated that the downtown area should be filled up first before expanding into the residential area. They stated that there were too many empty buildings downtown and that issue should be addressed first.

Hanse, who owns the property, said nothing downtown fits the needs of Dollar General, the store wanting to move into the northern part of El Dorado Springs. He added that the store would generate tax revenue for the city and employ 15 people.

Council member Gabby Kinnett was the only dissenting vote. After the meeting she said that she wasn’t against Dollar General, she just didn’t think that West Walnut was the best place for it.

Along with City Manager Bruce Rogers and City Clerk Kandi Rotert, all council members were present; Logan Friar, Allen Hicks, Kennett, Mayor Nathan Murrell and Alvan Reasoner.

The council passed a resolution approving a utilities mutual aid agreement with Missouri Public Utilities Alliance. They passed on the first and second reading an ordinance to establish procedure to disclosed potential conflicts  of interest and substantial interests for certain officials. Rogers said the ordinance had to be re-adopted every two years.

They also passed on the first and second reading changing the property at 109 E. Poplar Street from R-1 low density residential zoning district to R-2, medium density residential.

Rogers said that the pool was being painted this week and would probably open on May 30 or 31.

Kinnett said that the parking lines in front of the golf course, which is also used by patrons of the ballpark, were in dire need of being repainted. She said that the “lake” in the middle of the girls’ softball diamond was an embarrassment.

Rogers said that it was being worked on.