News Release 469

MEDIA ADVISORY:
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIRECTOR CHILDERS,
OMBUDSMEN TO MEET WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS
Officials to Visit Ozark, Nixa, Greenfield, Mount Vernon, Forsyth, Galena and Kimberling City

Volume 34-469

Contact: Connie Patterson

(For immediate release)

573-751-1010

Oct. 20, 2006

WHO: Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers, Regional Ombudsmen Carrie Smith and Dave Woolery, and Chief Ombudsman Scott Totten.

WHAT: Visiting Ozark, Nixa, Greenfield, Mount Vernon, Forsyth, Galena and Kimberling City, and meeting with city and county officials on environmental issues of local concern.

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 30, and Tuesday, Oct. 31. See itinerary below for details.

WHERE: See itinerary for details.

WHY: The purpose of the visit is to give Director Childers, Regional Ombudsman Smith and Woolery, and Chief Ombudsman Totten the opportunity to meet with local officials and media to discuss issues involving the Department of Natural Resources. These meetings are open to the public.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

ITINERARY:

Monday, Oct. 30

9 to 10 a.m. --- Ozark -- Ozark City Hall, 205 North First St., Ozark
Note: The department will present a $32,000 subgrant check to Ozark city officials. The City of Ozark sees a great opportunity to build a combination park and retail center in an area currently underutilized. The properties are located on the bank of the Finley River, in the heart of the city. Several properties in the redevelopment tract have potential environmental issues. The city will
use the subgrant funds to pay for Phase I and II environmental site assessments at up to six brownfields properties in Ozark. The city will enroll the Tractor Repair Shop property located at 306 W. Jackson St. into the department's Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program. The city will use the grant funds to pay for technical oversight during the Phase II assessment for this site. This ceremony is open to the public.

10:15 to 11 a.m. --- Nixa -- Nixa City Hall, 715 West Mt. Vernon St.

2:30 to 3:15 p.m. --- Greenfield -- County Courthouse, first floor courtroom, 300 W. Water St.

4 to 4:45 p.m. --- Mount Vernon -- Mount Vernon City Hall, 319 Dallas St.

Tuesday, Oct. 31

11:15 a.m. to noon --- Forsyth -- Forsyth City Hall, 15405 U. S. Hwy 160

1:45 to 2:30 p.m. --- Galena -- Stone County Courthouse, 108 East Fourth St.

3:30 to 4:15 p.m. --- Kimberling City -- Kimberling City Hall, 34 Kimberling Blvd.

###