By Jeff Devine, The Chronicle
OZARK— The Ozark City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and addressed several items on its agenda. The council chose to delay action on the city’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, opting instead to continue discussions before taking a final vote later this month. There were several other items the council considered, including a retiree bonus resolution and an unbudgeted request from the Ozark Police Department to purchase new computers.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the council voted to table both the proposed FY2027 budget and a resolution authorizing a retiree bonus until its next regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 17.
Council members did approve an amendment to the city’s Exclusive Concession Services Agreement, authorizing Rax LLC to serve as the concessions provider for the Ozark Civic Center.
The council also approved an unbudgeted request from the Ozark Police Department to purchase new computers for officers.
After the meeting, the Dale County Chronicle contacted the Ozark Police Department to learn more about the request. Capt. Jerome Niles stated that the purchase is intended to equip officers with in-car laptop computers, which are essential to their daily duties, he emphasized.
“It is for in-car laptops necessary for an officer to use…for reports and other law enforcement-related activities,” Capt. Niles said.
He also added the computers are needed to outfit newly hired officers with the equipment required to perform their jobs.
“It is for the new officers we hired to outfit them with and is vital to the job,” he said.
Niles added that the purchase will also allow the department to replace aging equipment that is no longer reliable.
“We also have outdated computers that can no longer be updated or charged,” he said.
Mayor Charles Ward also issued and read a proclamation declaring Aug. 16-22, 2026, as “A Week of Prayer” in the City of Ozark.
The mayor’s proclamation emphasizes what he calls the importance of spiritual life and the historic role that faith, churches, and prayer have played in the lives of many Ozark residents. It notes that communities have long turned to prayer during both times of celebration and hardship, seeking strength, peace, hope, unity, and healing.
Ward also recognized the efforts of numerous local churches that have organized opportunities for both private and community prayer throughout the designated week.
Participating congregations include Harvest, Ridgecrest, Covenant, Ozark First, Bethel Baptist, Cornerstone, All Nations Worship Center, Pentecostals of Ozark, Saint James Baptist, Vineyard, Westgate Church of Christ, Westwood Presbyterian, and others.
In the proclamation, Ward encouraged residents to participate in the observance by setting aside time for prayer, both privately and collectively, in homes, workplaces, schools, and throughout the community for the benefit of the city. To view the full proclamation, see below.
The meeting also included approval of the minutes from the July 21 council meeting, followed by the Municipal Court report and the city’s financial report.
The Ozark City Council is scheduled to meet again on Aug. 17, when members are expected to revisit the proposed FY2027 budget and the retiree bonus resolution. The meetings, which take place on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, begin at 5:00 pm, and if residents wish to address the council, they must arrive before the meeting starts and be present during the portion of the administrative session when the council calls for any residents who wish to address the council.
