A forum the city held Tuesday night attracted a large crowd and a wide mix of residents and business owners. 
The forum was an opportunity for all to voice their concerns and have their questions answered by city officials.
People moved to different stations where officials had booths set up about all the various projects taking place within the city.
Rotation after rotation, Cary Patterson, the city’s planner, attracted a large crowd filled with questions.
The following are just a few.
 
Q: I think billboards are ugly and don’t want them blocking my business from the traffic along the new Expressway, what is going to be the future billboard policy along the Expressway?
- Scott Schafer, Town and Country Motel
A: Everyone says billboards are ugly until it’s the one they need. Billboards are a tool to get people to a business’ front door so there is definitely a positive to them. The Expressway is going to be already extremely limited because of MoDOT’s restrictions. The city will need to study exactly how their restrictions will impact the Expressway before trying for a more restrictive ordinance.
 
Q: What about billboards and signs along the new Osage Beach Parkway?
-Geniece Tyler, Golden Door Motel
A: The city will be entirely responsible for directional signs once the city takes over and current Highway 54 is changed to the parkway. What the plan is, is that there will be green directional signs placed at every intersection with the road name and lake road. Business owners will be able to buy a space on that sign advertising their business down that road.
 
Q: When will the John Q. Hammons project start?
A: Pretty much the only thing that I know of holding up the start of construction is the lawsuit. I assume as soon as it gets settled, he’ll be able to move forward with his project relatively quickly. I imagine he already has the plans done and is ready to present them as soon as he can. He’s already a year behind.