The Ava City Council approved an ordinance changing the speed limit on NW 13th Street from 25 miles-per-hour to 15 miles-per-hour at their regular meeting on Nov. 23.
The ordinance outlines that a petition was presented to the council expressing concerns about fast-moving traffic between Highway 5 and Walmart along NW 13th Street.
The ordinance is in effect from the south end of the street at NW Third Avenue to Highway 14.
The council also added stop signs to the side streets that connect NW 13th Street and Highway 5, making them four-way stops.
The council then discussed the petition brought before them at the last meeting asking that walking be again allowed at the police station.
The city received a letter from their Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (MIRMA) representative.
He advised that the city not allow walking in the building, due to the walking area being in close proximity to holding cells for the jail.
He offered as a possible solution that the city build a partitioned wall on the east side of the warehouse.
Council member Burrely Loftin said that he would like to visit the building before making any motions on the subject.
Peggy Porter, administrative director, said that she received a response from her e-mail to the MOCH Wellness Center staff.
Rita Plumb of the wellness center said that they are now offering walking memberships at a cost of $20 per month. There is a one-time joining fee of $25, but that is waived for people age 55 and up.
In other news, Janice Lorrain, director of planning and development, announced that Steve Davis passed his wastewater treatment operator test.
Lorrain also said that the piping has been installed for the bypass elimination plan, which will direct the flow from the sewage lagoon back through the wastewater treatment plant.
The council then approved four re-zonings by request of the planning and zoning commission.
Property located at 301 SW 13th Ave. owned by Dan and Dawne Burton was re-zoned from R-2 (two-family residential) to B-3 (general business).
Property located at 401 SW 13th Ave. owned by James H. and Dorothy O. Burton was re-zoned from B-2 (central business district) to B-3 (general business district).
Property located at 1213 SW Fourth Way owned by Roy and Sharon Hicks was re-zoned from B-2 (central business district) to R-2 (two-family residence).
Property located at 1200 SE Fourth Way owned by Jacquelyn Whiteman was re-zoned from B-2 (central business district) to R-2 (two-family residence).
Council members present were Burrely Loftin, Ric Engelhardt and Billy Long. Judy Lovan was absent.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 14 at 5 p.m. in City Hall.
