Lake resident hired to enhance growth, expand opportunities in area
by Nancy Hogland
Mac McNally, hired in April as the regional planner for the Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments, hit the ground running. Not only is he working to help promote new business, serve as a liaison between government entities and the state on transportation needs, and assist in developing hazardous mitigation plans, McNally is also trying to find grant money that will enable the now-defunct Rock Island Line that runs through Eldon to be converted into a pedestrian trail similar to the Katy Trail.
"It's really kind of a pet project that I got started on about a year and a half ago. While working as a realtor, I had the Fasco building in Eldon listed. It ended up getting leased but in the process of finding a buyer, I started looking at healthy living options in Eldon. A lot of companies look at quality of- life issues before locating in areas,"
McNally explained.
"That's when I started looking into the Rock Island Line project." He said he plans to discuss his idea with Ameren, which owns the 3-mile long right-of way, in a few months - after they wrap up a similar project in another area. Because one of the tenants of the Rails to Trails program is that if the line ever becomes commercially viable, it reverts to the owner, Ameren would have nothing to lose but a lot to gain. McNally also said it fi ts in perfectly with the goals of his position. "If we can get this going, I can see it eventually being extended to Versailles then to Clinton and Windsor and finally to connect to the Katy Trail. If that would happen, we would have the opportunity to hold bicycling events and attract a whole new crowd to the Lake area," McNally said. "Of course, that's in the future. Right now we're just taking baby steps to see if we can even get it established in Eldon."
McNally, who was the first certified commercial investment member (CCIM) in the Lake area and who brokered deals bringing many new businesses to the Lake including US Cellular, H&R Block, Beltone and Golden Corral, said it will be interesting to work with the Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council to determine the needs of the community and then work to meet those needs by attracting new business. He said he also will enjoy working as a conduit between the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and government entities to meet the needs of the community. "Instead of 5,000 Lake area residents contacting them about potholes or dangerous curves, I'll meet with the Transportation Advisory Committee and other government heads to learn about their concerns, we'll prioritize those issues and then take them to MoDOT. For instance, right now our focus is on getting improvements to Highway 42 where there have been several severe accidents," he explained.
McNally also said he's excited to be working on Gov. Jay Nixon's broadband initiative - a plan to provide 95 percent of Missouri with high-speed internet by 2014. Currently approximately 79 percent of the state has access to the service. As part of the process, business owners in Camden, Miller, Morgan and Laclede counties are asked to visit www.loclg.org and fi ll out a survey about internet service. "I'm sure there will be a lot more come up because I'm still learning about all of my responsibilities. But in the meantime, I'm excited to be working here and feel stronglythat I can bring positive results
within the organization," he said.
Executive Director Debbie Rathert said McNally's background in commercial real estate combined with being a native of the lake area made him a perfect candidate for the regional planner position. The Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments is a Regional Planning Commission (RPC) serving Camden, Miller, Morgan and Laclede counties. It is the mission of the RPC to enhance the region's growth by working with local government offi cials, to coordinate regionally focused activities and to advise on and administer various grants and loan programs that will benefi t its members and the community. Regional councils are engaged in a myriad of activities including economic and community development, housing initiatives, safety and security, transportation planning, environmental issues and quality-of-life issues in order to create jobs, stimulate private investment and attract millions of dollars which support public projects.
