By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
Samburg Mayor Larry Gene Davis said he believes 2013 is going to be a very busy year for his city.
The year 2012 was an eventful one for this community with a population of just over 200.
Several projects that were started in 2012 will come to pass in 2013 — the new city hall building, a housing grant and a new city charter.
“We’ve had a lot going on,” Davis said Monday.
He said he hopes to get moved in to the new city hall building this coming spring and he said he is looking forward to using a $500,000 housing grant to work on housing in town.
“I’m excited about moving in to it,” Davis said about the new city hall building.
He told The Messenger he didn’t originally plan on running for re-election this past fall, but changed his mind after being encouraged by residents of the town. He said when he began considering a run for re-election, he looked at all the projects that were started in 2012 and he said he wanted to see them through.
This past year the city was able to finalize a rural fire protection plan.
“We finally got that set,” Davis said. “I think that’s a good thing for the city and the county. That was a big deal. I was really proud we got that signed, sealed and delivered.”
The mayor also praised the board of aldermen for its work on drafting a new city charter. The new city charter is now in the hands of the state Legislature and is expected to be ratified in the spring.
“They really worked at it and I’m really proud of the board, all six of them,” Davis said.
With all the unfinished business that will be finalized this year, Davis commented, “I think it’s going to be a pretty good year. We’re in pretty good shape.”
It was in 2012 that Samburg approved the sale of its City Hall building and its tractor shed and then used the money to help finance the construction of a new City Hall and new tractor shed on the north side of town.
The new City Hall will house city offices, the water department, police department, a tourism display area and a new community room.
Under the category of tourism development, it was a good year for the city’s tourism committee.
The city has its own promotional billboard in southeast Missouri as well as new tourism brochures, shirts and caps.
The committee continues to participate in national boat shows to promote Samburg as a tourist destination and the committee has also had a presence at Samburg events, including the recent waterfowl festival and at this past summer’s Samburg Community Involvement Day.
This past year, the city’s board of aldermen bade farewell to Woody Cook, John Vancleave and Johnnie Johnson and welcomed new board members Sharon Cunningham, Shelly Arnett and Joe Denton.
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Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 1.1.13