Resident urges city review after alleging improper concrete work at Burger King site

Buddy Huggins, a resident who identified himself as a historical videographer, told the Ozark City Board of Aldermen at the May meeting that he observed what he described as several construction and safety problems at a Burger King job site and asked the city for transparency and documentation.

Huggins said contractors poured concrete on a “43‑degree” day followed by several days with temperatures “below 32,” that no curing blankets were placed over footings, that the crew used chicken wire instead of rebar and that saw cuts were made “right in front of me” far sooner than he expected. “So that's two things,” Huggins said, and asked the aldermen to require disclosure of inspection records and test cylinders.

The matter prompted an immediate staff response. The city administrator told the board he had circulated background information in advance of the meeting and that staff are “investigating some concerns” and will request additional information from a third‑party inspector. Planning and development Director Randall Whitman confirmed the city is investigating and will obtain outside inspection and documentation.

No formal action or vote was taken; the aldermen opened the floor to the citizen comment and then directed staff to investigate. The board’s public record shows Huggins asked specifically for documentation about who worked on the site, test‑cylinder results and the jobsite inspection history. Whitman said the city will ask a third party for additional information on the property and the project.

The board did not set a deadline for the outside review during the meeting. Mayor Gore and aldermen did not dispute that staff should investigate; they did not propose or adopt any ordinance or stop‑work order during the session.

The city staff response at the meeting indicates the next steps are an internal review and an external inspector’s report; whether that review will lead to enforcement, code action, or permit revocation was not stated.