An ordinance to allow the city of Marthasville to enter into an agreement with MoDOT was officially approved last week following months of discussions. Aldermen voted 3-1 during a special meeting last Wednesday to finalize the Route D reroute agreement. Alderman Jim Struckhoff was the lone board member voting in opposition. Last month, an attempt to pass the ordinance failed on a 2-1 vote in favor of approval due to the absence of Alderman Jason Kober. Per state statute, an ordinance can only be passed with the majority of the four-member board voting in favor. Though acknowledging he was voting in a losing cause throughout the reroute debate, Struckhoff said last month he was concerned about a state highway running next to the crowded Marthasville Community Club or Wessel Park. While safety concerns were raised, city officials were satisfied that MoDOT will be responsible for pedestrian traffic to be able to cross the highway unharmed. "Just putting a Highway D designation on that street, I don't think that will change the traffic flow substantially," Mayor Dale Verges said. "With all the cars that come in and out every day that use that street, I can't see any big changes." The Route D reroute is part of a plan to replace the Tuque Creek Bridge located on Highway 47 south of Marthasville in 2011, a process expected to take three months. The reroute will serve as a detour for traffic during construction and permanently as part of the agreement between MoDOT and the city. It's likely the highway designation could be made prior to the bridge construction though that has not been made official by MoDOT, Verges said. The detour is needed for 18-wheelers and other larger vehicles that might have trouble navigating the current Route D consisting of several 90-degree turns. Aldermen voted 3-1 in October, again with Struckhoff voting no, to approve the reroute inside city limits. However, passage of the ordinance was postponed then over a dispute on whether a fence needed to be erected parallel to the future Route D, an idea that was dropped. Related to the reroute, the city and the Marthasville Community Club have yet to sign a formal agreement for use and maintenance of Wessel Park. The city-owned property, located across the highway, has been used for parking by community club visitors. The agreement, drafted by city attorney Chris Graville, was offered at Tuesday night's meeting to Don Sherman, community club representative. Graville said the $1 annual agreement will automatically renew every year for up to five years unless the contract is canceled by either party. The agreement also includes an official understanding that the community club will be responsible for maintenance of the park to replace a former "handshake" understanding, Verges said. The community club also will be required to obtain insurance to cover any accidents on city property, Graville said, and provide the dates for when the park will be used. "The big thing is the insurance," Verges told The Record. "It won't come back on the city's insurance if there is an accident down there. We still have insurance on it, but it will be a secondary insurance in case something happens. We're asking (the Marthasville Community Club) to be the primary insurer." The park agreement should be approved next month once the community club has a chance to review and agree to the terms.