A Missouri lawmaker expects several legislative bills proposed this session that would make it harder for cities to ask their voters for tax increases. State Representative Bill Falkner is chairing the state House Local Government Committee. Falkner tells Brent Martin he will focus on helping municipalities address their biggest need, recruiting and retaining quality workers. […]
Tag: Cities
Missouri State Auditor releases 2021 property tax rates review
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released her office’s annual review of local property tax rates. The State Auditor’s Office has reviewed rates each year since 1985 to determine whether they are compliant with state law and to monitor rate adjustments to ensure revenue neutrality, as required by law. The office does not make recommendations […]
State Senator Dan Hegeman files Bill 633 regarding election integrity and reform
State Senator Dan Hegeman has pre-filed Senate Bill 633 regarding election integrity and reform. While it contains some familiar language, Hegeman said it also embraces new technology, with what he called “voter safety” in mind. The legislative proposal would allow a local election official to oversee ballot-counting machines and ensure these machines are not connected […]
Missouri health director wanted to appeal judge’s COVID ruling. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt refused
(Missouri Independent) – Attorney General Eric Schmitt will not appeal a consequential court ruling that strips powers from local health departments, despite a request from Missouri’s state health director to do so. In an email to The Independent, Schmitt’s spokesman said the attorney general’s office notified the Department of Health and Senior Services of its […]
Empire gas customers in north Missouri to see price of natural gas double
To reflect estimated changes in the wholesale cost of natural gas as well as a change in the company’s Actual Cost Adjustment (ACA) factor, natural gas customers of The Empire District Gas Company d/b/a Liberty (Empire) will see natural gas rates change under a filing that takes effect on December 1, 2021. The ACA factor […]
2021 Farm Service Agency county committee elections underway
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin mailing ballots this week for the Farm Service Agency county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs […]
Missouri State Auditor makes recommendations to improve accountability and transparency in Maries County
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of Maries County, located in central Missouri. The report, which gave the county an overall performance rating of “good,” recommends several changes to policies and procedures to improve accountability and transparency for taxpayers. The most recent previous audit of Maries County was completed in 2017, with the county receiving an […]
Audio: Coon Creek Baptist Church now accepting meal orders for Thanksgiving day delivery
Orders are now being accepted for the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Union Coon Creek Baptist Church west of Trenton. The pastor’s wife, Dianna Crawford, says the meal on November 25, 2021, will include turkey, homemade dressing, homemade noodles, homemade rolls, pumpkin pie bars, green beans, and mashed potatoes. Volunteer drivers will meet with Pastor Doug […]
Governor Parson announces $750,000 Emergency Energy Loan to Hannibal
Governor Mike Parson announced a $750,000 interest-free loan to the city of Hannibal to ease the impact of excessive wholesale electricity and natural gas costs associated with the February 2021 extreme weather event. The loan was made possible through the Municipal Utility Emergency Loan Program. “The Municipal Utility Emergency Loan Program provides municipal utilities and […]
17-year-old girl from Chillicothe believed to have died from taking counterfeit pills; Two suspects in custody
Chillicothe Police on Sunday conducted a suspicious death investigation involving a teenager who is believed to have ingested what police call “Counterfeit Prescription Pills.” Two people of interest from Chillicothe have been arrested and were charged on Monday for their alleged roles in the death of the 17-year-old girl. On Sunday at 11:30, Chillicothe officers […]
Jamesport City Council accepts employee health insurance bid
The Jamesport City Council on October 11 accepted an offer from Blue Cross and Blue Shield for employee health insurance. This was after a discussion on the lack of options available. City Clerk Shelley Page reports the insurance will cost $387.70 more in total per month than the previous plan for the two city employees. […]
USDA Invests $15 million to construct a regional water distribution system in Northwest Missouri
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced that the USDA is investing an additional $15,018,000 to Great Northwest Wholesale Water Commission for the development of a regional water distribution system. This funding brings USDA’s total investment for this project to $46,945,210. “Some areas of rural Missouri suffer significantly […]
State of Missouri creates American Rescue Plan Act spending toolkits for local governments
The State of Missouri has created and made available spending toolkits to help local governments identify allowable uses for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) local funds. “We want to assist our local partners in making strategic, responsible investments that will serve Missourians for generations to come,” Governor Mike Parson said. “Our first priority is to ensure taxpayer […]
Audio: Missouri police chief says many rural law enforcement agencies lack resources, training and experience
A southwest Missouri police chief says many rural law enforcement agencies often don’t have the resources, training, and experience found in bigger cities. A statewide task force is working to improve services for Missouri’s sexual assault survivors and to better respond to these cases. During a virtual taskforce hearing, Bolivar Police Chief Mark Webb says […]
After much discussion, with 20 residents in attendance, Trenton City Council leaves in place the breed-specific dog ordinance
After much discussion, for more than 30 minutes, the Trenton City Council Monday night met with citizens, many of whom were seeking a repeal of the breed-specific dog ordinance. Six members of the council were physically present at Trenton City Hall and another took part via Zoom. Twenty individuals were in the audience at city […]
Missouri lawmakers buck national trend by establishing police “Bill of Rights”
(Missouri Independent) – On the final day of the 2021 legislative session in May, Missouri lawmakers passed a “law enforcement bill of rights” that gives officers special legal protections and closes files to police misconduct. When Gov. Mike Parson signed it into law in July, the bill of rights portion was largely overshadowed in press […]
Local elections in Iowa to Include voting changes
There is no federal or statewide race this fall, but Iowa voters in many cities will still head to the polls for municipal and school elections and county auditors hope they are informed about sweeping changes the state adopted this year dealing with voting. In March, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill, which, among other things, reduces […]
Trenton R-9 Board of Education hears numerous reports, discuss COVID-19 policy and approve bus routes
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, heard a report on the mentoring program for new teachers in the district. District Instructional Coach Doctor Jill Watkins reported she developed the Trenton program based on what she has implemented in the past. She said teachers have to complete first and second-year tutoring. She […]