May 19, 2005
For immediate release
For more information, contact:
Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993
SALEM MAYOR REELECTED CHAIRMAN OF MRPC
Hears request from Pulaski County to join regional planning commission
ST. JAMES-The board of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission had a full agenda
May 13 when they met for their monthly meeting in St. James, including the annual
election of officers. At the recommendation of the External Relations Committee,
all officers were elected to a second term. Salem Mayor Gary Brown was reelected
chairman of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, and Washington County
Presiding Commission Robert Reed was reelected vice president. Other officers
reelected include Bourbon Mayor Mary Heywood, who continues as secretary, and
At-Large Commissioner for Small Business Laura Cyr, who continues to serve as
treasurer.
All total, five at-large positions were up for election this year. Jesse Jarvis,
at-large commissioner for education, was reelected to another three-year term
as commissioner for education. Janet Walker of Rolla will continue to represent
minorities, and Dawn Warren of Gasconade County will continue to represent emergency
management on the board.
New to the board is Thomas Klebba of Linn, who was elected to serve a three-year
term as at-large commissioner for lending. Klebba is a certified public accountant
and is vice president and chief financial officer for Linn State Bank and its
nine branches. James Gwyn of Washington County declined reappointment to the
position of at-large commissioner for unemployment. The board will solicit nominations
for that position. Jarvis was also appointed to another term as the at-large
representative on the executive committee.
In other business, the board:
o Heard a presentation from Dr. Bill Ankner, executive director of the newly
created Missouri Transportation Institute. Dr. Ankner encouraged board members
to view transportation as a means to an end and to start looking at transportation
as part of the community.
o Accepted the recommendation of the Operations Committee and awarded a three-year
auditing contract to Verkamp and Malone of Rolla. The company will conduct annual
audits of MRPC and its related organizations. MRPC hires a new auditor every
three years. Four companies were interviewed for the contract this year.
o Learned that MRPC staff will be assisting banks with the packaging of 7a and
USDA Guaranteed Loans.
o Heard an initial report of the FY 2005-2006 budget. Board members were asked
to review the budget prior to the June meeting when they will be asked to adopt
it.
o Heard an update on available grants and projects submitted. The city of Owensville
was congratulated for securing a grant to extend a roadway to accommodate the
expansion of Grimco, a local manufacturer. MRPC assisted the city in preparing
the application.
o Heard a request from the Pulaski County Commission to join the Meramec Regional
Planning Commission. Pulaski County is currently part of the Lake Ozark Council
of Governments at Camdenton. The county commission believes it would be better
served through MRPC and hand-carried a letter requesting permission to join.
If the MRPC board approves the request, the question would then be sent to the
governor for final decision on changing the RPC boundaries. Staff will research
the impact of Pulaski County joining MRPC, and the issue will be considered
at the June meeting. Board members asked that the executive director contact
Lake Ozark Council of Governments and discuss the issue, making sure that the
RPC understands the MRPC is not recruiting Pulaski County.
MRPC is an active, voluntary council of local governments serving Crawford,
Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps and Washington counties. The 47-member
volunteer board, made up of elected officials and appointed representatives,
works to enhance the quality of life in the region. A professional staff assists
members communities and counties in the areas of economic and community development,
environmental planning, business loans, ordinance codification, transportation
planning and housing. The office is located at 4 Industrial Drive in St. James.