22 Local Elected Officials Attend Workshop at MRPC

ST. JAMES—When the election is over and the successful candidates take office, some realize that local government is more complex than realized or anticipated—especially when it comes to responsibilities. To help newly elected officials begin to understand some of those responsibilities—and to help refresh veteran officials—the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, in cooperation with the Missouri Municipal League, hosted its Annual Elected Officials Workshop June 25 at MRPC's St. James office.

Richard Sheets of the MML was the guest presenter for the workshop. MML is a statewide association of cities developed to form an agency for the cooperation of Missouri cities, towns and villages and to promote the interest, welfare and closer relations among them in order to improve municipal government and administration in the state. Sheets covered such important issues as conflict of interest, nepotism, the open meetings law, the powers of the mayor and governing body, classificiation of cities and council procedures. Sheets told elected officials that they have the pressure from citizens and the structure of government to deal with, and that local governments are creatures of state government and only have the power authorized to them by the state. He also cautioned elected officials about running local governments like businesses.

While you may campaign to operate government like a business, doing so can get you in jail, Sheets said. He explained that you cannot hire close relatives like you can in private business. He also stressed the importance of following a bidding process and laws for purchasing from yourself or a family member.

Some 22 local leaders participated in the workshop which covered topics ranging from responsibilities of office to nepotism to the Sunshine law.

Among those attending were:

From Cuba: Les Murdock;

From Rolla: Scott Grahl and Carol Daniels;

From Steelville: Kathy McCann, Terry Palmer and Cleo Chandler;

From Newburg: Gerald Faulkner, Andrea Mattison and Steve Gospich;

From Doolittle: Don Thibeault;

From Sullivan; Mike Ryan and Dana Campbell;

From St. Robert: Theresa Cook, Debra Adkins and George Saunders;

From Freeburg; Allen Gradel and Darryl Haller;

From Caledonia: John Lucas and Robert Vinyard; and

From MRPC: Richard Cavender, Connie Willman and Maria Kardon

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Officers are Chairman Robert Reed of Washington County, Vice Chairman Laura Antolak of Rolla, Secretary Russell Scheulen of Osage County and Treasurer Gary Brown of Salem. A professional staff of 24, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities upon request.