“There she stands, proud in all her glory.” Missouri County Record Winter 2010 Carter County Courthouse, Van Buren, MO • MAC 2011 Legislative Priorities -- p. 3 • County Achievement Awards -- p. 7 • President Leads Travel Group -- p. 10 • Focus On Drug Courts -- p. 15 • Annual Conference Photos -- p. 16 • National County Gov’t Month -- p. 24 • House & Senate Rosters -- p. 30 Executive Committee Leads MAC In 2011 2010 Board Of Directors President Eva Danner Horton, Livingston Co. I read once that “a government that is big enough to President-Elect Jack Adams, Iron Co. give you all you want is big enough to take it all away.” 2nd VP Debbi McGinnis, Polk Co. May we all find 2011 to be the year where we balance 3rd VP Dave Coonrod, Greene Co. the needs with our resources and our challenges with Treasurer Rodger Reedy, Benton Co. Past President Peggy McGaugh, Carroll Co. creative fiscal responsibility. The Missouri Associa- Mark Hedrick, St. Fancois County tion of Counties and our united voice continue to be our Carol Green, Phelps County strongest asset on all legislative issues. I am looking Tom Dirnberger, Scott County forward to working with all members of MAC in this Becky Schofield, Dallas County new year. -- Debbi McGinnis, MAC President Susette Taylor, Atchison County Scot Van Meter, Buchanan County Dan Hausman, Buchanan County Lisa Pope, Platte County Betty Knight, Platte County Tom Brandom, Clay County Ed Quick, Clay County Michael Sanders, Jackson County Curtis Koons, Jackson County Mike Whelan, Monroe County Ken Pearson, Boone County Rodger Reedy Carol Green Tom Dirnberger Pat Lensmeyer, Boone County Nelson Heil, Carroll County Mark Reynolds, Johnson County Cher Caudel, Moniteau County Shelley Harvey, Audrain County Ann Schroeder, Franklin County Sharon Birkman, Franklin County Charlie Dooley, St. Louis County Ed Kemp, Jefferson County Charles Dean, Phelps County Shelley Harvey Eva Danner Horton Gene Oakley, Carter County Rodney Richardet, Perry County Sharron Payne, Butler County Officers elected by the membership at the association’s fall annual Gary Youngblood, Barry County meeting include Polk County Collector Debbi McGinnis, president; Benton Richard Struckhoff, Greene County Brenda Day, Wright County County Assessor Rodger Reedy, president-elect; Phelps County Treasurer Bonnie McCord, Vernon County Carol Green, 2nd vice president; Scott County Recorder Tom Dirnberger, Darieus Adams, Jasper County 3rd vice president; Audrain County Clerk Shelley Harvey, treasurer; and Jerry Reynolds, Cape Girardeau County Livingston County Presiding Commissioner Eva Danner Horton, past Gerald Jones, Cape Girardeau County Carolyn Loraine, Camden County president. Linda Sweatt, Camden County Chris Wrigley, Cole County Marvin Register, Cole County Pam Shipley, Cass County The Missouri Brian Baker, Cass County James Strahan, Taney County Jim Strafuss, Taney County County Record Vol. 16, No. 4 Donald Kritzer, Callaway County Ken Dillon, Callaway County A Publication Of The Missouri Association Of Counties Terry Nichols, Iron County 516 East Capitol Avenue, PO Box 234, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0234 Debbie Door, Franklin County Telephone: (573) 634-2120 Fax: (573) 634-3549 Richard Webster Jr., Jasper County www.mocounties.com Laura Pope, McDonald County Dick Burke, Executive Director Mary Ellen Brennan, Assistant Director Pamela Williams, St. Francois County Bev Cunningham, Insurance/Business Manager Cindy Wells, Finance and Operations Manager Louella Pryor, Morgan County Charles Harrison, Administrative Assistant Grace Toebben, Administrative Assistant Steve Cox, Livingston County Bob Holthaus, Loss Prevention Coordinator Jay Shipman, Communications Assistant Christy Blakemore, Boone County The Missouri Association of Counties, founded in 1972, is a nonprofit corporation and lobbying alliance of county Platte County Terry Edwards, elected and administrative officials who work to improve services for Missouri taxpayers. The board of directors meets Carole Wilkerson, Cedar County on the third Wednesday of designated months in Jefferson City to promote passage of priority bills and monitor other John Kay, Moniteau County legislation before the state General Assembly and the United States Congress. The Missouri County Record is produced Karen Miller, Boone County four times annually by the association staff. Subscription rates for non-association members are $15 per year prepaid. Ron Houseman, Taney County Rates for association members are included in membership service fees. All articles, photographs and graphics Stephen Holt, Jasper County contained herein are the property of the association and may not be reproduced or published without permission. Advertising rates are available upon request. Don Troutman, Texas County 2 www.mocounties.com Association Votes On 2011 Legislative Priorities At November Annual Meeting At its annual conference at requests that Gov. Nixon and the the future to meet the increasing Tan-Tar-A in November, the MAC Missouri General Assembly hold service needs of their citizens. membership approved six priorities county governments harmless from for the 2011 legislative session. any further state budget cuts in Support A Transportation these areas. Funding Package That Will Support Upgrading Address This State’s Dire Missouri’s 9-1-1 Wireless Oppose The Pre-emption Infrastructure Needs Emergency Services Of Local Authority MAC will respectfully request Missouri trails the nation in MAC will oppose legislation the General Assembly’s support for wireless 9-1-1 accessibility. MAC that would pre-empt a county’s au- a transportation funding package will support legislative action to thority to deal with local issues and that will address Missouri’s dire design a complete and detailed plan problems. infrastructure needs. for upgrading Missouri’s 9-1-1 wire- less emergency services. Oppose Legislation That Erodes Support Funding For The Local Tax Base And Call The County Assessment Support Fully Funding Upon The General Assembly Maintenance Fund From State Mandates On To Address Missouri’s Additional Withholdings County Government Antiquated Tax Structure MAC will support legislation to MAC will respectfully request MAC will be calling upon the allow additional withholdings from that the Missouri General Assem- General Assembly to limit legisla- local property tax collections to bly and Gov. Nixon include in the tion that would have a negative offset the lack of adequate funding state’s fiscal year 2012 budget (1) budgetary effect on local govern- from the State of Missouri. Addi- an increase in the appropriation for ments without guaranteed replace- tionally, MAC seeks to protect and prisoner per diem reimbursement ment revenue. Additionally, MAC preserve all current funding levels, authorized under Sec. 221.105, will request the General Assembly regardless of source, and to cooper- RSMo, (2) an appropriation to fully address Missouri’s antiquated tax ate in finding new funding sources, fund state assessment maintenance code, especially as it relates to sales or increasing existing sources, for reimbursements, (3) an appropria- tax, so that both state and local the betterment of the assessment tion to fully fund any new obliga- governments are well-positioned in process. tions placed on the election officials of this state, (4) both an appropria- tion to fully fund the reimburse- ment for the detention and care of neglected and/or delinquent juve- niles and the salaries of juvenile court personnel in single county circuits, (5) an appropriation that would relieve counties of the cost of providing office space and certain utility expenses for the various state public defenders’ offices, and (6) also requests that the General Assembly continue to refrain from implementing the requirements of SB 711 relating to property tax en- acted in 2008 until full state fund- ing for the same is authorized. Ad- ditionally, recognizing the difficult budgetary constraints that the state of Missouri is experiencing and the dim prospects for additional state appropriations for these programs and, as a partner with the state in the delivery of these services, MAC www.mocounties.com 3 Gold Sponsors Advanced Correctional Healthcare DEVNET Inc. Ameren Missouri Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Camden County L.J. Hart & Company CenturyLink Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Control Technology and Solutions Silver Sponsors Atwill & Montgomery LLC Nationwide Retirement Solutions Berger Devine Yaeger Inc. Oden Enterprises MOPERM Union Pacific Missouri Municipal LeagueBronze - SponsorsSubmitted 1/1/11 (continue to use till updated) MissouriHenry CountyM. Adkins Record & Son - SubmittedGallagher 1/1/1 Bassett1 (continue Services Inc. to use till updated) Benton & Associates Heartland Asphalt Materials Central Bank Harrington & Courtelyou Inc. Coastal Energy Corp. Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co. Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers The Lowenbaum Partnership LLC Evans & Dixon LLC Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. Hospitality Suite Sponsors SShhaaffeerr,, KKlliinnee && WWaarrrreenn,, IInncc.. Forming Partnerships. Delivering Results.lts. Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers Control Technology and Solutions Engineers Missouri Pork Association Oden Enterprises Land Surveyors Land Planners Construction Observers Mark Your Landscape Architects Calendars! This year’s conference will be held Oct. 27-29, 2011, at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach, MO. We will see you there! Missouri: Columbia I Chillicothe I Kansas City I Macon I www.skw-inc.com www.mocounties.com 5 Platte and