No. 271

June 2008

MML ANNUAL CONFERENCE … The 2008 MML Annual Conference will be held at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield on September 7-10. You will receive registration material in the near future, but be sure to mark those dates on your calendar and plan to attend.

FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE LAW … The federal minimum wage law will be increased on August 1, 2008 to $6.55, and August 1, 2009 to $7.25. Municipal employers are required to pay the federal minimum wage to all employees.

INNOVATION AWARDS … There is still time to enter your city’s project in the League’s Innovation Awards program. The awards will put the spotlight on successful municipal programs that will benefit other municipalities. Three different population categories are available for the awards so all municipalities are encouraged to apply. All submissions will be entered into the Innovation Awards database for future reference. Contact League headquarters or visit the League’s Web site at www.mocities.com.

ANY CITY OFFICIALS RUNNING FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY? … We would like to compile a list of city officials or former city officials who are candidates to the General Assembly for the first time. Usually, these legislators with a background in local government become supporters of our legislative positions. Please let us know if you have a candidate who has served in municipal government.

SALES TAX ELECTIONS … In April, voters approved special purpose sales taxes in the following municipalities: Cape Girardeau (parks), Foristell (parks), Grain Valley (parks), Huntsdale (capital improvements), Kirksville (economic development), Maryville (capital improvements), O’Fallon (parks), and Richmond (parks). Voters defeated sales tax proposals in Gerald (parks) and Jamesport (transportation). Voters approved a telecommunications gross receipts tax in Salisbury.

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S ETHICS CONFERENCE … The Attorney General’s office will sponsor a free, one-day seminar on ethics and legal issues including: the Sunshine Law, conflicts of interest, nepotism, sexual harassment, residency requirements, the Hancock Amendment, etc. The Conference will be held on July 10 at the Truman Office Building in Jefferson City. You may register online at ago.mo.gov or phone 573-715-7052.

SALES TAX COLLECTIONS CONTINUE TO DECLINE … The Missouri Department of Revenue reports that statewide sales tax collections for the past 10 months declined 1 percent compared with collections, for the same period in 2007.

CHARTER COMMISSIONS ELECTED … In April, voters in Belton and O’Fallon elected charter commissions to draft a charter for voter approval. The MML publication, Model City Charter, is available on the League’s Web site.

GREEN PUBLICATION … CitiesGoGreen is a new sustainability digital and print magazine to help local governments become more sustainable. The digital sample issue of CitiesGoGreen is available at http://www.CitiesGoGreen.com; click on the magazine icon. Subscriptions are free to anyone in government. Regular features include sections with useful tools, quick and easy ways to make a difference, building and development profiles. Community issues such as the impact of traffic, effects of codes, water and land use solutions, and energy conservation will be discussed.

EOT HANDOUTS ONLINE … Handouts for the League’s Elected Officials Training Conference will be available for download from the League’s Web site .

WAGE AND SALARY DATA AVAILABLE … The MML maintains wage and salary information on 38 positions classifications from 202 Missouri municipalities. Municipal officials may obtain wage and salary information by requesting and completing the “Wage and Salary Form” from League headquarters.  E-mail request for form to info@mocities.com.

NEW MML CENTRAL REGION OFFICERS – The Central Region of the Missouri Municipal League elected new officers at the regional meeting recently held in Columbia.  The new officers are President, Councilmember Bob Riley of Moberly; Vice President, Assistant City Manager Tony St. Romaine of Columbia; and Secretary, Councilmember Ron Duval of Marshall.

WEST GATE DIVISION ELECTS NEW OFFICERS – At the recent West Gate regional meeting in Independence membership elected new officers.  The new officers are President, Councilmember Jim Shultz of Independence; Vice President, Councilmember Carol Rudi of Gladstone; and Secretary, Alderman Al Hoag of Belton.

EOT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS… The scholarship recipients for the 2008 Elected Officials Training Conference have been selected.  They are Mayor Deborah Gahan of Perryville, Alderman Dr. David Van Pelt of Mount Vernon, Alderman Richard Wilson of Cainsville, and Mayor Kharissa Petras of Billings.  The recipients receive a Conference fee waiver and a complementary room at the Capitol Plaza Hotel. 

NEW GFOA OFFICERS…At the recent Spring Institute, the Government Finance Officers Association of Missouri elected the following new officers: President, Budget Director Pamela Reitz of St. Louis County; First Vice President, Finance Analyst Sid Marlow of Lee’s Summit; Second Vice President, Finance Analyst Cyndi Freeman of Raymore; Treasurer, Chief Accounting Officer Glenn M. Pearl of St. Louis County; and Secretary, Treasurer, Denise Town of Maryville.