No. #285

October 2009

NEW MML OFFICERS AND BOARD ELECTED … During the Business Meeting at the Annual Conference at Tan-Tar-A, the delegates elected Mayor Gerry Welch of Webster Groves as President of the MML and Mayor Carson Ross of Blue Springs as Vice President. The following officials were elected to two-year terms on the Board of Directors: City Administrator Barry Alexander of Shrewsbury; City Clerk Denise Chisum of Lee’s Summit; Mayor Bill Kolas of Higginsville; City Attorney Lisa Robertson of St. Joseph; Councilmember Arthur Sharpe, Jr., of University City; Councilmember Paul Ward of Kirkwood; Councilmember Susan Williams of Poplar Bluff; and Mayor Terry Wilson of Pleasant Hill. Councilmember Bob Kneemiller of St. Charles was elected to a one-year term on the Board of Directors.

INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS … Winners of the 2009 Innovation Awards program were announced at the MML Annual Conference at Tan-Tar-A. The city of Warrensburg’s alcohol abuse management program won in the large city category. Jackson’s community outreach program won in the medium city category and New London’s earth day classroom won in the small city category. The city of Ferguson received an honorable mention for the City’s responsible landlord program. A catalog of Innovation Award projects is available on the League’s Web site at www.mocities.com.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE HANDOUTS ONLINE … Handouts from the MML Annual Conference are available for download from the League’s Web site at www.mocities.com. Interested persons should click on the “Conference Handouts” link on the front page.

2010 ANNUAL CONFERENCE DATES … For long-range planners, the 2010 MML Annual Conference will be held September 12-15, 2010, at the St. Charles Convention Center.

NLC CONFERENCE IN SAN ANTONIO … The National League of Cities Congress of Cities will be held in San Antonio on November 11-14, 2009. The delegates from Missouri and Kansas will co-host a reception on Thursday, November 12, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Zuni Grill on the Riverwalk.

PURDY GETS STACKED SALES TAX DECISION SET ASIDE … Earlier this year, it was reported that the city of Purdy had lost in a lawsuit brought by attorney Tom Burcham, with the court invalidating one of the City’s two “stacked” general fund sales taxes. However, after the City recently submitted a Motion to Reconsider and extensive briefing in support, the Barry County Circuit Court set aside its previous ruling against the City, stating that it will hold a new hearing on the matter. Burcham has sued several cities that have multiple general or capital improvement sales taxes throughout the state, seeking invalidation of cities’ sales taxes and attorney’s fees. Most recently, he has sued the city of Joplin.

MARKENSON RECEIVES MML DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD … MML Executive Director Gary Markenson was selected to receive the 2009 MML Distinguished Service Award. Previous winners were Mollie Rickey, Howard Tooke, Joanne Collins, Dee Hudson, John O’Renick, Norma Caldwell, Willis Conner, Pat Killoren, Carolyn Gerdes, James Eagan, Kennard Whitfield, Marge Schramm, Gerald Gilkey, Joe Adams, Kevin O’Keefe, Marie Wessley, Howard Wright, Ray Beck, Glenn Van Leer, and Karen Messerli.

3.2% NONINTOXICATING BEER LICENSES NO LONGER EXIST … The General Assembly has repealed Chapter 312, the nonintoxicating beer license chapter. From now on, only 5% beer licenses will be issued by the state. At the local level for the next liquor license renewal, only 5% licenses should be issued.

BLUE SPRINGS’ ORDINANCE ON MICRO-WIND TURBINES … The city of Blue Springs has adopted a comprehensive ordinance to regulate the location and installation of micro-wind turbines. You may obtain a copy from League headquarters or the Web site at www.mocities.com.

REMINDER TO E-VERIFY NEW HIRES … House Bill 1549 from the 2008 legislative session requires all public employers to utilize the federal E-Verify (immigration status) program when hiring new employees. E-Verify should only be used after the city has decided to hire a certain person and is not to be used for pre-employment screening. New users will be required to perform a short tutorial on the E-Verify system. Web site is http://e-veryfy.uscis.gov/enroll/. Please visit the “One Stop Shop” at www.mocities.com for additional information regarding the E-Verify program.

SALES TAX REVENUE DECLINES … The Dept. of Revenue reports that statewide sales tax collections for July to September were down 7 percent from the same period last year.

FREE PARKING FOR CERTAIN VETERANS? … Last year, the General Assembly passed H.B. 400 to allow municipalities to permit veterans who received the Silver Star, Purple Heart, or were prisoners of war to park free at parking meters. The Dept. of Revenue will issue windshield placards. We wonder how parking enforcement will know who parked the vehicle (spouse, child, friend of the veteran)?

WRITTEN POLICY FOR FELONY INTERROGATIONS … HB 62 requires law enforcement agencies to adopt a written policy for custodial interrogations of persons suspected of committing or attempting to commit certain felony crimes. Failure to adopt such a policy may result in withholding of state funds. A sample policy may be obtained on the League’s Web site.

MML’S LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM … In an attempt to increase lobbying efforts and to strengthen and unify the voice of Missouri cities on state legislation impacting municipal government, MML has implemented a Legislative Grassroots Advocacy program. This program will utilize e-mail and the Web in order to effectively organize municipal legislative efforts statewide and strengthen state and municipal government partnerships. The success of the legislative advocacy program will rely on your participation. In order to participate, MML must have a preferred personal e-mail address. Please contact League headquarters or e-mail info@mocities.com to update your preferred personal e-mail address.

RECORD MML MEMBERSHIP … This year, the following municipalities have joined the MML: Coffey, Olympian Village, Freistatt, Bigelow, South Gorin, and Iatan. We welcome our new city officials and encourage them to use MML services often. MML membership now stands at a record 659 municipalities.