Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

It’s fescue Seed Harvest time throughout Southwest Missouri and like many others, my family is busy combining fescue seed. Our cattle ranch’s objective is to turn forage to cash by grazing cattle on predominantly fescue grass inter seeded with legumes. One of the fringe benefits of growing Fescue for grass and hay is it also produces a seed crop that can be harvested for a cash crop. The days start at 7 a.m. and end at about 9:30 p.m. This has caused supper to be at 10 p.m. each night.

The fescue seed industry has an economic contribution. Since Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue revolutionized the home grass seed industry a half-century ago, homeowners across the United States have turned to this dependable, economical grass seed for durable, low-maintenance lawns. More than two-thirds of all KY-31 Missouri seed farmers balance raising cattle, growing traditional crops and producing KY-31 seed, all while facing the challenges of unpredictable Midwest weather. In Missouri, hailstorms and last-minute windstorms can steal a seed crop in a single strike. Fields that look fine one day can be lost to high wind the next. Even when weather and growing conditions align for optimal seed production, farmers only have a two to three week window, right before the Fourth of July.

County Health Board. Recently, I’ve been contacted by concerned St. Clair County citizens about a current health board member that no longer lives in St. Clair County but is still serving out the term. These constituents wanted to know what the State Statute says about requirements for County Health Board members and why the St. Clair County Health Board was still allowing a member to serve as an elected official even though that member is no longer a county resident. I contacted the Head of Elections in the Secretary of State’s office for a better understanding of the office requirements. The requirement for a county health board member is that they must live in the county at the time of filing. Unfortunately, there isn’t any requirements after the filing takes place.

In the past, the county commissioners have informed me that they had not received a letter of resignation from the member and until they do, they will not take any action. If the citizens of St. Clair County want a health board member removed, they will need to request a letter of resignation from the member that has moved away from the county. At that time the county commissioners would have the option to appoint and fill a vacant position.

911 Services. Sometimes we need to be reminded of laws from the past if they apply to our local government. Two years ago a bill regarding emergency communication services (HB1456) passed. This bill changed the laws regarding funding for emergency 911 services, administration of 911 funding, Missouri 911 Service Board, and the cooperation and contracting between emergency services providers.

The bill provides appointment procedures and criteria for county emergency dispatching service boards when the board is meant to consolidate central dispatching services in other political subdivisions that have contracted for such service. The terms of office for existing board members that consolidate with other boards shall end 30 days after the initial members of the newly consolidated board are appointed.

The bill also authorizes any county, city, or 911 emergency services board established under Chapter 190 or under Section 321.243 to contract or cooperate with any other board. Any contracting county or board may seek assistance and advice from the Missouri 911 Service Board regarding terms of the joint contract and the administration and operation of the contracting counties, cities, and boards. The bill also specifies a procedure by which two or more publicly funded 911 central dispatch centers organized under Sections 190.327 to 190.329 or Section 190.335, upon voter approval, can consolidate into one 911 central dispatch center. If a county does not have a public agency, it shall enter into a shared services agreement for providing emergency dispatch services, or form a consolidated emergency telephone services district. This bill requires entities located in multiple counties that are entering into a service agreement to provide written notice to the Missouri 911 Service Board if they choose to locate a 911 dispatch center in a county other than a county with the lowest average wage from the set of counties in which the contracting entities are located. If a county has a single board overseeing the dispatching of emergency services, and consolidation of 911 central dispatch centers within the county is desired then the existing board shall vote as to whether the existing board should continue to exist and administer 911 central dispatch services in the county. To help fund a 911 service, the voters can appoint a monthly fee on mobile devices. For more information, please read the bill in its entirety: HB 1456.

As a reminder, the ZZ Bridge located in North East St. Clair County is still closed and will re-open in September of 2020.

Upcoming events: The H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation Camp started in 1929 near Iconium, Missouri usually starts in June however due to the COVID-19 Virus Pandemic it was debated if it would even open this year. This Camp is for the Greater Kansas City Area and many local Troops. It will be open on July 5th with a shorten schedule. Instead of 10 day sessions with a visitor day it will have 8 day Sessions with no visitor day.

Interim hours: Now that Session is over for 2020, I will be back in District full time. If you need any assistance my Legislative Assistant Amy Helton will be happy to help you Monday-Thursday.

It is my honor to serve the constituents of District 125. If you ever have questions, concerns, or input, please feel free to contact me any time at (573) 751-4065.

Your District 125 Capitol office is 413B, and YOU are always welcome

If you would like to be added to the e-mail list to receive our Capitol Reports, you may e-mail me at warren.love@house.mo.gov or call the Capitol office at (573) 751-4065 and speak with my Legislative Assistant.