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July 3, 2008 For immediate release For more information, contact 18 Local Leaders Attend 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 24 at MRPC's St. James office. Stuart Haynes and Patrick Bonnot of the MML were the guest presenter for the workshop. MML is a statewide association 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. Haynes and Bonnot covered such important issues as conflict of interest, nepotism, the open meetings law, the powers of the mayor and governing body, classification of cities and council procedures. Some 18 local leaders participated in the workshop. Among those attending were: 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 Laura Antolak of Rolla, Vice Chairman Russell Scheulen of Osage County, Secretary Gary Brown of Salem and Treasurer James Morgan of Crocker. A professional staff of 27, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental and homeland security planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities upon request. |