June 4, 2009

For more information, contact:
Richard Cavender or Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993

Laura Antolak Re-Elected Chairperson of MRPC
Hears presentation from Missouri Community Betterment

ST. JAMES—Laura Antolak, at-large commissioner for small business, was re-elected chairperson of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission during its May meeting. Antolak represents small business on the MRPC board.

Other officers re-elected during the May 14 regular meeting were Vice Chair Russell Scheulen, Osage County presiding commissioner and Secretary Gary Brown, mayor of Salem.

The board elected Theresa Cook, a St. Robert alderperson, to serve as treasurer, replacing James Morgan of Crocker who left the board. . Cook represents the city of St. Robert on the MRPC.

In other business, the board heard a report from Jan Simon of Missouri Community Betterment, a statewide organization that provides technical assistance to communities to improve their quality of life through planning. MCB has an annual awards program to honor those who excel, Simon said.

In other business, the board:

• Approved technical assistance contracts for grant writing services with the cities of Cuba, St. James and Rolla, Freeburg Fire Department, Doolittle Fire, Meta Fire and Rescue, Owensville Lions Club Foundation and Greater St. Clair Homes. MRPC also approved a contract with Unico Bank for 7(a) loan packaging, Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District for administration, USDA for a solid waste grant award and the Missouri Association of Councils of Government for hazard mitigation grant administration.
• The board also re-elected five at-large representatives for three years terms: Leo Dickey of Washington County will continue to represent farming. James Decker of Gasconade County will continue to represent industry. Laura Antolak of Phelps County will continue to represent small business and Donald Dodd of Dent County will represent the transportation.

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. A professional staff of 29, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

The MRPC board will meet at 7:30 p.m. on June 12 at its office at 4 Industrial Drive in St. James. The board does not meet in July. All meetings are open to the public.

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