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Dec. 23, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Bonnie Prigge or Connie Willman, 573-265-2993
MRPC talks Missouri redistricting with local legislators
ST. JAMES – Redistricting was the main topic of discussion as the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) met with area legislators during its regular board meeting Dec. 8.
Sen. Dr. Dan Brown (District 16) and Rep. Tom Loehner (District 112) attended the meeting to discuss items of interest with the board. MRPC staff had shared the recently approved redistricting plan that reshapes all 34 Senate districts and 163 House districts with board members.
The redistricting plan, handled by the Missouri Appellate Apportionment Commission, redraws the legislative and congressional district lines by following data from the U.S. Census. In this redistricting, the lines were redrawn to create districts that were nearly equal in population, based on the 2010 Census.
Both Sen. Brown and Rep. Loehner voiced concerns with the changing districts. Loehner noted most of the counties, as well as school districts, have been split drastically for new representation.
“My biggest concern is the people aren’t going to have the proper representation,” Loehner said.
Currently, the Meramec Region’s eight counties are served by two senators and eight representatives. Under the new plan, approved Nov. 30, 2011 and effective January 2013, the region will be served by five senators.
Only two Meramec counties – Dent and Maries – fall within one House district. All other counties are split between districts with Phelps County being divided among four House districts. Nine state representatives will serve the Meramec Region under the new plan.
The board also discussed the need for a statewide sales tax on Internet sales, the impact of term limits on elected officials and the possibility of increased transportation funding.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the external relations committee’s recommended slate of state priorities. The priorities will be presented to legislators in January.
• Approved the Delta Regional Authority Planning Grant application, the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) annual report and the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) during the planning committee’s report.
• Noted the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) prioritized the region’s transportation needs during its meeting Dec. 8. The TAC revisited the priorities because of MoDOT’s district realignment. The needs prioritization list is still pending MRPC board approval.
• Heard a report from Executive Director Bonnie Prigge, who stated an engineering management class from Missouri University of Science & Technology would be working in Linn as its “classroom” to develop improvement project plans. The group is currently finishing up projects in Waynesville. A new community will be chosen in the spring for the following semester. Prigge noted the students’ community project plans have provided valuable information for grant applications.
Prigge also noted that a recent National Association of Development Organization’s (NADO) conference call detailed expected budget cuts at the federal and state level to occur in 2013 because of the super committee’s failure to act. Cuts will likely impact infrastructure improvements, Prigge said. MRPC is making an effort to inform congressional leadership on projects in the Meramec Region that rely heavily on such funding, Prigge said.
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. Jan. 12 at its office at 4 Industrial Drive in St. James. All meetings are open to the public.
Sen. Dr. Dan Brown, left, and Rep. Tom Loehner visited with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission board for a discussion forum at its meeting Dec. 8.
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