Charter government presentation set for Dec. 10 commission meeting

Representatives from the League of Women Voters of Southeast Missouri will present findings from an 11-page report that was first presented to a charter subcommittee in November 2008. The league has since presented the study to the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Cape class, Cape Girardeau Rotary Club and, most recently, to its own members during a public meeting at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

League vice president Mary Sharp said that while her organization has not taken a position on whether the county should adopt charter government, the presentation will allow residents to make the most informed choice possible.

"This will be an informative meeting about how it works," Sharp said. "A few comments have circulated that were inaccurate, such as there have to be a certain number of representatives in the charter form. We're wanting to clear things up about how county government could actually run under a charter."

Like most counties in Missouri, Cape Girardeau County is governed by a three-person commission. The charter form of government would replace the commission with a council of an undetermined number of representatives along with an executive. The council would pass laws for the county, with the executive putting the laws into effect.

Jackson, Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties operate using the charter form of government. Attempts to have charter government in Buchanan, Clay and Greene counties have failed.

To have a charter form of government, Cape Girardeau County commissioners or residents must place the issue on the ballot. A board made up of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans would be given a year to write the charter before voters would vote on the issue.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said the commission is inviting county government officials to the Dec. 10 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.

"They'll be presenting it for all of our benefit," Jones said.

District 2 Commissioner Jay Purcell said he hopes the meeting will allow a forum for residents to learn more about and discuss the charter form of government.

"Given the fact that county government through its actions can greatly impact the quality of life of our citizens, it is my hope that the citizens will seize this rare opportunity to discuss and debate how we can make our county government more efficient and more responsive to our citizens," Purcell said.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

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