Area high school students participate in Youth in Government Day

Three high school students acting as Cape Girardeau County commissioners for a day approved the acquisition of the old federal building in Cape Girardeau, speed limit reductions and placement of the issue of charter government on the ballot.

But the students stopped short of approving planning and zoning in the county.

The meeting was part of the 26th annual Youth In Government Day. The day featured mock city council meetings, with students playing the roles of the elected officials, tours of various government facilities and job shadowing of elected officials and city and county government workers in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Cape Girardeau County.

Sponsored by the Optimist clubs in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, the event drew about 78 students from Cape Central, Notre Dame Regional, Oak Ridge, Delta, Saxony Lutheran and Jackson high schools.

Before the students discussed issues on the agenda, county clerk Kara Clark Summers reminded them that they must make fiscally-responsible decisions in their roles as county commissioners.

"Think about outside the box why they would be needing this," Summers said. "Have some dialogue among yourselves.

"You're fiscally responsible for the county. So every little penny counts especially in these tough economic times."

Throughout the meeting the real county commissioners played the roles of fictional citizens and elected officials.

Second district commissioner Jay Purcell, acting as Judge Bill Smith, urged the commission to vote for the move to a new courthouse because he felt it lacked proper security and enough space.

In his role as John Smith of Cape Girardeau, first district commissioner Paul Koeper said he didn't support purchasing a new courthouse either.

"Why do we need to spend the money to buy a big building like that?" he said. "I think we should hold off. I don't think it's necessary at this point."

Richard Stewart of Oak Ridge High School, who played the role of the first district commissioner, said that concerns about security in the two county courthouses would play a factor in his decision to vote for the acquisition.

When discussing the move from county commission to charter form of government, Purcell, who then played the role of Sean Hannity of Whitewater, said the charter form of government should include as many board members as possible to represent communities in the county. Koeper, playing the role of Jim Smith, asked the commissioners how much the change to charter government would cost the county and how many jobs would be lost.

Jordan Glueck, a Cape Central student playing the role of presiding commissioner, asked how people in counties who adopted charter government feel about the issue.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones told the students that he believes Jackson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties have been pleased with the move to a charter form of government. But he said in Jefferson County, which switched to charter government in 2007, the change has drawn mixed reaction among citizens.

Later in the meeting the commissioners approved establishing speed limits on county roads.

Bartels said she would support reducing the speed limit from 60 mph on all county roads to 40 mph. Stewart believed the speed limit should be changed to between 30 and 40 mph.

"It's about the safety of everyone," said Glueck, who did not indicate his preference for reducing the speed limit. "We can have people crashing into ditches and trees everywhere."

Youth In Government Day ended with a lunch at the American Legion Post 63 hall in Cape Girardeau. Bill Adams, a retired law enforcement officer who served in Southeast Missouri for 43 years, was the guest speaker.

"The reason we all feel it is important is that it gives our high school students an opportunity to learn about our local government system, and it gives our aldermen and staff an opportunity to get valuable input from the students," Jackson Mayor Barbara Lohr said.

Event co-chairman Wayne Wallingford echoed Lohr's thought.

"It was a great opportunity for the students to learn about the function of government," Wallingford said. "During the mock meetings the students had a good grasp on the issues, and that confirmed this was one of the best groups I had. There are times when students can be reluctant to present a point of view for fear it's not a popular viewpoint but these students understood the need to be informed and knowledgeable about those decisions the mayor and city councils have to make on a monthly basis."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

243-8600

Pertinent addresses:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

101 Court St., Jackson, MO

1 Barton Sq., Jackson, MO