Bill to give third-class counties more control

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- County commissioners packed a House hearing room Thursday in support of legislation that would greatly expand the power of Missouri's smaller counties to enact local ordinances.

Enhanced ordinance authority was granted to first-, second- and fourth-class counties under a law adopted last year. The state's 89 third-class counties were included in the version of the bill that cleared the House but dropped from the final legislation.

The current bill, sponsored by state Rep. Todd Smith, R-Sedalia, seeks to address that disparity in local control.

Iron County Presiding Commissioner Terry Nichols said there are countless issues that would be more efficiently handled at the local level but at present require action by the Missouri Legislature because third-class counties lack the authority. Such matters can be as minor as erecting stop signs at a busy intersection.

"Little things like that come up on a regular basis," Nichols said.

The measure, which is co-sponsored by several Southeast Missouri lawmakers, is endorsed by the Missouri Association of Counties and the County Commissioners Association of Missouri.

However, not all county officials support the proposal.

Howell County Presiding Commissioner Larry Spence said he is concerned about a provision that would enable local voters to bypass commissioners via the initiative petition process to place proposed ordinances on the ballot mandating services the county can't afford.

"Howell County is a financially sound county," Spence said. "We'd like to stay that way. We feel we've got what we need to govern efficiently."

The House Local Government Committee did not act on the bill following Thursday's hearing.

The bill would allow counties to adopt ordinances relating to traffic regulations on county roads, emergency management, nuisance abatement, storm water control, economic development and parks and recreation.

The bill Gov. Bob Holden signed into law last year granted 22 Missouri counties those privileges, including Cape Girardeau, New Madrid and St. Francois counties. The state's three first-class charter counties -- St. Louis, St. Charles and Jackson -- have long had ordinance power.

Third-class counties were dropped from last year's version due to concerns by some senators about a massive expansion of county powers.

The bill is HB 1161.

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