Local official appointed to transportation advisory panel

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state Highways and Transportation Commission has appointed a 12-member panel, including a Cape Girardeau civic leader, to recommend ways to improve the agency's finances and governance.

The president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, John E. Mehner, was one of the appointees announced Thursday.

Truman State University President Jack Magruder is to serve as chairman of the panel, which will focus on the department's accountability, credibility and efficiency.

The panel is to review how the transportation commission and department are governed, as well as their sources of state and federal funding. The group also is to compare Missouri's transportation department to counterparts in other states in terms of funding sources, organization, operations and highway system size.

The six-member transportation commission, which is appointed by the governor, said in December that it would create a citizens advisory panel.

Besides Mehner and Magruder, other appointees include:

Ray Beck, the Columbia city manager.

The Rev. Emmanuel Cleaver, a former mayor of Kansas City.

Jim Henson, the presiding commissioner of St. Francois County and a union official.

Tom Irwin, senior vice president of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association.

Freeman McCullah, a retired transportation department engineer from Springfield.

Karen Messerli, the Lee's Summit mayor.

Joe Ortwerth, the St. Charles County executive.

Steve Roberts, president of Roberts Broadcasting Co. in St. Louis.

Larry Stobbs, a former mayor of St. Joseph.

Morris Westfall, a former state senator from Halfway.

The group's first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in Jefferson City. The panel is expected to make a final report and recommendations to the transportation commission by Aug. 31.