Gasconade County Republican

Copling says revisions to bidding procedures are too vague

The city council is considering changes to its codebook with regard to the process for seeking competitive bids. A first reading of the revised ordinance (Bill No. 1623) was held on Tuesday, January 17, with most aldermen in favor of it. Only Alderman Henry Copling voted in opposition to its passage, and he told the Cuba Free Press he could not support the bill in its current form.

Public Works Director Bob Baldwin called it a matter of “bringing the ordinance up to date.” He said the existing ordinance had become problematic because...

Voting in the Presidential Preference Primary will be held on Tuesday, February 7. Voter cards have been sent throughout the county with polling locations. As Missouri is currently facing district changes, many repercussions have been felt in Phelps County.

    “We mailed out voter registration cards. It cost us around $8,000 to do that,” County Clerk Carol Bennett explained. This was cheaper than many years, which have been closer to $10,000. “Now that the districts are being challenged, we may have to send out new ones depending on the outcome.”
    While the senate district remains the same in Phelps County,...

Following a public hearing held January 26, the Phelps County Commission has approved the county budget for 2012. Commissioners have been tightening the budget over the past month in an attempt to trim spending and finally cut more than $400,000 before the approval of the $15 million budget.

    “This is the tightest we’ve had it in this downturn. The good thing is we didn’t lay anybody off,” Presiding Commissioner Randy Verkamp said.
    Nearly $200,000 was cut from the Road and Bridge Department, which faced a $250,000 deficit at the beginning of budget discussions. Snowfall contributed to massive road damage...

The Cole County Circuit Court in Jefferson City has sided with the defendants in a case that challenges the newly drawn Congressional districts. Judge Dan Green in his ruling states, “The court declines the plaintiff’s request to engage in a never-ending game of one-upsmanship in a constant search for the...

A lawsuit challenging Missouri’s newly drawn House districts is being challenged in Cole County Circuit Court today, but a hearing was curtailed last minute as Judge Pat Joyce told litigants she’d make a decision based on briefs filed in the case. The suit is being filed on behalf of six...

A series of arguments in two courts has ended in the disputes over Missouri’s Congressional districts. A decision will be handed down today. Cole County Circuit Court heard final arguments for and against the newly drawn Congressional district boundaries. Both sides agree it comes down to semantics. The constitution requires the...

A House Committee has heard testimony on a bill that would clear the way for cell phone companies to provide cell phone location information to law enforcement in certain missing persons cases. The language of House Bill 1108 has been introduced three previous times in Missouri, and has been passed...