Judge approves petition placing Owensville Fire Protection District initiative on April ballot

By Christine Yearwood, Republican Staff Writer
Posted 1/8/25

HERMANN — Twentieth Circuit Court Judge Ryan Helfrich on Friday approved the Owensville Volunteer Fire Department’s petition to move forward with placing a proposal to establish a rural …

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Judge approves petition placing Owensville Fire Protection District initiative on April ballot

Posted

HERMANN — Twentieth Circuit Court Judge Ryan Helfrich on Friday approved the Owensville Volunteer Fire Department’s petition to move forward with placing a proposal to establish a rural fire protection district on the April ballot.

The 15-minute public hearing at the Gasconade County Courthouse in Hermann drew a mix of firefighters, city officials and area residents, who gathered as the petition was reviewed. A total of 126 individuals had signed the petition in support of establishing the district, identifying themselves as registered voters within the proposed boundaries.

An investigation into the proposed district revealed a population of 8,000 within its boundaries, with approximately 6,000 registered voters. According to information provided by the county assessor, the estimated valuation of taxable tangible property within the district is $118 million.

The proposed district would encompass the territory currently covered by the volunteer fire department, bordered by Gerald-Rosebud to the east, Bland to the west, Linn to the northwest and Cuba, Bourbon and Sullivan to the south.

Attorney Christopher Jensen of Baylard, Billington, Dempsey, Jensen, Struzzi & Piontek, P.C., asked Owensville Fire Chief Jeff Arnold, “Do you believe that it is in the best interest of the residents of the area described in the petition and on that map that this area be incorporated as a fire protection district so that we can ensure dependable, prompt fire protection for all of the individuals and all of the structures contained there?”

“Yes, correct,” Arnold replied. He was the only witness called to testify.

With court approval, the next step is filing the notice of election to establish an initial levy of $0.30 per $100 of assessed valuation of personal property within the district. Additionally, a five-member board of directors will need to be elected.

Eight candidates have signed up to run for the board: James Diestelkamp, Melvin D. Arnold, Cheryl Schlottach, Jim Lehnhoff, Glenn Hennecke, Bobbi Limberg, Chris Shoffner and Michael Nolting.

The court-approved ballot measure specifies that the individual receiving the highest number of votes will serve a six-year term, the second and third highest vote-getters will serve four-year terms and the fourth and fifth will serve two-year terms. Afterward, all board members would serve six-year terms or until their successors are elected.