Harris Calls For Local Control of CAFOs

Democratic candidate for Attorney General Jeff Harris has announced a plan to give local towns more power to stop concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) near their properties.

Rep. Harris has a bill that would allow local residents to use the initiative petition process to put approval of a proposed CAFO to a public vote. Current low only requires notification of those living within 4,500 feet of the proposed site. Permits are ultimately determined by the Department of Natural Resources.

“Our rural communities need an Attorney General who will give a greater voice to the people, instead of fighting to give Jefferson City more power," said Harris. "My plan will give people, who are forced to live with the smell, pollution and waste caused by a nearby CAFO, a powerful voice in the licensing process."

Current law only requires notification of those living within 4,500 feet of the proposed site and doesn’t require the Department of Natural Resources to take local opposition into account when reviewing a permit application.

Harris said CAFOs can lead to increased illness, and ruin property values. He notes that under current law, a CAFO with 17,499 hogs can be constructed within 3,000 feet of a neighboring home.

Lawmakers Begin Moving to Overturn Village Law

SENATE CMT. COULD PASS REPEAL BY NEXT WEEK

A state Senate committee took the first steps towards scrapping the controversial "Village Law" Wednesday, with momentum building towards its repeal, according to proponents.

Watch my KY3 News @ 10 report from Jefferson City HERE.

The controversial "Village Law" makes it easier for landowners to petition county commissions to create a village. Opponents say that would take away local control over development, and could cause harm to property values and the environment.

The law gained attention after Ozarks businessman Robert Plaster filed a petition in Stone County to create a village on his property along Table Rock Lake. The county commission turned down his request. The battle has now gone to court. Wednesday, a State Senate committee initially reviewed legislation by Sen. Jack Goodman to repeal the law.

Goodman and House sponsor Rep. Dennis Wood tell the KY3 Political Notebook they expect the Senate Committee to pass the change and send it to the full Senate by next week. Rep. Wood said he feels the House will be the tougher battle, but added that he has at least 100 commitments from colleagues to vote for the repeal.

Lampe Will File Bill to Overturn "Village Law"

State Rep. Sara Lampe will join other House Democrats in pre-filing a bill to repeal the controversial "village law" which paved the way for property owners in unincorporated areas to avoid county land laws.

The bill will also contain a provision to dissolve any village established under the statute as it currently exists.

For background on the Village Law, click HERE for our KY3 reports, as well as links to the Springfield News-Leader's coverage.

The News-Leader was the first to report that Speaker Rod Jetton was responsible for sneaking the provision into a large 352-page bill.

“An inherent flaw in our legislative process is that in the final days of the session scores of massive bills are pushed through that don’t receive the level of scrutiny they should,” said Lampe, D-Springfield. “Lawmakers place a great deal of trust in their colleagues to inform them of changes they make to legislation. In this case, Speaker Jetton violated that trust.”

“Contrary to Speaker Jetton’s claims, secretly changing state law to benefit a friend and political benefactor is a big deal,” Lampe said, referring to Jetton's ties to businessman Robert Plaster, who wants to incorporate his own village in Stone County.

House Dems are worried the legislation will carry statewide implications for landowners.

“If this law is allowed to stand, we could see an explosion in the number of new villages created,” said state Rep. Charlie Norr. “This statute turns the idea of local control on its head, allowing certain property owners to write laws to suit their own interests and leaving their neighbors powerless to object," Norr said.

By 3-0 vote on Tuesday, the Stone County Commission rejected Plaster’s petition of incorporation. His attorney, however, vowed to challenge the decision in court.

OTC Tax Hike Tops Election Day 2007

A proposed property tax levy increase for Ozarks Technical Community College will top the ballot for many Ozarks voters this election day.

This issue covers multiple school districts in multiple counties but not all voters in those counties vote on the issue. It depends in what school district a voter resides.

Complete coverage of all the Election Day 2007 issues can be found at http://www.ky3.com/.

Voters in Strafford will decide whether they want to foot the bill for a full-time fire department. You can watch a report on that issue HERE.

Polk County voters will decide on a tax for a judicial facility. You can watch a report on that debate HERE.

Another hot one to watch will be Webster County's vote on Planning and Zoning. Will a proposed ethanol plant convince voters this time?

Any bets on the OTC tax or any of the others?

Watch KY3 News @ 10 tonight for full coverage and results . . .

For Plaster, It Takes "A Village"

A quiet change in state law that slipped by some legislators from the Ozarks is sparking a big dispute over lakefront property in Stone County. The new "village law" lets landowners petition their county for an election to turn their land into their own political subdivision.

You can watch my KY3 News @ 10 report HERE.

Robert Plaster of Lebanon, who's known for his wealth and avoidance of reporters, filed a petition asking the Stone County Commission to call an election to incorporate Plaster's land along Table Rock Lake as a village. Only people who live in the proposed village area would be eligible to vote on the issue.

Nearby landowners worry village status would give Plaster unchecked power. The Stone County Commission fears it will allow him to develop the land with limited oversight.

A secretary with Plaster's Evergreen group told me that Plaster was traveling this week and was unavailable for comment. KY3 News has learned Plaster has filed two lawsuits against the Stone County Commission to try to force it to act on the petition.

Kathleen O'Dell at the Springfield News-Leader broke this story and has led the coverage on it. You can read her solid series of reports on the "Village Law" HERE.

Governor Matt Blunt has said he's willing to work with the Legislature to change the new "village law" during the session next year. Barring an adverse court ruling, however, the petition for Table Rock Village likely would be grandfathered since it was filed on Aug. 28, the same day the new law was effective.

Blunt Appoints Property Rights Czar

Governor Matt Blunt appointed a state Eminent Domain Ombudsman today to safeguard property rights.

Paul Anthony Martin, a Washington prosecutor for the U.S. Office of Special Counsel was named to the position today.

“I signed legislation protecting Missourians’ property rights and creating a careful balance to ensure eminent domain may only be used when there is a clear and direct public purpose,” Gov. Blunt said. “Anthony Martin will be an advocate for property rights and will enforce our state’s strong laws protecting property owners from eminent domain abuse. Now in addition to fair protections under the law, property rights and laws in Missouri have a full time advocate in their corner.”

New eminent domain laws created the Eminent Domain Ombudsman position. The position is within the office of Public Counsel within the Department of Economic Development. Martin will travel throughout the state to enforce the landowner bill of rights.