The Jefferson County Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday (March 23), but the council chambers at the Jefferson County Administration Center will be dark.
Given the countywide state of emergency ordered by County Executive Dennis Gannon and complying with guidelines to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic limiting public gatherings to 10 people or less, the meeting on Monday will be held by telephone conference call.
The public is invited to listen to the meeting via telephone by calling 1-866-271-9563 and then following the prompts.
The public will be able to listen in but will not be able to participate.
Public comments that will be read into the record can be emailed to the council’s executive assistant, Pat Schlette, at pschlette@jeffcomo.org before 3 p.m. on Monday.
County officials said a directive from Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office provides for meetings that aren’t held face to face, as long as the public can access the proceedings.
Officials plan for the meeting to be recorded so it can be accessed later through the county’s website, jeffcomo.org.
Among the issues scheduled to be voted on are a rezoning to allow a cellular telephone tower on the Seckman Schools campus in Imperial and another rezoning to allow an apartment complex on Old Sugar Creek Road near Hwy. 30 in High Ridge.
The council also is scheduled to vote on an emergency ordinance allowing the county government to tap its budget for emergencies.
Because this is an emergency ordinance, it can be approved in a single meeting.
County officials said the council has passed similar emergency legislation during flood situations.
The agenda for the meeting also states that other emergency bills dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic may be considered if necessary.
No executive session, or a meeting closed to the public, has been scheduled for Monday.
