Board of Freeholders

A Message From the Mayor

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, I learned that the Municipal League of Metro St Louis has filed petition signatures with the City  Election Boards to establish a Board of Freeholders.  The petition signatures have been submitted in 3 ‘batches’, and more may be submitted.

The City Election Board is in the process of certifying the signatures received to date -  it is not clear when that will be complete, but it could be soon.

Once a sufficient number of signatures are certified, the Mo Constitution gives me 10 days to appoint 9 members, who must then be approved by the Board of Aldermen within the same 10 day period.  This is a legal requirement, not optional!

I am committed to nominating  a panel of diverse, knowledgeable, caring, and thoughtful City voters, who are committed to providing equitable and enhanced economic opportunities, and safer neighborhoods for all. 

If you are interested in serving, please complete the application and return it to Freeholders@stlouis-mo.gov. You may also mail or bring it to my office at City Hall, Room 200.  

For your reference, I have included the state statutes governing the powers and responsibilities of the Board of Freeholders, as well as information about the process.

This is a unique opportunity to serve our City. Please give it some thought and volunteer if you are able. The time commitment is estimated to be 5+/- hours per week for up to a year.

Thank you for your consideration and quick response if you are interested in serving.

Lyda

Lyda Krewson
Mayor – St Louis

Published 8/6/2019

State Statutes

MISSOURI CONSTITUTION
Article VI  LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Section 30a and 30b
CITY AND COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS

Spacing and formatting added for easier reading

 

Powers conferred with respect to intergovernmental relations --procedure for selection of board of freeholders.

Section 30(a). The people of the city of St. Louis and the people of the county of St. Louis shall have power

(1) to consolidate the territories and governments of the city and county into one political subdivision under the municipal government of the city of St. Louis; or,

(2) to extend the territorial boundaries of the county so as to embrace the territory within the city and to reorganize and consolidate the county governments of the city and county, and adjust their relations as thus united, and thereafter the city may extend its limits in the manner provided by law for other cities; or,

(3) to enlarge the present or future limits of the city by annexing thereto part of the territory of the county, and to confer upon the city exclusive jurisdiction of the territory so annexed to the city; or,

(4) to establish a metropolitan district or districts for the functional administration of services common to the area included therein; or,

(5) to formulate and adopt any other plan for the partial or complete government of all or any part of the city and the county.

The power so given shall be exercised by the vote of the people of the city and county upon a plan prepared by a board of freeholders consisting of nineteen members, nine of whom shall be electors of the city and nine electors of the county and one an elector of some other county.

Upon the filing with the officials in general charge of elections in the city of a petition proposing the exercise of the powers hereby granted, signed by registered voters of the city in such number as shall equal three percent of the total vote cast in the city at the last general election for governor, and the certification thereof by the election officials to the mayor, and to the governor, then, within ten days after the certification the mayor shall, with the approval of a majority of the board of aldermen, appoint the city's nine members of the board, not more than five of whom shall be members of or affiliated with the same political party.

Each member so appointed shall be given a certificate certifying his appointment signed by the mayor and attested by the seal of the city. Upon the filing with the officials in general charge of elections in the county of a similar petition signed by registered voters of the county, in such number as shall equal three percent of the total vote cast in the county at the last general election for governor, and the certification thereof by the county election officials to the county supervisor of the county and to the governor, within ten days after the certification, the county supervisor shall, with the approval of a majority of the county council, appoint the county's nine members of the board, not more than five of whom shall be members of or affiliated with the same political party. Each member so appointed shall be given a certificate of his appointment signed by the county supervisor and attested by the seal of the county.

Appointment of member by governor--meetings of board--vacancies --compensation and reimbursement of members--preparation of plan --taxation of real estate affected--submission at special elections --effect of adoption--certification and recordation--judicial notice.

Section 30(b). Upon certification of the filing of such similar petitions by the officials in general charge of elections of the city and the county, the governor shall appoint one member of the board who shall be a resident of the state, but shall not reside in either the city or the county, who shall be given a certificate of his appointment signed by the governor and attested by the seal of the state.

The freeholders of the city and county shall fix reasonable compensation and expenses for the freeholder appointed by the governor and the cost shall be paid equally by the city and county. The appointment of the board shall be completed within thirty days after the certification of the filing of the petition, and at ten o'clock on the second Monday after their appointment the members of the board shall meet in the chamber of the board of aldermen in the city hall of the city and shall proceed with the discharge of their duties, and shall meet at such other times and places as shall be agreed upon.

On the death, resignation or inability of any member of the board to serve, the appointing authority shall select the successor. The board shall prepare and propose a plan for the execution of the powers herein granted and for the adjustment of all matters and issues arising thereunder. The members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services as members, but the necessary expenses of the board shall be paid one-half by the county and one-half by the city on vouchers signed by the chairman of the board.

The plan shall be signed in duplicate by the board or a majority thereof, and one copy shall be returned to the officials having general charge of elections in the city, and the other to such officials in the county, within one year after the appointment of the board. Said election officials shall cause separate elections to be held in the city and county, on the day fixed by the freeholders, at which the plan shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the city and county separately. The elections shall not be less than ninety days after the filing of the plan with said officials, and not on or within seventy days of any state or county primary or general election day in the city or county.

The plan shall provide for the assessment and taxation of real estate in accordance with the use to which it is being put at the time of the assessment, whether agricultural, industrial or other use, giving due regard to the other provisions of this constitution. If a majority of the qualified electors of the city voting thereon, and a majority of the qualified electors of the county voting thereon at the separate elections shall vote for the plan, then, at such time as shall be prescribed therein, the same shall become the organic law of the territory therein defined, and shall take the place of and supersede all laws, charter provisions and ordinances inconsistent therewith relating to said territory. If the plan be adopted, copies thereof, certified to by said election officials of the city and county, shall be deposited in the office of the secretary of state and recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds for the city, and in the office of the recorder of deeds of the present county, and the courts of this state shall take judicial notice thereof.