Missouri AG Opinions, 1991

Pursuant to Section 302.775(3), RSMo Supp. 1990, individuals driving emergency vehicles or fire equipment necessary to the preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency governmental functions are exempt from obtaining commercial driver's licenses while driving such vehicles both to and from emergency situations.

Employees of a utility company who occasionally drive one-ton crew cab trucks and 24,000 lb. stake bed trucks in which tools, equipment and employees are transported and who, at other times in the course of their employment, drive passenger cars or pickup trucks, may do so with only a Class F license pursuant to Sections 302.700 to 302.780, RSMo, and 12 10-24.200.

A county commission of a third class county is not authorized under Section 137.720, RSMo Supp. 1990, or The County Budget Law, Sections 50.525 to 50.745, RSMo 1986, to designate a portion of the funds included in the budget for the assessment fund as “contingent funds,” contingent upon the assessor, six months into the fiscal year, justifying to the county commission his need for those funds.

The Director of the Department of Revenue is authorized to disclose confidential tax information to the following parties for the following purposes: 1) the State Lottery Commission in order to offset existing tax liabilities against lottery prizes in accordance with Section 313.321.6, RSMo Supp.1990; 2) the Office of Administration in order to offset pursuant to Section 140.855, RSMo 1986, existing tax liabilities against sums the state owes to vendors who have entered into contracts with the state; 3) private attorneys and/or professional collection agencies in order to collect pursuant to Section 140.850, RSMo 1986, taxes owed to the Director of Revenue; and 4) the "quick print" facility operated by the Office of Administration to the extent necessary for copying records.

Section 321.017, RSMo, as enacted by Conference Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 262, General Assembly, First Regular Session (1991), does not apply during the current terms of fire protection district and ambulance district board members in office on August 28, 1991.

(1) Interest earned on the monies in the special fund required by Section 455.205.3, RSMo 1986, remains with the fund; (2) counties may not use monies in the special fund required by Section 455.205.3, RSMo 1986, for purposes other than domestic violence shelters and may not borrow from the fund for other purposes; and (3) the provision in Section 455.215.3, RSMo 1986, identifying January 1 and July 1 as the dates for a designated authority to make payments to a shelter is directory, not mandatory.

Employees of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and employees of the Department of Higher Education are included within the operation of Section 36.031, RSMo Supp. 1990, and are subject to the uniform classification and pay provisions in Sections 36.100, 36.110, 36.120 and 36.130, RSMo 1986, and the regulations adopted thereunder, except for; 1) employees holding those positions specified in subsection 1 of Section 36.030, RSMo Supp. 1990; however, attorneys regularly employed or appointed are not excepted pursuant to this exception, and; 2) professional staff of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education appointed by the State Board of Education pursuant to Article IX, Section 2(b) of the Missouri Constitution.

Pursuant to Section 162.071, RSMo 1986, a school district may annex "unorganized territory" consisting of a Federal military installation and such annexation does not render a school district ineligible for state aid under Section 163.021, RSMo Supp. 1990.

The Department of Natural Resources is not authorized to spend monies generated by the Parks and Soils Sales Tax, Article IV, Section 47(a), of the Constitution of Missouri, or monies in the State Park Earnings Fund, Section 253.090, RSMo 1986, to make payments to counties and other political subdivisions in lieu of taxes on real property acquired by the Department.

A county collector is not authorized under Section 80.480, RSMo 1986, to collect current special assessments levied by a village but is authorized under Sections 140.670 and 140.680, RSMo 1986, to collect such delinquent special assessments.

The proposed price or cost of services is not to be considered in determining pursuant to Section 8.289, RSMo 1986, which architectural or engineering firms are the most highly qualified, but proposed price or cost is considered at the time of negotiation of the contract pursuant to Section 8.291, RSMo 1986.

The offices of supervisor of a levee district organized by the circuit court and county commissioner in the county where the levee district is located are not incompatible and one person may hold both offices at the same time.

1) A nursing home district is authorized under Section 198.300, RSMo, as amended by House Bill No. 450, General Assembly, First Regular Session (1991), to lease a nursing home facility within the district from a private entity and to operate such facility, and; 2) where the lease provides for a term of one year with ten successive options to renew for periods of one year and upon failure to renew at the end of any lease year is terminated, such lease does not violate the debt-limitation provisions of Article VI, Section 26 of the Constitution of Missouri and does not require approval of the voters.

1) Pursuant to Section 80.230, RSMo 1986, the chairman of the board of trustees of a village has no vote in filling a vacancy on the board except in case of a tie,; 2) a vacancy on the board of trustees can be filled by a two-to-one vote of the remaining members, excluding the chairman,; 3) pursuant to Section 80.070, RSMo 1986, a quorum of a five-member board of trustees of a village is three (3) members, and; 4) pursuant to Section 80.110, RSMo 1986, three (3) members must vote to pass an ordinance regardless of any vacancy.

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

A city Director of Public Works must be a licensed engineer if he engages in any of the activities listed in Section 327.181, RSMo 1986, which defines practice as a professional engineer, but state statutes do not require him to be a licensed engineer if he does not engage in any such activities.

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

In regard to an indoor swimming complex, the term “maintenance” as used in Section 184.352(9), RSMo Supp. 1990, includes janitorial personnel, security personnel used to safeguard the facility and equipment, swimming pool chemicals and repair equipment, electricity to run motors and pumps, and utility costs to dehumidify and heat the indoor swimming complex.

A county recorder of deeds should charge the four dollar ($4.00) user fee provided in Section 59.319, RSMo Supp.1990, on the recording of a marriage license.

The revenue-raising authority of subdivision trustees is not limited by Article X, Section 22 of the Missouri Constitution.

A county public administrator who began a four year term of office on January 1, 1989, who receives fees of more than $15,000 but less than $25,000, and who completes the required training is entitled to $2,000 of the $4,000 additional compensation provided in Section 473.739, RSMo Supp. 1990.

A third class county wherein the voters approved planning and zoning on August 6, 1968 pursuant to Section 64.530, RSMo, is authorized to proceed with planning and zoning without another vote of the people absent a showing of a radical change in conditions.

Those county public administrators who were eligible to receive $4,000 in additional compensation pursuant to Section 473.739 prior to the amendment of such section by Senate Bill No. 580, General Assembly, Second Regular Session (1990) continue to be eligible to receive the $4,000 in additional compensation after such amendment.

Section 321.190, RSMo Supp. 1990, does not limit the amount of money which a fire protection district, established and conducting business under Chapter 321, RSMo, can expend for health insurance benefits provided to directors of the fire protection district pursuant to Section 67.150, RSMo Supp. 1990.

Opinion letter to The Honorable Roger B. Wilson

Opinion letter to The Honorable Steve Ehlmann

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

1) A county commission is not authorized to conduct an advisory election on the question of whether the county jail should be expanded and public funds expended for the construction of an addition to the county jail, and; 2) if such an election has been held, its result is not binding on the county commission.

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Under Sections 321.243 and 321.245, RSMo Supp.1990, it is legally permissible for a central dispatching center to provide for the dispatching of ambulances, whether such ambulances are operated by a fire protection district or an ambulance district, and for the dispatching for law enforcement departments.

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Opinion letter to The Honorable Margaret Kelly,

Opinion letter to Donna M. White

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Opinion letter to Joe Moseley

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Opinion letter to The Honorable D. Blunt

Opinion letter to The Honorable Tom McCarthy

The term “incorporated city” as used in Section 311.090, RSMo Supp.1990, includes incorporated villages.

Opinion letter to Richard G. Callahan