JEFFERSON CITY COUNCIL TO INTRODUCE BUILDING CODE UPDATES
On Tuesday, June 21st the Jefferson City Council Meeting Agenda includes the introduction of Bill Numbers 2022-18 to 2022-24 the update the existing International Codes from the 2015 version to the 2018 version. The City Building Regulations Division has been working for several months to prepare these bills for introduction following the work from an ad-hoc committee of public/private individuals that reviewed the changes from the 2015 to the 2018 versions. The updated codes will include several of the previously debated and agreed upon exceptions such as the requirements for fire sprinklers in single family and duplexes.
Councilman Ron Fitzwater is on the agenda for the introduction of the following bills:
- 2022-18 Update to 2017 edition of National Electric Code
- 2022-19 Update to 2018 International Plumbing Code
- 2022-20 Update to 2018 International Mechanical Code
- 2022-21 Update to 2018 International Energy Conservation Code
- 2022-22 Update to 2018 International Building Code
- 2022-23 Update to 2018 International Property Maintenance Code
- 2022-24 Update to 2018 International Fire Code
EMINENT DOMAIN BILL SIGNED BY GOVERNOR PARSON
Eminent domain legislation, often controversial, worked on and debated for eight years in the state capitol, crossed the finish line when Governor Mike Parson signed a bill on June 11 while attending the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association’s annual steak fry in Sedalia.
Missouri’s General Assembly finalized and passed Senate Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2005, sponsored by Rep. Mike Haffner (R-Pleasant Hill), a bill that will help compensate farmers whose land is sought by energy companies constructing high voltage transmission lines, such as the Grain Belt Express across northern Missouri.
The bill specifies that in eminent domain proceedings, appropriate compensation for agricultural land shall be 150 percent of fair market value, to be determined by the court. In a condemnation proceeding for farmland, a court would appoint three disinterested commissioners to determine fair market value of the land, and at least one of the commissioners must be a farmer who has been farming in the county for at least 10 years.
The bill also requires construction of a transmission line to begin within seven years, or the energy company’s property rights gained by eminent domain would return to the original property owner. Power from the transmission line, proportional to the length of the line through Missouri, must also be made available to residents, according to the bill.
MODOT – $100M FOR RURAL ROADS, RECEIVE SUPPLY CHAIN REPORT
On June 2nd, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission met in Hillsboro for their monthly meeting. The commission unanimously approved Governor Mike Parson’s additional $100 million funding recommendation for rural routes that was passed by the Missouri General Assembly in the Fiscal Year 2023 state budget. The additional funds will target projects at 113 locations and will use hot mix asphalt on 1,700 land miles of low volume minor routes. The funding will be added to the 2022-2026 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) projects.
A legislation report provided at the meeting noted that the General Assembly in May had passed the largest budget in state history. During the report, Director Patrick McKenna said the STIP for 2022-2026 includes nearly $10 billion for transportation projects, the largest amount in state history. “That level of investment is desperately needed in Missouri,” he said. Construction-related price increases are rising at a pace of 11 percent per McKenna. Labor shortages and supply shortages are also affecting road and bridge projects.
The commission approved a Supply Chain Task Force report which identifies specific supply chain issues facing Missouri businesses and citizens and develops recommended solutions for implementation by public and private sectors within Missouri to address those challenges. Themes include trucking challenges, first and last mile rail investment, trained and available workforce, lack of adequate and affordable workforce housing and opportunities (such as containers-on-vessels and river ports).