The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

 

Published March 15, 2023

April ballot set for Camden County voters


CAMDEN COUNTY - The ballot for the April Municipal Election is set and Camden County voters will get to choose leaders and vote on taxes throughout the county.

Since voters approved the legalization of recreational pot last November, that ballot measure gave entities the right to apply a special tax up to six percent on recreational sales of pot if the voters approve such a tax.

On the April ballot Camden County has a question asking voters to approve a three percent tax on recreational pot. If this passes it will apply throughout the entire county.

In addition, the cities of Camdenton, Osage Beach, Laurie, Linn Creek and the Village of Four Seasons will ask their voters to approve a three percent tax on the sale of recreational pot.

So depending on how the voters respond, some areas may have a six percent tax on the sale of recreational pot and others only three percent.

It’s also possible that all the measures will fail and there will be no additional tax on the sale of recreational pot.

If passed, these taxes are local and any tax the state adds will be separate.

This tax only applies to recreational pot and not medical pot.

Other items on the ballot will be leaders of cities and school boards.

School of the Osage

Three directors are needed for the Board of Education and six names will be on the ballot (names are listed as they will appear on the ballot):

Macks Creek School District

Three names are also needed from four on the ballot:

Those in the Hickory County R-I school district will also be able to choose three names from  eight on the ballot:

Climax Springs School District

Four names will be on the ballot to fill three positions on the school board for a three-year term:

One name is also on the ballot for a one-year term, Irene Mauss.

Camdenton R-III School District

Three people are also needed for the school board from five names on the ballot:

Richland IV School District (Camden County Voters)

 Three names will be on the ballot for three positions on the school board for a three-year term:

In addition, voters will also choose a director for a two-year term with one name on the ballot, Terry Barlor.

One name will be on the ballot for a one-year term on the board, Warren Powell.

Public Water Supply District #1 (Macks Creek) is seeking to fill two positions, one for a three year term and one for a two-year term. Steve Birkner is on the ballot for the three-year term but no name is down for the two-year term so a write-in will be needed.

Camden County Public Water Supply District #4

A write-in name will be needed to fill the position of Director for Sub-district #4 but Harrell Dryden is on the ballot for Director of Sub District #5 with a three-year term.

Northwest Fire Protection District

The Northwest Fire Protection District is asking voters to approve a tax increase of “not more than 25 cents on the one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.”

The ballot question says the fund will be used “…without limitation for the operational and personnel costs, ongoing maintenance, improvements, and acquisitions.”   

Cam-MO Ambulance District

Those in the Cam-MO Ambulance District will choose a director for a three year term in Sub District #1 from two names on the ballot:

One name is on the ballot for a Director for Sub-District #4 (three year term) Thomas B. Roof.

Camden County Ambulance District

One name is on the ballot for a director of Sub-District 2, Don Barrett.

Two names are on the ballot for a Director in Sub-District 5:

Camdenton Special Road District “R” is seeking a commissioner for a three-year term but no names are on the ballot so a write-in will be needed.

City of Camdenton

John McNabb is the only name on the ballot running for the position of Mayor as is Eric Faes for Ward One Alderman, Brenda Weir for Ward Two Alderman and Mark B. Anderson for Ward Three Alderman.

City of Osage Beach

Three aldermen seats are open with four names on the ballot, one name for two of the positions and two names fighting it out for the other one. Each seat is for two-year terms.

City of Laurie (This only covers Camden County. Morgan County’s ballot was not available at press time)

Running for offices are Hugh Smith for Mayor and Pamela Folker for Ward 1 Alderman.

In addition, three questions will be on the ballot for Laurie voters. One is the pot tax, one is to enact a Use Tax and the other is Bonds for the sewer system.

Use Tax: “Shall the City of Laurie impose a local use tax at the same rate as the local sales tax rate of 2 percent (2%) provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action?”

The other question is:

“Shall the City of Laurie, Missouri, issue its sewerage system revenue bonds in the amount of $3,000,000 for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, extending and improving the City’s sewerage system including acquiring land and rights of way, the cost of operating and maintenance of said sewerage system and the principal of and interest on said revenue bonds to be payable solely from the revenues derived by the City from operating of its sewerage system, including all future extensions and improvements thereto?”

City of Lake Ozark

For Mayor:

Alderman Ward I (Miller County voters)

Alderman Ward II (Miller County voters)

Alderman Ward III (Camden and Miller County voters)

City of Linn Creek

For Alderperson at large, two year term, Clay “Skip” Zey and Merry Jones are seeking the position.

City of Richland (Camden County voters)

Harold Needs is running unopposed for Mayor as is Dana Tanner for Ward I Aldermen (two-year term) and Jason Goldsmith for Ward 1 Alderman one-year unexpired term.

Village of Sunrise Beach

Three names are needed out of five on the ballot for the two-year term of Trustee:

Village of Four Seasons

Two names are needed for Trustee out of four names on the ballot:

In addition, Four Seasons is also seeking a Use Tax.

“Shall the Village of Four Seasons impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sale tax rate, provided that if the local sale tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action?”

The election will take place on Tuesday April 4.

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