Jefferson County Council Hears Warning From Arnold Mayor Over State Annexation Amendment

Mayor Bill Moritz urged county officials to oppose a Jefferson County-specific provision in House Bill 2818, saying local communities should not be singled out by last-minute legislation.

By The Jefferson Review

The Jefferson County Council handled a full agenda this week, approving several bills, advancing zoning matters, and hearing reports from council members. But one of the strongest moments of the meeting came during public comment, when Arnold Mayor Bill Moritz addressed the council about House Bill 2818, a state bill he said could directly affect Jefferson County municipalities.

Moritz appeared before the council to speak about House Bill 2818, a bill he described as an annexation measure tied originally to St. Joseph and an airport issue in northwest Missouri. But according to Moritz, the bill now contains language specifically naming Jefferson County, and that is what has local mayors and city administrators concerned.

“I am here to talk about House Bill Twenty Eight Eighteen,” Moritz told the council. “The mayors and the city administrators of Jefferson County have been meeting quarterly. Every now and then we change it up, but at least every three months we get together and talk about things.”

Moritz said those meetings have recently focused on the legislation and the opposition local leaders have to the Jefferson County-specific portion of the bill.

The mayor explained that the original purpose of the legislation was connected to St. Joseph seeking the ability to complete what he called an “island annexation” involving an airport property. Moritz made clear that Jefferson County officials were not objecting to St. Joseph handling its own issue. Instead, he said the concern is that Jefferson County was added into the legislation by name.

“One thing that wasn’t on there, that is on there, that we’re not in favor of, is the fact that it’s going to limit Jefferson County by name, which is completely specific legislation,” Moritz said.

Moritz warned that if the bill becomes law, local leaders are already preparing for the possibility of legal action.

“It’s not going to pass a lawsuit,” Moritz said. “And we’re getting ready to prepare that if it does go through the governor.”

His message to the county council was direct: the bill would not help the relationship between Jefferson County government and its municipalities.

Moritz asked the county council to consider contacting the governor and voicing opposition to the Jefferson County language in the bill. He also addressed a concern raised earlier in the meeting by Councilman Billy Crow, who said a veto could potentially interfere with the St. Joseph airport-related portion of the legislation.

Crow had previously told the council he had been contacted by several mayors and was alarmed by what appeared to be a last-minute amendment affecting Jefferson County.

“I do know that this amendment is in regards to annexation rules,” Crow said. “No one was really consulted about this. So it’s a little alarming and I just want to raise awareness of that.”

Crow also noted that he represents both incorporated Arnold and unincorporated areas of the county, making the issue especially relevant to his district.

Moritz responded by saying he had attended a Missouri Municipal League conference earlier in the day and learned that the Jefferson County portion of the bill could be separated from the rest of the legislation.

“I found out that that part that’s pertaining to Jefferson County specifically is severable,” Moritz said. “That means that the governor can veto that, and it doesn’t take away the ability of St. Joseph to do what it is that they want to do.”

That distinction was one of the most important points Moritz made. Rather than asking state leaders to derail the entire bill, he said Jefferson County officials could oppose the portion that singles out the county while allowing St. Joseph’s issue to move forward.

Moritz said he had provided County Executive Dennis Gannon with a copy of a letter signed and sent to the governor. He encouraged council members to use the governor’s website or fax number to make their position known.

“If you are in opposition to this, please say so,” Moritz said. “If you are in favor of it, that’s your right to say so.”

The mayor also invited county officials to attend a follow-up meeting of city leaders scheduled for the next day at Crystal City’s office building on Mississippi Street. He noted that council members would need to be mindful of quorum rules if several attended.

Moritz’s comments came during a meeting that also included routine county business, budget amendments, zoning votes, and discussion over compensation for county boards and commissions.

The council approved Resolution R26-0533, acknowledging receipt of local assessment reports filed by railroad and utility companies for 2026 and ordering the county clerk to certify and forward the report to the State Tax Commission.

Several bills were introduced and moved forward unanimously. One bill involved additional grant funds for the juvenile office division’s alternatives to detention program for short-term shelter care. Another amended county code to establish compensation for the Board of Building Appeals. A third increased compensation for the Board of Equalization.

Council members also approved a budget transfer between reserve accounts, which Councilman Tim Brown confirmed was connected to a bill passed earlier on the consent agenda.

Later in the meeting, the council gave final approval to a budget amendment involving grant funds for an airport site selection study. The council also approved a rezoning application changing a parcel in Council District 4 from single-family residential to neighborhood commercial.

A separate development matter involving property at 5300 Jeanette Drive in Imperial drew several public comments from residents and interested parties who said they supported the RV park project. The council ultimately voted to move the matter forward to the next agenda as a resolution for denial, based on the staff report. The motion passed 4-2.

The council also discussed whether to place a future agenda item regarding compensation for parks board members. Councilman Brian Haskins pushed for action, saying the issue had been discussed for years and that board members should receive modest compensation for attendance.

“I’ve been pretty patient, but I’d like to have this wrapped up before I leave office in December,” Haskins said.

County officials and council members discussed the legal process involved, noting that different boards are governed by different statutes and ordinances. Brown said he supported moving the issue forward through the proper legal channels but wanted the county counselor’s office to return with clear guidance on what could be done and how.

County Executive Dennis Gannon said the county must follow state law, whether county officials like the process or not.

“We operate also; we’re subject to state statutes,” Gannon said. “We still want to do it right. We’re just not going to go out and do something that is not correct.”

The motion to place the parks board compensation item on a future agenda failed 1-6.

While the council moved through a wide range of county business, Moritz’s appearance put the spotlight on a broader issue: whether Jefferson County communities are being given a fair voice when state legislation directly affects local government authority. For Moritz, the message was simple. Jefferson County should not be singled out by language in House Bill 2818 that local leaders believe was added without proper consultation, and city and county officials should be willing to stand together when local control is at stake.