MML Legislative Update: Spring Break

In this episode of the MML City View Podcast, we meet Carolyn O’Kelley, Director of HR and Business Consulting at Ollis/Akers/Arney.  She has more than 25 years of leadership experience in all aspects of human resource activities. Carolyn is a member of the national Society of HR Management and has served on its board at the state level and local level in Springfield. She is dedicated to helping employers transform into high-performing, people-focused workplaces where employees thrive and organizations grow.Carolyn shares the opportunities and challenges of hiring for local government, and how municipalities can use storytelling and connection to attract the best candidates.https://ollisakersarney.com/Be sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities

Missouri Legislative Session 2026Summary of Municipal Issues of Specific InterestLocal governments secured several important wins this session, including reauthorization of land banks, revised filing dates for municipal candidates when the final filing day falls on a state or federal holiday, clarification of sovereign immunity provisions, expansion and reauthorization of economic development tools, and inclusion of political subdivisions in the website access litigation bill.Key measures that did not pass included proposals to shift cable television and broadband relocation costs in municipal rights of way to local taxpayers, restrict building codes, alter solid waste policy, expand sales tax exemptions, impose Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) provisions, mandate permitting deadlines and restrict annexation.Special NotesMunicipal officials’ advocacy was instrumental in both advancing and defeating key legislation affecting cities and villages, underscoring the importance of a strong local government voice in the legislative process. Municipal leaders should maintain regular communication with incumbent legislators and candidates throughout the summer and fall and share examples of how proposals from prior General Assembly sessions would have affected their communities. For background on key legislative issues and talking points, refer to past issues of the Missouri Municipal League Capitol Report or contact League staff.Be sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities

Andrea Sporcic Klund is the film commissioner for Missouri and runs the Missouri Film Office - a part of the Missouri Division of Tourism. She has been in the film biz representing Missouri for more than 20 years. Since 2005 she has worked to market Missouri to the film and television industry nation-wide. She has helped coordinate production logistics for more than 40 feature films, and hundreds of television segments and series filmed all over the state. Before joining the film office she spent 8 years with Cinema St. Louis, the producers of the St. Louis International Film Festival as director of operations. She holds BA degrees in Theatre and Corporate Communications from Lindenwood University. She has also acted, written, directed and produced for the stage and screen.Learn more in this episode about the Missouri Film Office and how they bring Missouri stories to life, featuring local communities.Missouri Film OfficeMade-in-Missouri film and TV productions spent $40.7 million in 2025Scriptwriting FellowshipBe sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities

Learn where cities stand as we hit the halfway mark for the 2026 Missouri legislative session. Be sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities

MML Policy StatementMML Policy Committees and ProcessMML Legislative ToolkitMissouri House Special Interim Committee on Property Tax ReformRestore SGF: Executive Director Brandon Griesemer attended with Rep. Bill Owen and spoke about the work they are doing to revitalize neighborhoods. This was at the MML Southwest Regional Meeting in Aurora where we covered the MML Municipal Administration and Intergovernmental Relations policy committee.Be sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities

Housing has been a complex issue for most communities in recent years. The city of Kirksville decided to try something outside the box and work with their local technical school to turn a blighted trailer park into a tiny home subdivision. Learn more in a recent MML Review article. (July 2025)City of KirksvilleBe sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities

In this episode of the MML City View Podcast, we meet Ben White with Missouri Main Street. Ben has served as a senior program specialist since 2019 and helps communities new to Main Street integrate and use the Main Street Approach as a successful economic tool for downtown revitalization. He previously served as the director of Main Street Chillicothe. https://momainstreet.org/Be sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities

In MML's 40th episode, we speak with MML Executive Director Richard Sheets and AT Government Strategies Executive Vice President Shanon Hawk as they break down the 2025 Missouri legislative session and how it affects Missouri cities.Learn more about the legislative process and tips for communication with your legislators with the MML Legislative Toolkit.Read the latest MML Capitol Report. Be sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities

Derek Weber is the Executive Director of the Northeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission (NEMO RPC) located in Memphis, MO.  The Northeast Missouri RPC serves as a Community/Economic Development agency for its member communities within the six Northeast Missouri counties it serves. Derek has facilitated numerous projects resulting in millions of dollars' worth of funding for his member communities. Projects have ranged from transportation, broadband and water/wastewater infrastructure, to workforce, port and housing developments. Derek will share some of the ways your community could benefit from the services and guidance of a regional planning commission.Northeast Missouri Regional Planning CommissionBe sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities

As the Director for Services & Development for the Missouri Public Utilities Alliance, Brandon Renaud is responsible for business planning and project management for new and existing services while forging strong relationships with member utilities and stakeholders. Before coming to MPUA, Brandon served at city of Columbia Utilities (Columbia Water & Light) from 2010-2023, serving the last four years as utility services manager. He also previously worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. He has earned an MS  in Environmental Management from Webster University and lives in Columbia with his wife, Rachel, and three daughters.Missouri Public Utility AllianceBe sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities