A call on Congress to bring some relief to St. Joseph’s sewer lament all but disappeared this year, but it may be floating back to the top of legislative attention.

Rep. Dr. Rob Schaaf, a St. Joseph Republican, in February asked a House committee to stand up to the federal government, which he believes is imposing an unfunded mandate on Missouri River cities to upgrade their sewer systems.

“This Resolution serves as notice and demand to the federal government to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates on the various cities to maintain any standards regarding sewer systems,” Dr. Schaaf stated in HCR 29.

Rep. Jim Guest, R-King City, is a co-sponsor.

Dr. Schaaf said the federal government is violating the U.S. Constitution’s 10th Amendment with a threat of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fines if St. Joseph doesn’t comply.

In St. Joseph’s case, it will cost roughly $450 million for the upgrades, which Public Works Director Bruce Woody said likely would take the city 120 years to pay off and cause sewer rates to triple.

The resolution has no binding power, but if approved, would be copied and sent to President Barack Obama and members of the Missouri congressional delegation.

While representatives voiced support of the resolution in February, the bill sat stagnant in the House’s Special Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Transportation Funding without being considered — until last week.

The committee returned to the resolution and voted it up Wednesday. Since three weeks remain in the session, it has little time to make it through the legislative process, but it’s possible.

HCR 29 still needs a positive vote from a House rules committee before it can go to the House floor for debate. If the full House opts to send the sewer message to Congress, then it would move to the Senate for a gander and then possibly the governor’s desk.

Savannah fee office

up for bid

The Missouri Department of Revenue put the Savannah fee office and a handful of others up for bid last week.

It’s part of Gov. Jay Nixon’s statewide call for new management of the fee offices, which Missourians frequent for new driver’s licenses and vehicle registration.

St. Joseph’s fee office went up for bid earlier this year, but the department hasn’t awarded it yet.

Bidders for the most recent round of offices, including those in Savannah, Bridgeton, Festus, Nixa, Potosi and Waynesville, have until May 26 to submit proposals to the Office of Administration, according to a state news release.

For more information on the bidding process, visit oa.mo.gov/purch/vendorinfo/DORoffices.pdf. For a copy of the request for proposals, go to https://www.moolb.mo.gov or call (573) 751-2387.

Area GOP backs

Second Harvest

The Northwest Missouri Republican Club is hitting up the community for sacks of groceries to donate to Second Harvest of Greater St. Joseph.

Members of the public are invited to the club’s April meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Boudreaux’s Louisiana Seafood, 224 N. Fourth St. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. with a 7 p.m. presentation from Second Harvest. Chad Higdon, a member of the board of directors and a field representative for Congressman Sam Graves, and Rachel Graves, the food bank’s marketing director, are scheduled as guest speakers.

Attendants are asked to bring a sack of nonperishable items for the Food for Families food and fund drive.

Alyson E. Raletz covers the state Legislature for the News-Press in Jefferson City. She can be reached at alysonraletz@npgco.com or (573) 636-2307.