January 2023

With final certification of candidates completed Tuesday, the ballot is set for a number of local races April 4. Lawrence County voters will also be asked to weigh in on a proposed 3 percent sales tax on adult use marijuana.

What: Adopted 2023 budget Estimated revenue: $5.7 million Changes: Split of sheriff’s office, jail to law enforcement tax opens funds for capital projects .

Who: Monett Rural Fire Department What: 40 Requests for mutual aid in 2022 Stats: Two calls for spills, 11 electrical problems and 37 vehicle crashes. .

What: Election Day April 4, 2023 Who: Seats available in Verona, Monett, and Pierce City .

Barry County has adopted its 2023 budget, approving $5.6 million in expenditures with revenue of $5.7 million and nearly $3 million in carryover. Presiding Commissioner SteveBlankenship,Northern Commissioner Gary Schad and Southern Commissioner Gene Robbins adopted the plan on Thursday, noting the county is in a comfortable position after higher sales tax revenue in the last few years, as well as consistent savings by previous administrations.

Members of the Pierce City Board of Aldermen adopted a park board ordinance to allow representatives to serve in an advisory capacity. The new ordinance allows for five voting members who are residents of the city, along with one member of the council who shall serve as a non-voting member of the board.

The Monett Rural Fire District has tallied the number of calls volunteers responded to during the 2022 calendar year at 289. According to Rural Fire Chief Brandon Pennington, the department responded to 54 calls in Zone 1, which includes the northwest area; 79 in Zone 2, which covers the northeast area; 50 in Zone 3, which covers the southwest area; 38 in Zone 4, in Zone 5, which encompasses Camp Barnabas; and six in Zone 6, which reaches into the McDowell area.