Webster County

Election Law Changes

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The 2022 legislative session in Missouri saw a number of changes in election law – including new ID requirements for the November 8th General Election.

A valid, government-issued, photo ID is now required.  Those who do not have such an ID may vote a “provisional ballot”.

If you do not have a qualifying form of identification, and need assistance in obtaining a photo ID (for free), call: 573-526-VOTE (8683) .

Thank you.

MoDOT Public Hearing – Diggins Interchange

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The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will be hosting a Public Hearing, where they will present plans for: a proposed interchange over U.S. Hwy 60 at Hwy A on the west edge of Diggins; and an outer road south of the rail line connecting that interchange to State Hwy Z.

The meeting will be held from 4 – 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, at the Diggins Baptist Church.  More information can be found on MoDOT’s website – here .

Burn Ban Lifted

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Due to improved weather conditions, the Webster County Commission has lifted the county-wide burn ban, effective August 18th, 2022.
Local City burn bans may still be in effect; city residents may wish to contact their local city hall for confirmation.
Regardless, the County Commission and local fire agencies urge you still exercise caution when doing any open burning, and that you be aware of local weather conditions.
Thank you for your cooperation!

National Poll Worker Recruitment Day

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Help America Vote Day is a day of action established by the U.S. Election Assistance
Commission to encourage people across the U.S. to get involved in the electoral process
by signing up to be a poll worker. By encouraging more people to become poll workers
in their communities, Help America Vote Day is addressing the critical shortage of
poll workers, strengthening our democracy, inspiring greater civic engagement and
volunteerism, and helping to ensure free and fair elections this November.
Additionally, if you’d like to use Help America Day as an opportunity to direct your
community to your site as a trusted source of information on voter registration and
voting, make sure to use the hashtag #HelpAmericaVote

 

Reminder – Burn Ban is in Effect

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On July 26, 2022, the Webster County Commission issued a County-wide Burn Ban effective for 30 days. See full text below:

 

 

AN ORDER, AUTHORIZING PROCEDURES TO ENACT

A COUNTY-WIDE BURN BAN PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF

STATE LAW AND SECTION 49.266 RSMO

ORDER #2022-03

 

 

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION OF WEBSTER COUNTY, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

WHEREAS, the County Commission of Webster County, Missouri, is authorized to enact Orders to promote and enhance the public health, safety and general welfare of individuals within Webster County, Missouri; and

WHEREAS, Section 49.266 RSMO authorizes the enactment of a County-wide ban of open fires pursuant to the provisions of that Statute;

  1. It shall be unlawful to knowingly start, initiate, cause, permit, or conduct a fire on property located in Webster County, Missouri, excluding outdoor grills utilized for cooking purposes.  Violation of this Order shall be a Class A misdemeanor as defined by State Law.
  2. Each violation of an open burning ban imposed under this Order shall be considered a separate offense for each day or part of the day in which the violation is committed.
  3. The Webster County Commission may enact a County-wide burn ban upon a determination by the State Fire Marshall that a burn ban order is appropriate for Webster County pursuant to the provisions of Section 49.266.3 RSMO
  4. State agencies responsible for fire management or fire suppression activities and persons conducting agricultural burning using best management practices as defined by the Missouri Department of Conservation, shall not be subject to the provisions of this Order.
  5. This Order shall not affect the ability of an individual, organization, or corporation to sell fireworks during the period of a burn ban but it does prohibit the usage of all missile and skyrocket devices.
  6. Each Order imposed under this Order shall state the conditions which warrant such County-wide burn ban and notice shall be provided to the general public of the enactment of the burn ban.
  7. Prior to enacting a County-wide burn ban, the Commission must receive information of the condition precedent established in Section 49.266.3 RSMO
  8. Any burn ban imposed under this Order shall remain in effect for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. However, the Webster County Commission may extend or rescind the ban if necessary.
  9. This Order and any burn ban when enacted shall be applicable to all unincorporated areas of Webster County, Missouri, and all incorporated areas within Webster County that do not have a municipal ordinance banning open burning.
  10. Burn ban violators will be subject to a minimum fine of $250.00 up to the maximum allowed by a class A misdemeanor. Additionally, restitution for services provided will be awarded to the responding fire department(s).

This Order shall be in full force and in effect from and after its passage and adoption.  Should any provision within the Order be adjudged invalid, said determination shall not affect the validity of the balance of this Order.

THIS ORDER WAS PASSED AND ADOPTED ON THE 26th DAY OF JULY, 2022.

New Voter Cards Arriving Soon

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It has been a very busy time in the Webster County Clerk’s Office preparing for this election year.

Every ten years, after the release of new information from the U.S. Census, the State and County go through a ‘re-districting’ process to review the boundaries of certain districts and voting areas.

This year, a number of those boundaries were changed – including those for the U.S. Congress, State Senate, and State House. Locally, we also made a revision to the County Commission and some Township boundaries.  These changes will be in effect for the August 2022 Primary Election.

If these changes affected your polling location, you should have already received a letter from the Webster County Clerk’s Office. Those affected were in the former East Ozark Township, north of State Highway 38. Those voters will now vote at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. In Jackson Township, east of Sand Ridge Road, those voters will now go to Son-Rise Christian Church on Election Day.

All voters should have received new voter registration cards – or will be receiving them in the next couple of weeks. These new cards show your polling place and districts in which you are eligible to vote.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Webster County Clerk’s Office at 417-859-VOTE (8683) or by email at [email protected]