By Dale Johnson

CAMDEN COUNTY – A court judge has ruled in favor of the county commissioners in regards to four recent lawsuits filed against them. Presiding Commissioner Carolyn Loraine, First District Commissioner Beverly Thomas and Second District Commissioner Thom Gumm were hit with the lawsuits from four county residents accusing them of violating state law.

The judge disagreed and sided with the commissioners. Debra A. Brayton, Michael P. Dorf, Timothy Ernst and Terry Snyder filed petitions with the county commissioners to incorporate as four separate villages. In an article in a lake area newspaper on Wednesday April 30, the commission announced a hold on all pending petitions to form villages in the county.

The suits claimed that all four followed the proper procedures but the commissioners refused to do their part, and was asking the court to order the commissioners to follow the state law.

Last week Judge William Haas said the commissioners were not in the wrong in delaying the approval of the petitions because the state law is vague on a timetable. “This court finds that the commission’s delay in doing so is not unreasonable, as there are no statutory requirements concerning the timing of consideration and approval of such Petitions under (RSMO) 72.080,” Haas said in his ruling.

What this means is a petition can be submitted to the commissioners and they can delay approving it for an indeterminate amount of time. The judge also said that it is not mandatory that the commissioners address the petitions immediately.

“The court finds that this function of the County Commission is not a ministerial task, but is instead a discretionary one entrusted to the commission…and cannot be compelled by a writ of mandamus,” said Haas.

(A “mandamus” is a writ also called a "writ of mandate" which orders a public agency or governmental body to perform an act required by law when it has neglected or refused to do so).

Section 72.080 says “Whenever a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the registered voters in the area proposed to be incorporated shall present a petition to the governing body of the county… The governing body shall submit the question to the voters if it is satisfied the number of voters signing such petition is equal to fifteen percent of the registered voters in the area proposed to be incorporated.”

Though the current “village” law is valid until the new revision to the statute passed by the state legislators takes effect, there is no timetable in the current statute to force the commissioners to act that day, week, month or year.

The judgment applied to all four suits. “It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed that Relator’s Petition for a Writ Mandamus is denied,” the ruling said.

As of press time no appeal had been filed on any of the suits and no word if any would be.

Creating treasure from trash By Jeff Thompson MORGAN COUNTY - To say Rebecca Kerr and Ray Cornwell share a vision is to damn them with faint praise. These two people - owners of Sunridge Forest Products, LLC - run their freshman lumber business with a few simple but important rules: * To make a quality product; * A mutual respect for the earth and the environment; * Creating a enjoyable, healthy work place for their employees; and * “Knowing that we are creating a superior wood product, we will endure to always expect nothing less than excellence from ourselves and our company.” While there are many sawmills around the state and across the country, what makes Sunridge Forest Products unique is the nature of their business: It’s a salvage lumber company. They create quality lumber from what others would toss away in a landfill or burn in a slow, smoldering pile to clear the way for condos or a new office building. Where most people have to pay to have a downed tree removed, Ray will pay the person for the downed trees - if the lumber is salvageable. “We waste nothing,” Ray said proudly and readily tells people his is a “green” company - environmentally sound and taking advantage of a renewable resource. He and Rebecca have every reason to be proud, combining Ray’s 20 years of logging and lumber experience with the business and administrative skills of Rebecca. “I do the marketing quite well,” Rebecca said without a trace of false modesty. Ray can brag on his partner, except in this case, it’s not bragging. Just a statement of simple fact. “As far as we know, Rebecca is the only woman sawmill owner in the country, maybe even the world,” Ray said. “She overwhelms me with her knowledge.” They recently upgraded their sawmill machinery to a Lucas 830 swing blade mill, purchased during a trip to Northern California. It’s a beautiful, competent machine, and they both smile like new parents as a log of white oak is slowly drawn through the spinning blade, again and again and again. Some of their parental pride is focused on the two young men working the sawmill - one is a son of Ray’s while the other a son of Rebecca’s. “We’re very proud of them, they work well together,“ Rebecca said. Across from the sawmill is a building in the final construction stage. In a week or so it will become a solar-powered kiln where Rebecca and Ray can dry their lumber under controlled conditions. Sunridge Forest Products is very much a work in progress, but in less than eight months it has grown from an eclectic idea to a possible trendsetter. “Companies call us now when they start excavating,” Ray said. “What was going to be burned is now turned into great, quality lumber.” Ray and Rebecca’s scope of vision doesn’t stop at just the sawmill. Ray speaks about creating herb and vegetable gardens, which may not seem out of the ordinary, but it’s the depth of their dreams that can give a casual observer pause. With over 30 acres of land, they have long range plans to create what they call a walk-through forest with many examples of plants and trees. “It’ll be something our children’s children will be able to enjoy,” Ray said. Walking through a field of flowering plants (“People call these weeds,” Ray says with a cynical smile, “but I call them beautiful”), Ray and Rebecca follow a well-used path that leads to one of their favorite places; a slow, meandering creek that borders their property. Ray points out the minnows darting back in forth in clear, deep pools; he points out the trees and shrubs that line the creek. He knows all their names, and knows the land will be here long after he and Rebecca are gone. “Rebecca and I have such a passion for all this,” Ray said with a wave of his hand, taking in everything around him. They want their lumber company to be successful, of course, but not at the cost of their integrity. “We have never been driven by the desire to sacrifice quality for quantity and it shows in every piece of lumber we create,” Rebecca and Ray say on their website. Although Ray has spent a lot of time hanging from 300-foot Sequoia redwood trees, the dreams he shares with Rebecca keep them both grounded. “We can help make a better environment for everybody,” Ray said. “The therapy is in the wood.”

Mayor, board moves fast to deal with security problem

By Jeff Thompson

LAKE OZARK - A security problem plaguing a local businessman was dealt with quickly by the Board of Aldermen with the prompting of the mayor.

Dennis Michael asked for the city’s help at the board’s regular June 24 meeting. Michael owns a series of mini storage units on Valley Road and told the aldermen he’s had at three break-ins over the past three years. He’s talked with the police department and have followed their suggestions for putting in a fence around the storage units and improving the lighting.

“We’ve done everything they’ve (the police) asked,” Michael said, but it hasn’t stopped the break-ins. “I’d like to ask the city to help me protect my property,” Michael said. “A street light in close proximity - that would help.”

Lt. Bill Edburg - filling in for Police Chief Mark Maples - told the board that intruders “would duck off into the woods” when patrol cars would drive by and a strategically placed street light would help correct the problem.

Michael’s request came during the miscellaneous hearings and visitors portion of the board meeting, and no decision would have been reached that night but Mayor Johnnie Franzeskos asked Michael to wait around while the board dealt with other agenda issues.

Ultimately the board did approve the installation of the street light. It was estimated that the cost to the city would be $5-7 a month, and that AmerenUE would install the street light itself.

In other business:

* The board listened to a quick presentation from Brett Brown of Missouri Utility Company. The company seeks to provide natural gas to a number of lake area towns, and was seeking a franchise agreement with the city. Brown had made a similar presentation to the city of Camdenton the week before. Alderman Robert Davis asked about the company mapping out where they would install the natural gas lines and possible work schedules. Brown assured Davis the company would not “come barreling in here” without a plan in place. The board took no formal action on Brown’s presentation.

* The board gave final approval to a motion that will ask voters to choose two- or four-year terms for aldermen and the mayor. The motion passed with a vote of 4 to 1, with Alderman Davis voting against the measure.

Struggle continues to save a local piece of history