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Installation Dinner & Awards Ceremony
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Thank you to all who attended our annual Installation Dinner & Awards Ceremony! Attendance has grown so much over the last few years that we have packed the Renaissance Airport Hotel Ballroom wall-to-wall with tables. We'd like to thank our guest speaker, Gateway Arch Park Foundation Executive Director Ryan McClure, for providing an update on all the transformational work taking place near our region's most iconic landmark.
During the dinner, our new officers were officially sworn in, including Rock Hill Mayor Edward Mahan (President), Overland Mayor Marty Little (Vice President), and Jennings Councilman Terry Wilson (Finance Chair). We also welcomed Bel-Nor Mayor Anna Vogel, Clayton Mayor Bridget McAndrew, and St. Louis County Councilwoman Gretchen Bangert as new board members.
The League honored the following outgoing elected officials: Manchester Mayor Mike Clement, Ferguson Mayor Ella Jones, Shrewsbury Mayor Mike Travaglini, Kirkwood Councilwoman Nancy Luetzow, Webster Groves Councilwoman Pam Bliss, Webster Groves Councilman David Franklin, State Representative Doug Clemens, State Representative LaDonna Appelbaum, State Senator Karla May, and State Senator Brian Williams.
Richard Sheets was presented with the Buzz Westfall Excellence in Local Government Award for his 45 years of exceptional leadership and contributions to the betterment of local government with the Missouri Municipal League. He continues advocating for municipalities in Jefferson City to this day.
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2026-2027
Municipal League Executive Board
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Park Grant Application Now Open
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The Municipal Park Grant Commission's annual construction grant application is now open! Grants may be used to fund park renovation projects such as playgrounds, water parks, golf courses, trails, recreation centers, ice rinks and other types of facilities. Funding is awarded to municipalities based on the strength of their grant applications, including factors such as need, planning, community input, and prior awards. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 28 at 3pm.
Applicants are encouraged to attend one of our workshops where we walk through the application process and answer questions. Attendance also counts towards grant scoring. The workshop dates are:
Thursday, June 4 @ 9am - The Lodge Des Peres (Map)
Thursday, June 11 @ 9am - Maryland Heights City Hall (Map)
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It's lights out for the 2026 legislative session! It has been a good year for municipalities. Missouri's 103rd General Assembly passed 100 bills during their second regular session, including several of our priorities:
SB 916 (Burger) – Modifies provisions relating to sovereign immunity
- Redefines the term “purchase” to refer only to the direct acquisition of political subdivisions purchasing liability insurance. Municipalities no longer forfeit their right to claim sovereign immunity when being named as second insured on a contract.
SB 973 (Trent) – Creates and modifies provisions relating to real estate transactions
HB 1871 (McGaugh) - Modifies provisions relating to elections
- Shifts candidate filing deadline by one week. If filing deadline ends on a holiday, it gets pushed back one business day.
HB 2641 (Hinman) – Creates provisions relating to cannabis
- Previously, products/concentrates derived from hemp were unregulated
- Now, intoxicating hemp products must be sold at licensed dispensaries so products are tested and taxed like other cannabis products
HB 3231 (Christ) – Establishes the "Missouri Innovation, Public Safety, and Accountability Act"
- Enables cities to create innovation zones with state economic incentives
- Includes $50 million annual office to residential tax credits for projects in innovation zones
- Expected to incentivize redevelopment in vacant downtown St. Louis properties
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St. Louis County has placed a countywide use tax, Prop U, on the August 4, 2026 election ballot. Prop U language was drafted such that the county, municipalities, and special districts like the Zoo, Park Commission, and Great Rivers Greenway all benefit from its passage and receive monthly revenue disbursements.
The League estimates that passage will result in at least $50 per capita in revenue per municipality, meaning that a municipality with a population of 1,000 would receive $50,000 in county-level use tax revenue annually.
The League is asking municipalities to educate their residents on the benefits that the county use tax would have on local municipalities. To help this effort, we have created a new webpage with Prop U educational materials.
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MSD Project Clear
Municipal Stormwater Grant Program
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MSD Project Clear’s Municipal Stormwater Grant Program is now open for municipalities within the MSD service area (including the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County) to submit applications for stormwater project funding.
This new program provides an important resource to help local governments plan, design, and construct stormwater infrastructure that addresses flooding, erosion, drainage issues, and other stormwater-related concerns in your community.
For examples of eligible projects, resources,
and information on how to apply, click HERE.
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FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has published a funding opportunity for the FY 2024 and 2025 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.
Through this funding, FEMA is making $1 billion available to states, local governments, territories, and Tribal Nations, allowing them to protect their communities from potential disasters like fires, floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes. The deadline to submit applications is July 23.
For more information, click HERE.
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East-West Gateway Opens
2026 OLGA Awards Nominations
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Nominations for the 2026 OLGA Awards are now open!
Each fall, East-West Gateway honors exceptional contributions in local government through their Outstanding Local Government Achievement awards. The OLGAs celebrate signature projects and initiatives of individuals, municipal and county governments, special purpose districts, and public education across the St. Louis region. Nominations are open through September 1, 2026.
Submit your nominations HERE.
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St. Louis Regional Freightway Launches
"FreightWeekSTL 2026" Conference
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St. Louis Regional Freightway, the organization that develops and enhances the region's freight and logistics network, will hold their annual FreightWeekSTL conference June 8 - 12. Their schedule of events features an array of tours, panel discussions, and interviews that highlight the region's growing strength as a world-class logistics hub.
Now is your chance to learn about robotics in freight, innovative battery-powered rail technologies, Mississippi River commerce, or take a riverboat cruise to see our infrastructure assets.
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June
- 1 - City Clerk deliver to collector special tax bills for weed and trash removal for inclusion on current year’s tax bill (§ 71.285)
- 25 – Municipal League of Metro St. Louis Training Academy Webinar
- 25 – US Supreme Court 25-26 Term Closes
- 30 – Annual liquor licenses expire (§ 311.240)
July
- 1 – First day of Missouri’s 2027 fiscal year
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The 2026 Training Academy schedule can be seen above. If you are interested in any of the topics, Municipalities can register for the program and pay annual tuition HERE. Annual tuition allows all elected officials, staff members, and board/commission members within your municipality to attend all seminars throughout the year and access the archive of previously recorded webinars.
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2026
Municipal League
Events
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| DATE |
EVENT |
LOCATION |
| Sep 24 |
Membership Meeting |
TBD |
| Oct 1 |
Municipal League Golf Tournament |
Florissant Golf Club |
| Oct 22 |
Membership Meeting |
TBD |
| Dec 10 |
Affiliate Holiday Open House |
Maryland Heights Community Center |
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