Great Northwest Day

 Several St. Joseph city council members as well as city staff joined community and business representatives from northwest Missouri to visit in Jefferson City with our legislators for the annual Great Northwest Day at the Capitol. After registration in the capitol rotunda Tuesday morning, the St. Joseph delegation visited the Senate and observed SB1 debate concerning the Second Injury Fund.  At noon, the entire NWMO group gathered for lunch at the Capitol Plaza. During the lunch, speakers discussed our regional legislative issues.
      In the afternoon, the St. Joseph attendees divided their responsibilities. The city manager, mayor and deputy mayor had individual appointments. Several city staff directors attended small group discussions. Councilmembers Pat Jones, Barbara LaBass and Donna Jean Boyer; Director of Public Works Jody Carlson and Fire Chief Mike Dalsing; and the director of the Downtown Partnership, Becky Boerkircher, toured the capitol. Chief Dalsing, Councilmember Boyer and Director Boerkircher later visited with local legislators Galen Higdon, Delus Johnson and Pat Conway in their offices.
     The highlight of Great Northwest Day was the Mardi Gras eveing reception for legislators.Cities and counties from northwest Missouri had booths spotlighting their communities. (The Metro Area Chamber of Commerce gave away bbq sauce and Cherry Mash.) Students from Missouri Western University along with St.Joseph community and business leaders socialized with area legislators while enjoying a New Orleans buffet.
     Breakfast Wednesday morning ended the Great Northwest Day events with a speaker who contrasted how Kansas and Missouri are dealing with issues.  However, meetings were not over for the St. Joseph group. City Manager Bruce Woody, Public Works Director Carlson and Mayor Falkner met with Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner, Missouri's Adjutant General while Deputy Mayor Myers and Councilmember Boyer attended an Arts Appreciation Lunch in Senator Rob Schaff's office.
     According to some reports, Councilmembers LaBass and Jones had difficulty finding their way out of Jefferson City. On the other hand, City Manager Bruce Woody trusted his GPA device.