Jefferson County Council elects 2025 leaders, approves zoning changes, eminent domain resolution and a slate of appointments

The Jefferson County Council elected Councilman Bob Tullock as council chair and Councilman Tim Brown as vice chair for 2025 and then moved through a series of appointment resolutions and land-use measures during a meeting on Jan. 7.

The leadership votes openeda brief business session in which the council then approved development and zoning actions, a declaration of public necessity tied to a road-improvement project that authorizes eminent-domain steps if needed, and several reappointments to local boards and commissions. All recorded roll-call votes on motions and resolutions were 6 yes, 0 no.

Why it matters: the leadership choices set the council’s internal agenda and committee organization for the year. The land-use approvals and the amendment to the county’s unified development code affect how planning decisions will be made and who will sit on the county planning commission going forward. The eminent-domain declaration begins a legal process that could require the county to acquire private property interests for the Castle Acres Road improvement.

Council leadership and early business

Councilman Bob Tullock was nominated and approved as council chair by a vote of 6-0. Councilman Tim Brown was later nominated and approved as vice chair by the same margin. The presiding officer asked members to be patient during the electronic vote-recording process as the council completed its organizational business.

Appointments and administrative resolutions

The council adopted a package of resolutions to confirm or consent to nominations and reappointments to local boards and commissions. Among them, the council: adopted Resolution R25-0102 to reappoint Roger Vail to the Rock Creek Public Sewer District board; adopted Resolution R25-0103 to reappoint Tim Bennett to the same board; adopted Resolution R25-0104 to consent to the reappointment of Dr. Marsha Mertens to the Jefferson County developmental disability advocates; adopted Resolution R25-0105 to reappoint Jim Burbridge to the county merit system commission; and adopted Resolution R25-0106 to approve a nomination to the Jefferson County Port Authority (nominee name not specified in the meeting record). The council also adopted several resolutions approving surplus payments from delinquent tax sales (R25-0107, R25-0108 and R25-0109).

The public-comment period included two supporters of the Rock Creek board reappointments. Don Daniels, identified in the meeting as district administrator for Rock Creek Public Sewer District, told the council he supported reappointing Roger Vail and Tim Bennett, saying they understand budgeting, state revolving funds, Department of Natural Resources rules and issues such as nutrient-pollution controls. Gene (listed as Gene) Barbagallo, a former council member, also endorsed Bennett and praised the county public-works crews for storm response.

Planning and zoning actions

The council introduced and moved two land-use bills to perfection (an interim step before final passage): Bill 25-0115, an ordinance approving application PM24077 to rezone a parcel in Council District 5 from Large-Lot Residential (LR2) to Planned Mixed (PM) for a development identified as Platin Peaks Trail; and Bill 25-0116, granting a revised development plan (PI24081) for HJ Enterprises in Council District 1. Both motions to approve and move the bills to perfection passed by recorded votes of 6-0. Several council members stated they had attended Planning & Zoning and supported the proposals; members of the public in the chamber also expressed support for Bill 25-0115.

Amendment to the unified development code — planning commission membership

The council amended Bill 25-0117 (an ordinance updating Chapter 400 of the Jefferson County Code) to change the composition rules for the county planning commission. The amendment (adopted as Bill 25-0117A1) adds a new Section 400.583(A) establishing a nine-member planning commission: one member appointed from the unincorporated area of each council district (seven members) plus two at-large members who may be residents of incorporated or unincorporated areas, with the two at-large members not to be from the same incorporated area. The amendment text was read into the record and council discussion included a clarification from county staff that the change is not retroactive — existing commissioners may serve out their current terms, and the new rules will apply to future appointments and reappointments. Councilman Grodeky said he supported the change, noting he believes including members from incorporated areas is appropriate because schools and businesses there are affected by county zoning decisions. The amendment and the motion to move the amended bill to perfection passed 6-0.

Castle Acres Road and eminent-domain authorization

The council introduced and approved Bill 25-0118, an ordinance declaring the public necessity of the Castle Acres Road improvement and authorizing the county to exercise eminent-domain procedures to acquire real-property interests needed for the project. During discussion a council member asked whether county staff had exhausted efforts to acquire property voluntarily; the council was told that, to the best of officials’ knowledge, other acquisition efforts had been attempted. The motion to approve and move Bill 25-0118 to perfection passed 6-0.

Other actions and finance

The council approved the consent agenda and the bills contained within it by unanimous vote and received the Jefferson County treasurer’s monthly settlement and financial report for November 2024, placing it on file. In his report, the county executive noted final tax numbers for 2024 showed 4.28% growth year-on-year and cited modest sales-tax revenue increases (from $15,862,000 in 2023 to $16,540,000 in 2024). The executive praised public-works crews for storm response; county staff presence and scheduling during the storm was described in the meeting by the executive, who asked that the director, Mr. Jonas, convey thanks to his team.

Votes at a glance (recorded roll-call tallies shown where recorded; all recorded votes were 6-0 unless otherwise noted):

- Election of council chair: Bob Tullock — Approved (6 yes, 0 no). - Election of vice chair: Tim Brown — Approved (6 yes, 0 no). - Resolution R25-0101 (records disposal per Missouri Secretary of State standards; cites RSMo §109.260) — Adopted (6-0). - Resolution R25-0102 (reappoint Roger Vail to Rock Creek Public Sewer District) — Adopted (6-0). - Resolution R25-0103 (reappoint Tim Bennett to Rock Creek Public Sewer District) — Adopted (6-0). - Resolution R25-0104 (consent to reappoint Dr. Marsha Mertens to developmental disability advocates) — Adopted (6-0). - Resolution R25-0105 (reappoint Jim Burbridge to Merit System Commission) — Adopted (6-0). - Resolution R25-0106 (nomination to Jefferson County Port Authority; nominee not specified in record) — Adopted (6-0). - Resolutions R25-0107, R25-0108, R25-0109 (delinquent-tax-sale surplus payments to named applicants) — Adopted (6-0 each). - Bill 25-0115 (PM24077: rezone to Planned Mixed for Platin Peaks Trail; Council District 5) — Approved on first reading and moved to perfection (6-0). - Bill 25-0116 (PI24081: revised development plan for HJ Enterprises; Council District 1) — Approved on first reading and moved to perfection (6-0). - Bill 25-0117 (amend Chapter 400 planning commission membership) as amended to Bill 25-0117A1 — Approved and moved to perfection (6-0). - Bill 25-0118 (Castle Acres Road improvement; declaration of public necessity and authorization to exercise eminent-domain procedures) — Approved and moved to perfection (6-0). - Monthly treasurer’s settlement for November 2024 — Received and filed (6-0).

What’s next: Most of the zoning and ordinance items were approved on first reading and moved to perfection; further action (final passage/perfection hearings) will appear on future agendas per the council’s process. The planning commission membership change will affect how future planning-commission vacancies and reappointments are made; existing commissioners may serve out current terms, the council was told.

Meeting participants quoted in this report are identified in the county meeting record as follows: Don Daniels, district administrator, Rock Creek Public Sewer District; Gene Barbagallo, former council member; Councilman Bob Tullock; Councilman Tim Brown; Councilman Billy Crow; Councilwoman Ahrens; Councilman Grodeky; Councilman Sik; Mr. Jonas, public works director; Mrs. Boyer, county clerk.