Council backs contractor certifications for apprenticeships and veterans; approves road vacation and consent items

St. Charles County Council on Monday unanimously approved Resolution 25-01, a non-binding measure encouraging contractors who bid on county construction, repair and maintenance projects to provide additional certifications demonstrating a focus on employee training, apprenticeship programs and veteran-owned business participation.

Sponsored by Councilmen Matt Swanson, Mike Elam, Dave Hammond and Terry Hollander, the resolution asks the county's purchasing division to examine whether additional certifications can be incorporated into procurement processes without creating legal or competitive conflicts. Councilman Matt Swanson said the change is intended to strengthen the local workforce: "When we're spending our taxpayer dollars, we have the most qualified individuals doing the…