After hearing a legislative update by a Ameren Missouri representative, the Holts Summit Board of Aldermen Monday night sidetracked a resolution endorsing legislation clearing the way for an early site permit for a second nuclear reactor at the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant.
When the resolution was brought before the body for consideration, it died after failing to receive a second for the motion to approve the measure.
The proposed resolution would have endorsed legislative proposals offered by Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, and Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane.
Earlier Don Koonce, Ameren Missouri government relations liaison, had outlined the legislative proposals offered in the Missouri General Assembly. Koonce said Ameren and other statewide utilities had endorsed the measures offered by Kehoe and Riddle but not a counter proposal offered by Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Cape Girardeau, and Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Dexter.
Koonce said the Mayer-Crowell proposal doubled the size of the Office of Public Counsel that represents the public in utility rate cases and in effect doomed the legislation because the legislature would be unlikely to approve such an expansion under current budget restrictions.
Koonce said building a second reactor at the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant would have added 3,000 to 4,000 jobs in Callaway County during the 10-year construction period and it would add up to 500 more permanent jobs after construction is completed.
Koonce said the nuclear plant was mainly the reason why Ameren Missouri now has the seventh lowest electric power rates of any utility in the nation.
But later in the meeting when the resolution came up for a vote, it died for lack of a seconding motion.
In other action, Joe Wilson of Jefferson City asked the board to consider adopting a policy of placing implanting tracking microchips into animals adopted from animal shelters.
Wilson said the microchips assure the pet will be returned to its owner if it is lost. He said the licensing and implanting of microchips also would foster more responsibility by pet owners because they would be responsible for the pet. Wilson said a microchip costs as little as $6 per dog.
The board agreed to look into the proposal and would get back to Wilson if they decided to adopt the plan.
The board also:
•Approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with Central Bank to lease-purchase a patrol vehicle for the Holts Summit Police Department. The vehicle and equipment could not cost more than $28,000.
•Approved an ordinance authorizing the purchase of fireworks for the 2011 fireworks festival.
•Approved a resolution granting use of the concession stand at Greenway Park to the Optimist Club during the 2011 T-Ball, baseball and softball season.