Members of the Callaway County health ordinance committee are still awaiting guidance from the County Commission.
During its Oct. 23 meeting, commissioners said they would provide the committee with a clearer sense of its purpose.
"Go ahead and set the date for your next meeting in three weeks, and we'll have guidelines for you," Jungermann said at the time.
On Nov. 17, Commissioner Roger Fischer - who proposed the health ordinance - said he planned on providing a list of expectations and guidelines to the committee, with the help of the other commissioners.
"They've asked the commission for some guidance and we haven't given them guidance yet," he said at the time. "I hope to have that meeting today."
However, no such guidance materialized.
"Unfortunately, I did not receive (the guidance) by the time I left my office to come here today," moderator Rick Hess said.
No commissioners were present at Monday's meeting, due to their attendance of the Missouri Association of Counties conference in Osage Beach. Committee members said they tried unsuccessfully to reach commissioners by phone Monday.
County commissioners formed the committee to advise them on Fischer's proposed health ordinance. Hess said though the initial draft applies only to certain townships in the county, the ordinance's current form would cover all of Callaway County.
It would apply to new confined animal feeding operations with a specified density of animals: 1,000 or more animal units at 150 or more per acre.
The ordinance would establish setbacks to keep CAFOs and their waste a certain distance from populated areas, water and recreational facilities. It also introduces a variety of other safety measures to keep diseases from spreading to people. The complete ordinance can be viewed at bit.ly/2qYuK7d.
Committee member Tim Safranski moved to schedule the committee's next meeting and request written guidelines, signed by all three commissioners, by one week before the next meeting's date. If the deadline isn't met, he proposed rescheduling the meeting.
His motion passed unanimously, prompting applause from audience members.
Committee members expressed frustration at being unable to move forward with examining the ordinance.
"All these community members took the time to come out here and listen to us," said Jeff Jones.