Form of Government

Missouri is divided into 114 counties and the City of St. Louis by the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) §46.040. Counties are political subdivisions of the State “for governmental, political, and public purposes” (Freyermuth, n.d.) and have a wide range of governmental responsibilities. The Missouri legislature has established four classes of counties, based on the assessed valuation of real and personal property (Freyermuth, n.d.; RSMo §48.820). Christian County is classified as a second class county and is governed by a three-member Commission. Under the provisions of RSMo §49.010, counties are divided into two districts of nearly equal population. Each district elects one commissioner and the presiding commissioner is elected by the county as a whole. Commissioners serve four-year terms.

There are currently two classes of cities in Missouri --third and fourth class cities, as well as villages and home rule charter cities (Freyermuth, n.d.). Fourth class cities are those with populations greater than 500 but less than 3,000 inhabitants. Villages/towns are incorporations with less than 500 inhabitants (RSMo §72.050). There are eight municipal subdivisions within Christian County , including the recently incorporated Village of Saddlebrooke and the cities of Billings , Clever, Fremont Hills, Highlandville, Nixa, Ozark, and Sparta . All of the cities are incorporated as fourth-class cities.

Villages are regulated under RSMo §80 and are governed by a board of trustees. The board elects a presiding officer (chair) and a clerk, and appoints the village’s officers. Fourth class cities are regulated by RSMo §79. Such cities may have the mayor/board of aldermen or mayor/city administrator/board of aldermen form of government. The mayor presides over the board but may vote only to break a tie. Table 2-1 lists the incorporated communities in Christian County , government form, and meeting dates.

 

Christian County Local Governments
Local Government	Form of Government	Meeting Dates
Christian County	Commission	Mon and Thurs
Billings	Mayor/Aldermen	2 nd Thurs, 7 p.m.
Clever	Mayor/Aldermen	2 nd Mon, 6:30 p.m.
Fremont Hills	Mayor/Aldermen	3 rd Mon, 6:00 p.m.
Highlandville	Mayor/Aldermen	3 rd Tues, 7:00 p.m.
Nixa	Mayor/City Administrator/Aldermen	2 nd Mon, 7:00 p.m.
Ozark	Mayor/City Administrator/Aldermen	1 st and 3 rd Mon, 7:00 p.m.
Saddlebrooke	Chairman/Trustees	As Needed
Sparta	Mayor/Aldermen	2 nd Tues, 6:30 p.m.