President's Review
by Chuck Caverly, Council Member, Maryland Heights, and MML President
Moving Forward It has been a great honor to have served as your Municipal League president this past year. I cannot express enough gratitude to my fellow MML Board members, MML staff and most importantly, all of you as members. There have been many ups and downs in our communities as we have all worked to recover from the pandemic. However, there is no question that MML continued to fight with a united voice at the state and federal level. In fact, this year brought historic successes in the Missouri state legislature, with five major municipal policy objectives advanced that will all help you better serve your communities. With your encouragement and support, the League is stronger than ever.
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This year brought historic successes in the Missouri state legislature, with five major municipal policy objectives advanced that will all help you better serve your communities.
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This was also a big year for your MML staff. As you know, MML Executive Director Dan Ross retired in December 2020. Deputy Director Richard Sheets stepped in as interim executive director. After reviewing the work and recommendations of the MML Board of Directors Executive Director Search Committee, the MML Board of Directors voted unanimously in August to appoint Richard Sheets as MML’s new executive director. Richard has served the League for 40 years and has been instrumental in bringing about a new impression of the League at the legislative level, where he works with lawmakers and stakeholders to find solutions to municipal challenges. With his leadership, MML is seen as a strong organization sharing a united voice for cities that finds workable solutions to strengthen our communities. As executive director, Richard will continue to be the face at the Missouri State Capitol sharing our united voice and ensuring that municipal interests are taken seriously. I am confident the Board of Directors has made the best choice to ensure a bright and healthy future not only for the League, but for our cities. It is my honor and great privilege to welcome Richard to this role.
As I complete my term as president, I offer some advice to all members – Be involved! Take advantage of the League’s services and keep up to date on what is happening at the state level. MML provides a wealth of resources to handle questions of all sizes. Make sure you are receiving emails from MML, whether it is the weekly e-newsletter or the Capitol Reports during the legislative session. Staff is also available by phone throughout the week to provide guidance, best practices and additional resources tailored to your specific questions. When you take the initiative to use MML resources, attend an event, ask your questions, and share what you have learned with others, it helps all of us to speak unilaterally as Missouri cities. This is your League. Make the most of it and thank you for allowing me to serve as your president this year.
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theReview September/October 2021
