City Administrator

Jim Dismuke, City Administrator

Interested in your Local Government? Read about it! Missouri cities come in several different classes. First and Second classes were repealed after several years in which no cities fell in those two categories. Thus you have towns and villages, 4th class and 3rd class cities and special charter Cities and Towns. Missouri state law determines what a city must do and what it can do. Chapter 79 is the chapter under which most Missouri cities operate. For example Fredericktown’s population after the Decennial census stands at 3985 persons and should the voters choose could move to a new classification, however most cities just remain in the class in which they were incorporated. New cities may be form by at least 500 persons after submitting a petition with the requisite number of signatures and permission of the County Commission. An incorporated city gains “perpetual succession” which means it has perpetual existence unless disincorporated. The City of Fredericktown is a 4th Class city according to Missouri State Law. Fredericktown’s population would enable it to vote in a 3rd class city if it so chose to do so. The duties prescribed by law may be found in Chapter 79.070 I sure these statues may be found in our local library. An alderman must be 21 and a resident of their ward for one year preceding his or her election. The term of office for Mayor, Alderman, and Collector is presently two years and maybe extended to four years with a voter-approved ordinance. Before taking office, every officer and assistant “shall take and subscribe to an oath of affirmation” (78.260), before a court of record or the city clerk. The oath is a formal confirmation that the elected or appointed official is qualified for office, the he or she will support the city’s ordinances, state laws, and the U.S. and Missouri Constitutions, and will ‘faithfully demean himself while in office.” The written oath is on file with the city clerk. Failure to take the oath vacates the office. A majority of the alderman makes up a quorum, those present may adjourn the board from day to day or send the marshal or police chief to get an absent member. Resigning from an office requires two things: an offer by the official and acceptance by a quorum. Remember, resignation doesn’t relieve the official of responsibility until the quorum accepts the resignation. This is how perpetual existence of the city is maintained. Should resignations threaten the quorum, replacement(s) must be appointed before any more resignations are accepted. The above information is taken from Rules for Missouri Fourth-Class Cities. University of Missouri Extension-Ballard Local Government Series. extension.missouri.edu/lgs. Please check back soon for more progress. Ideas and suggestions for this website are gladly accepted, please send them to techno@fredericktownmo.org.

Who We Are

Fredericktown is located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, surrounded on three sides by the Mark Twain National Forest. Our community was settled in 1819 by French settlers. We are the County Seat of Madison County and the home of the historic Madison County Courthouse, built in 1898 and designed by architect,Theodore Link. Please visit the links on the left for more information on the natural beauty and historic splendor that Fredericktown has to offer visitors.