EXECUTIVE ORDER
06-37

WHEREAS, the State of Missouri recognizes the importance of serving the people of Missouri with efficient, competent, responsive and effective state government; and

WHEREAS, the Missouri State Government Review Commission was established by Executive Order 05-05 and charged with the responsibility of examining every Executive Department within our state government to identify opportunities to restructure, retool, reduce, consolidate, or eliminate state government functions in accordance with what would result in the best and most cost-effective service for Missouri citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Commission convened fifty-nine public meetings which included twelve public hearings where hundreds of Missouri citizens gave numerous hours of oral testimony and almost two-thousand pages of written testimony. The Commission considered 563 different, specific proposals that resulted in eighty-four final Commission recommendations; and

WHEREAS, the Missouri State Government Review Commission completed its duties and submitted a report detailing its recommendations; and

WHEREAS, there is a continuing need to implement the necessary recommendations offered by the Commission in order to achieve the overall goal Missouri set out to accomplish which is to improve the efficiency of state government; and

WHEREAS, the Commission recognized an opportunity to enhance Missouri's approach to addressing the issues associated with rural affairs.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MATT BLUNT, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Missouri, do hereby create and establish the Interdepartmental Coordination Council for Rural Affairs.

The Chairperson of the Council shall be the Director of the Department of Agriculture or his designee. The Director of each Executive Department shall designate one person to serve on the Council. Additionally, one member of the Council shall represent the University of Missouri Extension.

I hereby charge the Council with the duty of providing interdepartmental coordination, communication, and efficiency to assist in Missouri's efforts to accomplish the following goals:

1. Address the unique interests and needs of rural Missouri;
2. Effectively provide state government services in rural Missouri;
3. Coordinate Missouri's soil and water conservation programs; and
4. Coordinate rural transportation planning and projects.

The Council shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. The Council shall develop specific, quantifiable objective performance standards which accurately reflect the successful delivery of the Council's stated mission. The Council shall report their agreed upon performance standards to me no later than December 31, 2006.

The Council shall only call on existing state resources to carry out its mission and shall exist at no extra cost to the state.

The Council shall first convene as soon as possible and shall expire on June 30, 2007.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 11th day of October, 2006.

ATTEST:

.pdf version