71.530. Municipalities may contract for utilities--approval by majority of voters required, when.
Municipalities may contract for utilities--approval by majority ofvoters required, when.
71.530. Any city, town or village may contract with anycorporation organized under the laws of Missouri, or doingbusiness as a foreign corporation in the state of Missouri, forthe purpose of supplying it with gas, electricity or water. Thecontract may be for any length of time which shall be agreed uponbetween the city, town or village and the corporation, for a termnot to exceed twenty years. Each contract may be renewed foranother period or periods for a term of not more than twentyyears per period. The provisions of this section shall apply toall cities, towns and villages in this state, whether organizedby special charter or under the general laws of the state, anyprovisions in any special charter of any city, town or village inthe state to the contrary notwithstanding. All renewal contractsentered into under the provisions of this section shall besubject to voter approval of the majority of the voters voting onthe question, pursuant to the provisions of section 88.251, RSMo.Every initial contract for such services shall be approved by amajority of the voters of the municipality voting on thequestion. Nothing herein contained shall be so construed as toprevent the governing body of any city, town or village fromcontracting with any person, association or corporation forfurnishing the city, town or village with gas, electricity orwater in municipalities where franchises have already beengranted and where gas, electric or water plants and facilitiesalready exist, without a vote of the people.
(RSMo 1939 § 5370, A.L. 1943 p. 410 § 154, A. 1949 H.B. 2023, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, A.L. 1987 S.B. 412, A.L. 1989 H.B. 451)Prior revisions: 1929 § 4963; 1919 § 10173; 1909 § 3368