Farmington Chamber to Take Opposition to Offender Treatment Consolidation to Jefferson City

Farmington, Mo. (KFMO) - The Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce will be in Jefferson City this week to voice opposition to a proposal that would consolidate all Missouri Sexual Offender Treatment operations in Farmington under the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Chamber CEO Candy Hente says community response has been strong, with more than 5,000 signatures collected so far on a petition opposing the consolidation. She says the number continues to grow as concerns spread across the region.

Opposition to the plan is also coming from local leaders. Seth Radford, mayor of the City of Bismarck, says his city supports efforts to stop the consolidation.

The City of Desloge has also taken formal action. City Administrator Stephanie Daffron says the Desloge Board of Aldermen recently passed a resolution opposing the plan and outlining the board’s concerns.

Hente says she hopes the hard work from the chamber, area cities, and residents will pay off when discussions take place at the state level.

Those who wish to add their names can sign the petition online.