The Historic Courthouse is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, except for holidays. You may contact the following offices at these numbers:
HEALTH DEPT. - Call 417-466-2201 or visit web site.
COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE - Call 417-466-2638 or visit web site.
COLLECTOR'S OFFICE - Call 417-466-2410. Receipts and statements are available on the web site, www.lawrencecountycollector.com You can now pay by phone: 1-800-652-0405
RECORDER'S OFFICE - 417-466-2670 or visit web site.
ASSESSOR'S OFFICE - Call 417-466-2831, fax 417-466-3931 or e-mail lcmoassessor@sofnet.com. You can now file assessment lists online: www.lawrencecountymoassessor.com
COUNTY COMMISSION - Call or leave message at 417-466-3666.
MT. VERNON LICENSE OFFICE - Call 417-466-4087.
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION OFFICE - Call 417-466-3102.
TREASURER'S OFFICE - Call 417-466-2662.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE - Call 417-466-2846.
Calendar
June 25
Absentee voting June 25-Aug. 5
July 4
County offices closed
July 18
Aug. 6
Law enf center ribbon cutting, tours
Primary election; polls open 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
County news
Ribbon cutting, tours July 18 for Law Enforcement Center
(July 1, 2024) The public will be able to view the interior of the new Law Enforcement Center before inmates are moved in following a ribbon-cutting at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 18, 2024. Tours will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 6 p.m.
While the building was deemed "substantially complete" as of June 28, the county is still awaiting some equipment, furnishings and other final work, along with training on the new systems, before operations can move there.
The $23 million facility at 1525 Missouri Drive will house the sheriff's office and jail. It brings sheriff’s office operations together under one roof and replaces the current 52-bed jail built in 1984 with a modern, more efficient 120-bed detention center. It is designed to allow two future 96-bed expansions. Voters approved a 3/8-cent sales tax to finance the construction. Elevatus Architecture designed the facility; and Nabholz Construction is construction manager at risk.
Fair ballot language, constitutional amendment text offered
(July 1, 2024) Lawrence County Clerk Tammy Riebe has published the text of the constitutional amendments on the August primary ballot, along with fair ballot language versions, on this web site. The election will be Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024.
Voter registration must be completed before July 10. Absentee voting is June 25 to Aug. 5. No excuse absentee voting is July 23 to Aug. 5. More information is available on the elections page and by calling the county clerk's office at 417-466-2638.
Part-time position available in county collector's office
(June 24, 2024) Lawrence County Collector Kelli McVey is seeking part-time seasonal help for his office in the Historic Courthouse. Applicants must be bondable. Apply in person at the collector's office. A resume is recommended.
Health department construction progresses
The new Lawrence County Health Department on Missouri Drive is taking shape Construction on that project is expected to be complete before the end of the year. Esterly Schneider & Associates is the architect for the health department. Branco Enterprises is construction manager at risk.
The $5.3 million construction cost includes the building, sitework and a 40x60 outbuilding that the county will share with emergency management. It will be located south of the new 911 center constructed by the Lawrence County Emergency Services Board, and the Law Enforcement Center currently under construction by the county. The county purchased the three-acre site from the City of Mt. Vernon for $1 in September 2021.
The health department has occupied a 6,000-square-foot converted grocery store at 105 W. North St. since 1995. It previously was housed in less than a thousand square feet in the courthouse basement. It is operated with county general revenue and grants.
Notice of Use Tax
(Lawrence County Clerk Tammy Riebe, Sept. 20, 2021) Lawrence County, Missouri previously adopted a use tax, which is currently in effect. A use tax is the equivalent of a sales tax on purchases made from out-of-state vendors by in-state buyers and on certain taxable business transactions. The use tax rate for Lawrence County is currently 2.125 percent which is equal to the total local sales tax rate. Certain purchases from out-of-state vendors will become subject to an expansion of the use tax effective on January 1, 2023, as provided by state law.
If any local sales tax is repealed or the rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be deemed to be repealed, reduced, or raised by the same action.
I, Tammy Riebe, County Clerk for Lawrence County, Missouri, do hereby certify that the foregoing is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, correct. Dated this 3rd day of September 2021.
Census Bureau puts county's population at 38,001
The U.S. Census Bureau puts Lawrence County's 2020 population at 38,001, slightly below the 2010 figure of 38,634. However, another indicator suggests more people are living in Lawrence County than did in 2010. There has been a 1.4 percent increase in individual and household personal property assessment lists returned to the county assessor in the same time period.
The Census Bureau ranks Lawrence County as 31st in population in Missouri's listing of 114 counties and the City of St. Louis.
Lawrence County experienced population drops in 1910, 1920, 1930, 1950 and 1960; but it recorded steady growth from 1960 through 2010.
Construction is under way on the new Lawrence County Health Department on Missouri Drive, Mt. Vernon.
Lawrence County broke ground Feb. 9 on a new Law Enforcement Center.
A Holiday Central angel tree can be found in the foyer of the Historic Courthouse. People can adopt an angel tag and return the purchased items and tag to the courthouse no later than Monday, Dec. 2, 2019.
Construction is under way on the new Lawrence County Health Department on Missouri Drive, Mt. Vernon.