Effective 28 Aug 1995

99.020. Definitions. — The following terms, wherever used or referred to in sections 99.010 to 99.230, shall have the following respective meanings unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

(1) "Area of operation", in the case of a housing authority of a city, shall include such city; in the case of a housing authority of a county, shall include all of the county except that portion which lies within the territorial boundaries of any city as herein defined;

(2) "Authority" or "housing authority" shall mean any of the municipal corporations created by section 99.040;

(3) "Blighted" shall mean any area where dwellings predominate which, by reason of dilapidation, overcrowding, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities or any combination of these factors are detrimental to safety, health and morals;

(4) "Bonds" shall mean any bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures, or other obligations issued by the authority pursuant to this chapter;

(5) "City" shall mean any city, town or village in the state;

(6) "The city" shall mean the particular city for which a particular housing authority is created;

(7) "Clerk" shall mean the clerk of the city or the clerk of the county commission, as the case may be, or the officer charged with the duties customarily imposed on such clerk;

(8) "County" shall mean any county in the state;

(9) "The county" shall mean the particular county for which a particular housing authority is created;

(10) "Federal government" shall include the United States of America, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or any other agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States of America;

(11) "Governing body" shall mean, in the case of a city, the city council, common council, board of aldermen or other legislative body of the city, and in the case of a county, the county commission or other legislative body of the county;

(12) "Housing project" shall mean any work or undertaking, whether in a blighted or other area:

(a) To demolish, clear or remove buildings. Such work or undertaking may include the adaptation of such area to public purposes, including parks or other recreation or community purposes; or

(b) To provide decent, safe and sanitary urban or rural dwellings, apartments or other living accommodations for persons of very low and lower income. Such work or undertaking may include buildings, land, equipment, facilities and other real or personal property for necessary, convenient or desirable appurtenances, streets, sewers, water service, site preparation, gardening, administrative, community, health, welfare or other purposes. Such work or undertaking may also include housing, for persons of moderate income, offices, stores, solar energy access, parks, and recreational and educational facilities, provided that such activities be undertaken only in conjunction with the provision of housing for persons of very low and lower income, and provided further that any profit of the authority shall be distributed as provided in subsection 3 of section 99.080; or

(c) To accomplish a combination of the foregoing. The term "housing project" also may be applied to the planning of the buildings and improvements, the acquisition of property; the demolition of existing structures, the construction, reconstruction, alteration and repair of the improvements and all other work in connection therewith;

(d) In the planning and carrying out of any housing project owned and operated by a housing authority, a housing authority shall establish procedures for allocating any training and employment opportunities which may arise from such activity to qualified persons of very low and lower income who have been unemployed for one year or more and reside within the area of operation of the housing authority;

(13) "Mayor" shall mean the elected mayor of the city or the elected officer thereof charged with duties customarily imposed on the mayor or executive head of the city;

(14) "Obligee of the authority" or "obligee" shall include any bondholder, trustee or trustees for any bondholders, or lessor demising to the authority property used in connection with a housing project, or any assignee or assignees of such lessor's interest or any part thereof, and the federal government when it is a party to any contract with the authority;

(15) "Persons of very low income" means those persons or families whose annual income does not exceed fifty percent of the median income for the area. "Persons of lower income" means those persons or families whose annual income is greater than fifty but does not exceed eighty percent of the median income for the area. "Persons of moderate income" means those persons or families whose annual income is greater than eighty but does not exceed one hundred and fifty percent of the median income for the area. For purposes of this subdivision, median income for the area shall be determined in accordance with section 1437a, Title 42, United States Code, including any amendments thereto. Any and all references to "persons of low income" in this chapter shall mean persons of very low, lower or moderate income as defined herein;

(16) "Profit" shall mean the difference between gross revenues and necessary and ordinary business expenses, including debt service, if any;

(17) "Real property" shall include all lands, including improvements and fixtures thereon, and property of any nature appurtenant thereto, or used in connection therewith, and every estate, interest and right, legal or equitable, therein, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage or otherwise and the indebtedness secured by such liens.

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(RSMo 1939 § 7855, A.L. 1941 p. 455, A.L. 1951 p. 331, A.L. 1963 p. 156, A.L. 1986 S.B. 767, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1105, A.L. 1995 S.B. 16)