By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – Lawmakers representing the area of the Taum Sauk reservoir are calling for Ameren to be held accountable by the state for the collapse of the upper reservoir in December of 2005.
Ameren's plan to rebuild the Taum Sauk reservoir is welcome news to Republican State Senator Kevin Engler of Farmington. But he's still frustrated that there's been no legal resolution following the collapse.
"We can't have all players playing it like a chess game, because the people of Reynolds and Iron county cannot be looked upon as pawns in this thing; we have to get going."
Democratic Representative J.C. Kuessner of Eminence says there's been a significant drop in tourism in the area since the collapse, which is cutting into local revenues.
Kuessner, Engler, and Senate President Pro-tem Michael Gibbons are calling on Ameren to rebuild the upper reservoir without raising electric rates.