§ 141.720 RSMo — Composition of land trust — terms — qualifications — vacancies — compensation — removal

1. The land trust shall be composed of three members, one of whom shall be appointed by the county, as directed by the county executive, or if the county does not have a county executive, as directed by the county commission of the county, one of whom shall be appointed by the municipality in the county which is not an appointing authority under section 141.981 and then has the largest population according to the last preceding federal decennial census, and one of whom shall be appointed by the school district in the county which is not an appointing authority under section 141.981 and then has the largest population according to such census in the county. If any appointing authority under this section fails to make any appointment of a land trustee after any term expires, then the appointment shall be made by the county.

2. The terms of office of the land trustees shall be for four years each, except the terms of the first land trustees who shall be appointed by the foregoing appointing authorities, respectively, not sooner than twelve months and not later than eighteen months after sections 141.210 to 141.810 take effect; provided, however, that the term of any land trustee appointed by a municipality or school district that becomes an appointing authority of a land bank agency under section 141.981 shall terminate and such municipality and such school district shall cease to be appointing authorities for such land trust under this section upon the completion of all transfers to the land bank agency from the land trust required under subsection 1 of section 141.984 or one year after the effective date of the ordinance or resolution establishing the land bank agency, whichever is the first to occur.

3. Each land trustee shall have been a resident of the county for at least five years next prior to appointment, shall not hold other salaried or compensated public office by election or appointment during service as land trustee, the duties of which would in any way conflict with his duties as land trustee, and shall have had at least ten years experience in the management or sale of real estate.

4. Of the first land trustees appointed under sections 141.210 to 141.810 , the land trustee appointed by the county commission shall serve for a term ending February 1, 1946, the land trustee appointed by the board of directors of the school district then having the largest population in the county shall serve for a term expiring February 1, 1947, and the land trustee appointed by the city council of the city then having the largest population in the county shall serve for a term expiring February 1, 1948. Each land trustee shall serve until his successor has been appointed and qualified.

5. Any vacancy in the office of land trustee shall be filled for the unexpired term by the same appointing authority which made the original appointment. If any appointing authority fails to make any appointment of a land trustee within the time the first appointments are required by sections 141.210 to 141.810 to be made, or within thirty days after any term expires or vacancy occurs, then the appointment shall be made by the county.

6. The members shall receive for their services as land trustees a salary of two thousand four hundred dollars per year.

7. Each land trustee may be removed for cause by the respective appointing authority, after public hearing, if requested by the land trustee, and an opportunity to be represented by counsel and to present evidence is afforded the trustee.