On Friday, August 2, 2013, Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Merrell spoke to the Taney County Republican Club, at Fat Daddy’s, in Forsyth. Club President – and Taney County Recorder – Bob Dixon invited Merrell to speak to the club about the grand jury empanelled from July of 2012 through March of 2013.

“The group had a lot of good questions, including inquiries about why Taney County does not employ a grand jury on a regular basis,” says Merrell. “There’s really not any one specific reason why our county doesn’t empanel a grand jury more often. However, some factors include the extra work required of the Circuit Clerk’s Office, the Prosecutor’s Office, and the Circuit Court Judge; as well as the additional expense to the county.”

The grand jury term came at a cost to taxpayers of over $12,000.00. That figure represents the cost of paying the grand jurors, feeding the grand jurors, paying the court reporter, and for transcripts of hearings.