Perry County has been named one of four recipients statewide of the 2025 Missouri Association of Counties (MAC) County Achievement Award, honoring innovative and collaborative problem-solving in local government. The award was presented Nov. 24 during the MAC Annual Conference in Osage Beach.
The annual MAC Achievement Awards spotlight county programs that demonstrate strong teamwork, responsible budgeting, measurable results, and approaches that can be replicated by other communities. Counties must outline the challenges they faced, the solutions they implemented, and the outcomes achieved.
Perry County earned the honor for its submission highlighting the Perry County Joint Justice Center (PCJJC), a project praised by the MAC Award Committee for its high level of cooperation between Perry County and the City of Perryville. The committee also noted the strong coordination among multiple county departments throughout planning and construction.
The Joint Justice Center brings several agencies together under one roof, serving as a unified hub for law enforcement, judicial services, emergency management, and public safety. County leaders said the project’s approach reflects its “Stronger Together” philosophy — improving operational efficiency, strengthening public safety, and creating long-term benefits for both residents and partner agencies.
Accepting the award on behalf of Perry County were Presiding Commissioner Mike Sauer, District 1 Associate Commissioner Jay Wengert, District 2 Associate Commissioner Keith Hoehn, Treasurer Katie Schemel, and Collector Dena Preston.
Appreciative of the county’s recognition, Sauer said, “It was wonderful that we got recognized. We had this in our minds ever since we started that building that we would enter the competition, so we might receive some recognition for the Perry County Joint Justice Center. Best thing I can say about the building project is that it was a long, hard process that took a lot of meetings, all three commissioners’ support, along with the city’s support and the community’s support.
