Missouri Revised Statutes Title VI. County, Township and Political Subdivision Government § 64.341. County commissions may lease lands and grant concessions for recreational and other purposes--procedure--county commission may operate (first class counties)

1. The county commissions in all counties of class one are hereby authorized and given the power in all matters pertaining to lots, tracts and parcels of ground, land and improvements thereon used by such counties as public parks, playgrounds, camping sites, recreation areas and sanitary land fills, to lease such land or any part thereof and any improvements erected thereon to, and permit improvements to be erected thereon by any person, firm or corporation undertaking to serve the public purposes thereof and to grant concessions therein for the sale of refreshments to the public using such areas and for services therein relating to boating, swimming, picnicking, golfing, shooting, horseback riding, fishing, tennis and other recreational, cultural and educational uses upon such terms and under such regulations as the county commissions may prescribe.  The county commission may establish, change from time to time and provide for collection thereof by its agents, employees or concessionaires a reasonable charge or charges to the public for the uses of and services in the areas as hereinabove set out.  No lease or concession grant shall be for a longer term than seven years.  No such lease shall be made or concession granted until after due opportunity for competition, including advertising the proposed letting or granting in a newspaper in the county with a circulation of at least five hundred copies per issue, if there be such, and if not, in such case notice shall be posted on the bulletin board in the county courthouse.  All leases shall be made and concessions granted to the party or parties submitting the bid most favorable to the county.  In every such lease made and concession granted, the county shall reserve the right for properly authorized representatives thereof to enter at all reasonable times in and upon the premises for the purpose of inspecting same.  All moneys derived from any leases, concessions, charges, or from the sale of products obtained from any such areas shall be paid into the county treasury and be credited to the park fund and be used and expended by the county commission for park purposes.  Nothing herein stated shall be held to abrogate the conditions specified in the deed or deeds of gift of any land or lands herebefore granted to the county, but said deed or deeds and acceptance thereof and all conditions therein are hereby ratified and confirmed, which conditions thereof, so far as they may be in conflict with this section, shall be considered as exceptions to the provisions hereof.

2. When private operators are not interested or available, the county commission shall have the power to operate the facilities described in subsection 1 of this section for a period not to exceed seven years, after which the facilities shall again be offered for competitive bids for private operation.  In the event such bids are not responsive or favorable to the county, the county commission shall continue to operate the facilities for an additional period of time not to exceed seven years.