Sept. 26, 2019

The Gasconade County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, Southern District Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, Northern District Commissioner Jim Holland at the Courthouse beginning with Pledge of Allegiance.

PRIOR MINUTES

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated Sept. 19, 2019. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

WARRANTS FOR PAYMENT

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve the following items: warrants for payment 114547 through 114564. Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

ROAD CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS

Commissioner Lairmore reported that Rosebud road project is complete except for putting in the fill material which road department is working on; Commission also mentioned that the new road grader was put in operation, but there were some issues so a John Deere technician was working on it. Commissioner Holland met on Steinbeck road with Wayne Kottwitz, road supervisor to look at some dead trees needing to come down, but found that some were not on county right‑of‑way, some were on other landowners’ property and some were on Three Rivers Electric right‑of‑way.

Presiding Commissioner Miskel has not yet completed the LPA online training but is working on it.

Commissioner Lairmore had received an answer from legal counsel Ivan Schraeder regarding CERF ruling about once an employee has opted out of the system, they cannot get back in even when going to work for another county, which is what Mr. Schraeder confirmed as per statute. Commissioner Lairmore adamantly disagrees with this ruling and considers it discrimination against the county who is willing to pay into CERF for this employee’s retirement. Clerk Lietzow can give him contact information for someone at CERF for him to talk to; he doesn’t see where that will help anything but he will report back to the employee.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Presiding Commissioner Miskel first offered thanks to Sheriff’s Department for assisting Hermann Police Department when a truck with too large of a load, was stuck on Highway 19 through Hermann at 2nd street; he appreciates seeing inter‑agency cooperation. He mentioned that county government day has been set for Oct. 16 with Commissioners’ and Treasurer Mike Feagan handling BBQ duties. He and Commissioner Holland will meet at 10:30 today to go with Callabyte on a Courthouse walk‑through to look at possible internet improvements.

Presiding Commissioner Miskel reported on Governor Mike Parson attendance at Gasconade County Republican dinner where he spoke of the state’s priority being workforce development and infrastructure which coincides with MRPC’s priorities also. He went on to say that he also talked with Representative Aaron Griesheimer about coming to the Courthouse in November before session begins in January to sit down and talk with Commission and Treasurer Feagan and Clerk Lietzow about county financial priorities.

Correspondence received included the signed copy of the remonumentation agreement for Fiscal Year 2020; invitation to the annual R2‑G state of the school district event on Nov. 6 at 7 a.m.

Clerk Lietzow had prepared an Internal Control Policy document as had been recommended by State Auditor’s Office and by the private audit firm in the last two audits; she and Treasurer Feagan had gathered samples from other counties and he had attended a meeting at the SAO that touched on their findings when they audit counties. Commission asked if most of this isn’t already in place and she said it is; Treasurer Feagan explained the purpose is meant to keep an honest person honest with checks and balances. While many of the issues are spelled out in the statutes, others are county policy, i.e.: bidding amounts, inventory, grants, etc. but not in written form Commission asked about personnel policy and if this replaces it; it does not, but is in addition to, because there in nothing in the personnel policy that addresses this. They would like it distributed to all elected officials and /or department heads for comment and based on that feedback, they will adopt.

Clerk Lietzow had met with the electric department at the Doerr building to determine what is driving the usage up so high when the only thing plugged in is the generator charger; it was discovered that the generator which runs on diesel fuel, has a heater block that has been running the whole time which is the problem. Commissioner Holland will go down there today and unplug that because even in the coldest part of winter, it will probably still be fine.

She also mentioned that City of Hermann had hosted an OSHA training regarding active shooter intrusion and Sheriff John Romanus had attended, but he said it was more suited for employers’ which is something Commission is looking for. They will consider budgeting next year to have someone come in to instruct all officials and employees.

Treasurer Feagan mentioned he will be receiving another $1,291 sales tax interest payment this month.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to adjourn commission until Oct. 3, 2019. Commissioner Jerry Lairmore seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.

Oct. 3, 2019

The Gasconade County Commission met with Southern District Commissioner Jerry Lairmore and Northern District Commissioner Jim Holland at the Owensville City Hall beginning with Pledge of Allegiance. Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel was not in attendance.

PRIOR MINUTES

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated Sept. 26, 2019. Commissioner Jerry Lairmore seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Absent).

WARRANTS FOR PAYMENT

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to approve the following items: warrants for payment 114565 through 114576. Jerry Lairmore seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Absent).

ROAD CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS

With the absence of Presiding Commissioner Miskel, Commissioner Lairmore agreed to serve as Presiding for the day; when meeting with road department at Drake first this morning, there was a lot of discussion about their equipment needs. Consideration is being given to replacing another dump truck, buying a gravel screen, buying a smaller bucket truck as they start looking ahead to the 2020 budget, and also what equipment they might be able to get rid of. Also, possibly prioritizing the projects they want to do involving hard‑surfacing roads, in addition to the culvert and bridge projects they already prioritize each year.

When convening at Owensville City Hall, Commission reported to Deputy Clerk Lynn Kurrelmeyer the discussion at Drake with the road department, for the official minutes. They continued on by saying the new grader they had just taken delivery of has had some issues taken care of and it is on the road.

Commissioner Lairmore asked what happens to the four percent CERF contribution that the county makes on behalf of the employees, when the employee doesn’t join CERF; Deputy Kurrelmeyer said nothing happens to the money as there is no contribution made and added that there are other employees’ of the county that are not eligible for CERF, not just the one employee in the road department.

Consent form was received for file from Glenn A. Schmidt for gravel extraction from Third Creek, east of Highway A.

Owensville Alderman Cathy Lahmeyer mentioned that when the road department built the new bridge on Kottwitz road, there was no reflective tape put on it to warn vehicles approaching and no water gate or I‑bolts to hook an electric fence to. Commissioner Lairmore said that was not the county’s responsibility to do that, it was the landowners’, and suggested before doing so, that she talk to Roger Dahl, supervisor at the road department.

Commissioner Holland mentioned road issues on Drake School, Bickmeyer, Sandplant, Steinbeck and Frene Creek roads.

Last issue Commissioner Lairmore mentioned was that someone had contacted him about meeting with Commission about hard‑surfacing roads and ideas they had come up with for funds. He then asked Owensville Mayor John Kamler about the recent discussion about Baker road and the request from residents to have that road hard‑surfaced and if the city would have any funds to put toward that project since their lagoon is there and they use that road frequently. Mayor Kamler said there was no money right now for it and really didn’t know if they would be allowed to do so since it was not in the city limits but he would check into it. Commissioner Lairmore said that he hopes to be able to continue with chip and seal as many roads as possible, based on funding.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Alderman Lahmeyer also introduced to Commission the new city administrator Brian Samples; she also showed them the drawing of the new police department building and said the city is moving forward on a youth building in the city park. She said they are taking applications for a full‑time parks and recreation director.

Treasurer Mike Feagan presented his monthly account balances to Commission for their review; of notice this time is the significant decrease in balance of Road and Bridge fund, due to a particularly expensive month spending over $635,000 for budgeted items, i.e.: new grader, new trailer, used oil distributor truck, both Rosebud and Kottwitz road projects, asphalt, chip and seal and chat. Deputy Kurrelmeyer gave Commission their copies of the revenue and expense budgets as they stand at the end of the third quarter; when asked if there was anything urgent that needed discussing today, she said no.

Commissioner Holland reported meeting with Callabyte at the Courthouse and doing a walk‑through to see what the internet needs of the building are; a quote should be issued within 2‑3 weeks. He also mentioned that MRPC’s Solid Waste program has grants available for many different uses for counties and cities and he would be happy to talk with anyone interested.

Both Commissioners’ Holland and Lairmore talked about the Soil and Water event held yesterday at the Brenda Kurrelmeyer farm where around 90 kids participated in the day which was enjoyed by all; they then asked how many kids are expected to be participating in County Government Day at the Courthouse hosted by Extension Council and Deputy Kurrelmeyer said Hermann High School had quite a few but Owensville High School did not have a number yet.

Last issue mentioned, was Commissioner Holland had went next door to the Doerr building and shut the generator off so the block heater for the diesel engine would not continue to run.

REPORT OF FEES

Commission reviews report of fees for September 2019, from Pamela R. Greunke, Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds for Divisions 1, 2 and 4 in the following amounts:

Recording‑$5,947.75

Dom Viol‑$50.00

CERF‑$2,324.00

Rec Records Reten‑$2,187.42

Record Techn‑$402.50

Clerk fees‑$440.54

County fees‑$731.39

Incarc/medcl costs‑$0

LETF‑$80.00

PATF‑$93.61

Fines‑$4,434.50

Sheriff’s fees/mileage‑$615.81

Overpayment‑$10.00

Misc county fees‑$97.05

Dep. Sher. Sal. Suppl.‑$36.85

Municipal Fines‑$2,097.50

Inmate Security Fund‑$83.00

LETF Muncipal‑$22.00

REPORT OF FEES

Commission reviewed monthly report of fees collected by Lesa Lietzow, County Clerk for the month of September 2019 in the amount of $806.67; also from John Romanus, Sheriff for the same month in the amount of $1,247.20 civil fee fund and $250.00 DSSSF.

ABATEMENTS AND ADDITIONS

Commission reviewed abatements #2050 through #2066 and additions #8601 through #8615.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to adjourn commission until Oct. 10, 2019. Commissioner Jerry Lairmore seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.