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

PRIOR MINUTES

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated Oct. 17, 2019. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Absent),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

WARRANTS FOR PAYMENT

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel made a motion to approve the following items: warrants for payment 114645 through 114661. Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Absent),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

ROAD CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS

Commissioner Holland said road department got the culverts put in on Epple and Boy Scout roads and were working on Horstmann road. Presiding Commissioner Miskel wanted to thank both Associate Commissioners’ for taking care of the county’s business during his recent absence for eye surgery which was successful. He also mentioned that Commissioner Lairmore completed the LPA basic training required in order for the county to proceed with the BRO project; Archer‑Elgin engineers have been notified accordingly.

Commission was notified that the road department has three, or possibly four, current employees interested in the job opening of truck driver available in February 2020; they also now have the brush cutter position back open again as the newest hired is no longer working. Commission will have further discussion about this issue when all are present.

Commission received notice from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that road department was granted permission for excavation of three gravel bars within Third Creek.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Correspondence received by Commission included notice that the Salary Commission meeting will be held Monday, Nov. 25 at 9 a.m.; Meramec Regional Community Foundation’s 2020 grant round begins next week; Representative Aaron Griesheimer will be at the Courthouse to meet with some of the elected officials Friday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m.

Commissioner Holland does not yet have a representative from Callabyte scheduled on Commission agenda to meet with elected officials. Presiding Commissioner Miskel said he will attend, as chairman, the annual MRPC awards dinner in Waynesville this evening.

Commission agreed to wait until all three members are present to adopt the Internal Control Policy and to make the annual decision of whether the four percent contribution required by CERF will be paid by the county again as in previous years.

Last issue Clerk Lietzow shared was her discussion with Presiding Commissioner Miskel about request from USDA Farm Service Agency, based in Owensville, for an employee to use the Courthouse parking lot as a switch off place between the employees’ personal vehicle and the USDA Farm Service vehicle. As long as a letter was provided exempting the county from any liability, it was agreed to be okay.

Treasurer Mike Feagan reported on his annual conference attended this week, and shared that while county finances here are not all that great, it is still better than a lot of other counties, already borrowing to make payroll for end of October. He mentioned several neighboring counties with tax questions on the November ballot and that other counties were also lamenting the restrictions of the Hancock amendment on counties which never allows for an increase in revenue, even though there are increases in expenses. While that is on the list to talk to Representative Griesheimer about, it will also be mentioned about the added work load and expense, when the municipalities were allowed to turn over their court proceedings to the county’s associate division without any funding; the City of Hermann will be the last local city to do so.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to adjourn commission until Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Commissioner Larry Miskel seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.