Jan. 16, 2020

The Gasconade County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel at the Courthouse beginning with Pledge of Allegiance.

PRIOR MINUTES

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated Jan. 9, 2020. Commissioner 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 had stopped at the road department and found out that the new snow plow blade they had ordered will not be available until February due to high demand in orders; he thought it might be worth considering to reject the bid and re‑bid new, but it likely would not speed the process any. Clerk Lietzow said it has already been paid for at the end of 2019, since it was a budgeted item, although there was a discrepancy in the amount of the bid accepted versus invoice submitted for payment so he took copies with him back to the road department to clarify.

He had also asked them if they would be interested in the lighted message board that former EMD had submitted for a grant through Mid Missouri regional planning commission and they do not have a need for one; when they have roads closed, it is for BRO projects and that signage is part of the BRO process. The only road issue he had reported to them was Ocean Wave road and it has been taken care of; Commissioner Holland said he had five calls about road wash‑outs due to heavy rains, but they have all been taken care of. Presiding Commissioner Miskel had a report of guard rail damage at Victorian Manor just outside Hermann city limits on Highway 100 west; he reported it to Debbie Thomas at the road department so she could notify MoDOT. Buck Collier, reporter for Gasconade County Republican, mentioned to Commission that on Benson road, there is a concrete culvert that is cracked and starting to lean out and should probably be looked at, so Commissioner Holland will let the road department know.

Consent form was submitted for file from Lou Bozada on Elkhead road; road department has also submitted for file the price quotes via telephone for purchase of propane for the Drake Shed. Also, submitted for Commission approval, were bid specs prepared for purchase of used bucket truck and crushed or screened gravel at Drake and Swiss locations, which they approved.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Presiding Commissioner Miskel reported on attending meeting at the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant last Friday; he learned a lot of good information. He also announced that the Commission has ended the interview process for a new EMD and announced that Dan Dyer has been hired; he had served in this position a few years ago, and was ready to come back. He obviously has all the qualifications necessary and will start work on Tuesday, Jan. 21; when notifying SEMA about the hire, they were pleased, as was John Bassford at Ameren. Several pieces of correspondence received will be passed on to Director Dyer after his return to work, from pipeline companies, Corps. of Engineers regarding flood preparedness and a SEMA flood review meeting.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to appoint Dan Dyer as EMD as of Jan. 21. Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Presiding Commissioner Miskel reported on attending MRPC meeting last week for purpose of talking with state and federal elected officials to let them know the priorities of the region and that list will be presented at the capitol next week; he made sure representative present were aware of the urgency of action on usetax implementation and prisoner board reimbursement, both issues Governor Mike Parson had indicated to be his priorities.

He also announced that Englert Construction had contacted him to coordinate with Pam Greunke, Circuit Clerk the work schedule for the upstairs courtroom renovation and set the week of March 23 as the start of the project and completion by April 20; Commission can’t thank Judge Ike Lamke enough for taking on this renovation using Law Library funds.

Commission received annual notice from Missouri Department of Conservation regarding their 2019 contributions to Gasconade County in lieu of tax payments and forest cropland totaling $1,407.94 and CART reimbursement totaling $26,926.48 for partnering in maintaining roads that lead to their access points and their property.

Commission announced they had all attended a meeting yesterday with the E911 board in Rosebud as had been discussed at last week’s session; they agreed it was a good meeting with a lot of information shared. E911 Administrator Lisa Schlottach is preparing a presentation to bring to a meeting with not only Commission, but with the elected officials most affected by the non‑emergency services contract, being Sheriff John Romanus, Prosecuting Attorney Mary Weston and Circuit Clerk Pam Greunke. In regard to county receiving an itemized list of services provided, the board had no problem in providing that. There was discussion about the most expensive part of the service being MULES and warrants, as they are time consuming; Commission was reminded that originally the cost per call option was being considered when making the contract, which would have been much more expensive, but rather a contract was signed that sets a flat amount with three percent as the maximum price increase. Regarding the non‑emergency services and what that refers to exactly, Admin. Schlottach said that is spelled out specifically in the statutes; there was also some discussion about county taking over part of the MULES during hours Courthouse is open and Administrator Schlottach agreed that would be fine, but Commission knows it might not be cost effective if an additional employee would need to be hired.

Final decisions were made on budget changes and numbers were prepared to Commission approval; they could not praise the elected officials enough for their work in making this happen. It was still possible for raises to be given and benefits to be maintained as is, all with no cut in services. Clerk Lietzow agreed completely, but said the impact of statements made at last weeks’ session must be taken seriously, as this budget will be the true test of how elected officials can manage to do their jobs as citizens expect, and yet not go over budget. A‑C Editor John Buckner ask the impact of the largest cuts made by Sheriff Romanus and how he will manage going into 2021, particularly in the line item of vehicle purchases; Commission said that fortunately, Sheriff Romanus got ahead of the game in 2019 by being able to purchase seven vehicles, not all new, out of funds in his budget that were not being used for other things he had expected. That will see him through this year, and then in 2021, Clerk Lietzow said she will not have the added expense of $70,000 to pay for elections that can be used for other General Revenue needs.

Commissioner Holland reported meeting here with representatives of TREMCO, the company who oversaw the Courthouse roof project, to perform inspection at two years as it is still under warranty; Clerk Lietzow said she talked to them about the lightning rod installers who said they would come to inspect their equipment after Courthouse had been struck, but they had never came. They would pass the word on to Joe Brazil, TREMCO project manager, and he would see to it that it happens.

Clerk Lietzow had been contacted by two members of the Gasconade County Historical Society regarding the upcoming celebration of the county’s 200th birthday; a date has been set of March 28 for the event at the Courthouse and they were in need of contact person here at the Courthouse to keep in touch with during Februrary and March to help make this happen and Clerk Lietzow said she could not be that person. With the Presidential Preference Primary election on March 10 and general municipal on April 7 and candidate filing for August election, she is more than busy with those and she is asking a Commissioner to be the contact person; their recommendation was Mike Feagan, Treasurer and he agreed.

Last issue, Shawn Schlottach, Collector came in to let Commission know she had received a tax payment without penalties on Jan. 14, with a December postmark and since her payover is done, she cannot accept it as is, without their agreement. This situation was a little different, in that the envelope was not postmarked by the USPS, but instead run through a postage meter at the business place from which it came; technically, while that is not a postmark, it was explained that the postage meter qualifies as a postmark once a contract is signed between the business and the USPS. She said Collectors’ across the state are dealing with this issue because of a technicality, and since counties are unable to afford legal battles, it is being accepted, which is also her recommendation; Commission understands her frustration, but agrees the technicality would likely not change the end result.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to adjourn commission until Jan. 23, 2020. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.