Feb. 20, 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 Feb. 6, 2020. 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 115033 through 115090. 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 reported road department said the new dump truck is working out well; road conditions are typical for this time of year and they are doing the best they can with them. Commissioner Holland agreed and he had a couple issues he dealt with and there is a culvert that needs bigger rock.
Presiding Commissioner Miskel received an update from Archer‑Elgin that MoDOT has approved the variance on the BRO project on Valentine Ford, so the height of the bridge deck is above the 10‑year storm event which will be 1’ above the approach roadway at the overbanks. They will be working on preliminary design on the foundations and prepare an estimate for a couple of structure types to consider. Commissioner Holland had spoken with Preston Kramer, MoDOT, and he mentioned that the BRO funds are no longer in jeopardy of being lost if not used, so if this project starts to go over budget it can be dropped.
He also reported on a meeting he attended at the request of Presiding Commissioner Miskel who was attending a meeting in Jefferson City; three representatives from MoDOT along with Mr. Kramer and a project engineer were here to look at the bridge over Frene Creek on Hwy. 19 in Hermann. It is rated No. 5, which is considered fair condition, for it being the second oldest bridge in the state of Missouri; also, unique is that the state does not own the ground on which the bridge sits. There is no funding for replacement on any level of government, so it is on a 3‑10 year timeframe; design options discussed could vary from a nearly identical bridge only sitting a little higher, to one that would be more decorative like the one on Highway 100 at Hermannhof Winery; also, what could be considered is a much more elaborate plan like a causeway, involving many property owners on both sides. Also discussed, was if those improvements were meant to keep this highway open during flooding, then it would only make sense to also make improvements further south, in front of Hermann Fuel Mart and the bluff, by raising the road, so that it too, would not flood. Presiding Commissioner Miskel added that on the MRPC priority list, this bridge is not prioritized, but has been on the overall list for 9‑10 years; he also said he knew that the cost just to replace the bridge deck 10 years ago was $1 million.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
Commission reported on their attendance at the annual Commissioners’ conference last week which didn’t offer anything new, just more discussion about the unfunded mandates passed down by the state to the counties. Governor Mike Parson was guest speaker and made it clear his budget includes funding for the counties as owed for prisoner per diem; Clerk Lietzow gave Commission an up‑to‑date report from Sheriff John Romanus that shows Gasconade County is owed over $108,000.
Presiding Commissioner Miskel attended tourism day at the capitol yesterday, and was able to speak with Representative Aaron Griesheimer, Senator Mike Bernskoetter and Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe; Tammy Bruckerhoff was also in attendance representing Hermann and he said it is obvious that she has developed a great network of contacts to expand tourism for the area. As mentioned before, there are over 500 people employed in the tourism industry in Gasconade County, with over $750,000 paid in property tax by tourism related businesses.
He also mentioned attending University of Missouri Extension Council meeting this week, where Clerk Lietzow swore in the newly elected council members along with those still on the board; they both mentioned the great attendance and the encouraging amount of new young members joining the board with Dot Coulter as president.
Correspondence received included: notice from US Senator Roy Blunt’s office about the next round of funding through the BUILD grant program to improve infrastructure; also a survey from Roofmaster’s, who had completed the Courthouse roof project, wanting positive feedback as they are being considered for a US Army Corps of Engineers job; an invitation to the South Central County Commissioners’ Association meeting March 13 in Houston.
Clerk Lietzow’s office had been contacted by E-911 office for an appointment on the agenda March 5 to review the officeholders usage charges for non‑emergency services; Commission agreed that should be changed to a session held in Hermann, rather than Owensville, so those officials can be present. She also mentioned Health Care Team will be meeting tomorrow to interview brokers and Callabyte will be coming back to the Courthouse to finish install of internet services next week.
Commissioner Lairmore had spoken with Ron Schuenemeyer, Chairman of Community Mental Health Board about their appointment of Dr. Jennifer Allen to their board and Commissioner Holland had spoken to Dr. Allen about it to confirm, but they had not connected with each other yet, so Clerk Lietzow will write a letter of appointment to make it official.
Clerk Lietzow mentioned that Mary Weston, Pros. Atty. had come to her about having two jury trials scheduled in the month of April and wondered how that will work with the remodel of the large Courtroom starting at the end of March; she had mentioned this to the Circuit Clerk’s office at the time of notice and cannot reschedule or move them; Presiding Commissioner Miskel had worked with Circuit Clerk Pam Greunke in scheduling this, so this was news to him. It was Commissions’ opinion that the project will continue as planned, but exceptions will be made to accommodate the jury trials.
Hermann Mayor Robert Koerber was here to sit in on Commission proceedings as he had not done that before; he will be leaving office after the April election. He suggested Commission consider airing their meetings online as the city does, but Commission considers that their meetings are much more public now because they are published in the local newspapers every week. Commissioner Holland asked if the city was covering the cost when the recent natural gas outage caused the Courthouse boiler not to restart on it’s own and service was needed and he said they were so that bill will be turned over to them for payment. When Treasurer Mike Feagan gave his presentation of sales tax collection received in February, which was only minimally higher than one year ago, the discussion of usetax was brought up again and Mayor Koerber agreed that the local brick and mortar stores should be only too happy to support the usetax, so it would put the online vendors on more of a level playing field. Presiding Commissioner Miskel mentioned to Mayor Koerber also about the city municipal court system being transferred to the county, with no funding along with it and the tremendous amount of extra work it has made for the offices of the courts, but the cities still get the funds collected; Mayor Koerber said they had no leverage on a city level of government to force appearance. Unfortunately, it was heard this week that a state senator said that lower levels of government are enjoying highest levels of revenue and no one is sure where that information is coming from which is part of the problem between state and county.
Treasurer Feagan said he would be meeting with members of the Gasconade County Historical Society tomorrow here at the Courthouse, to look at the building and make plans for the gala event celebrating county’s 200 year anniversary.
Both Sheriff John Romanus and Clerk Lietzow had contracts needing signed by Presiding Commissioner Miskel, for them to enter into service agreements for IT support for their offices with AQM Computer Help, which Commission agreed to; Clerk Lietzow said that several elected officials are also going to discuss with AQM the need for new email addresses, once the Centurylink internet connection is discontinued. She then asked for closed session with Commission as per RSMo 610.021 (20) (21) regarding IT and systems security and they agreed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:
Jerry Lairmore (Yes),
Jim Holland (Yes),
Larry Miskel (Yes).
RECONVENE
Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to close Executive Session and reconvene as the Gasconade County Commission. Commissioner Jerry Lairmore seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:
Jerry Lairmore (Yes),
Jim Holland (Yes),
Larry Miskel (Yes).
No motions were made or votes taken on any matter.
ADJOURN
Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to adjourn commission until Feb. 27, 2020. Commissioner Jerry Lairmore seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.