March 12, 2020

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

PRIOR MINUTES

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated March 5, 2020. 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 115316 through 115163.

Commissioner 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 reported road department completed culvert work on a couple roads and now that the frost is out of the ground, the roads are not in as bad shape as usual, so maintenance work is ongoing.

Road department had prepared specifications for new grader purchase and Commission approved so Clerk Lietzow will prepare ad and send specs to vendors; there were two bids received for crushed or screened gravel, opened by Commission and will be sent to the road dept. for review and recommendation for acceptance.

Commission received an invoice from Archer‑Elgin engineers for bridge design work on the BRO project on Valentine Ford. They were also informed that one of the buyers through the online Purple Wave Auction site has not picked up their purchase and a final deadline of March 13 has been set; since this has never happened before, no one knows what happens if not picked up, so Debbie Thomas will be asked to research it. Commissioner Holland had also worked with her at the road department to get the paperwork started applying through MoDNR for air pollution control program funds for three dump trucks that qualify.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Presiding Commissioner Miskel has an MRPC meeting this evening, and said their Washington DC trip planned for this weekend to meet with federal legislators has been canceled, as many events and travel plans have been, due to precautions taken regarding the spread of the coronavirus.

He mentioned reading in the St. Louis Post Dispatch that there is a proposed budget cut for the state of Missouri to cancel one of the Missouri River Runner trips Amtrak makes from St. Louis to Kansas City on a regular basis. He will be contacting state legislators regarding the financial impact that will have on this tourist town and said Hermann’s director of tourism, Tammy Bruckerhoff will be using her network of contacts along the railway line to stress the importance of keeping this transportation option.

Treasurer Mike Feagan presented the monthly report of sales tax received and everyone was disappointed to see it lower than it has been going back as far as 2015, but everyone also knows that internet sales are the biggest contributor to the decline; also contributing will likely be the impact of the coronavirus on tourism in the short‑term. He also gave Commission an update regarding question asked by Historical Society member concerning heat radiator sitting in the hallway and he and the custodian found three different sizes in storage, so Commission agreed the extra one sitting in the hallway can be disposed of.

Commission discussed the election results from Tuesday’s Presidential Preference Primary conducted by Clerk Lietzow’s office and asked when it would be certified; she said not before noon Friday, as the military ballots are given extra time to be returned for counting. Buck Collier, special correspondent to the Gasconade County Republican, who was present in Commission meeting, had also served as a pollworker on Tuesday for Clerk Lietzow as a last minute replacement due to illness; he shared his perspective from the other side of the table and truly enjoyed the experience. It also solidifies his respect and appreciation for pollworkers and election officials; it was a learning experience, but disappointing with over 1000 registered voters at that polling place and less than 20 percent voting. He said there is great difficulty in educating the public of the importance of voting and eliminating voter apathy. When credited with another successful election, Clerk Lietzow credits her staff, the pollworkers and a tremendously devoted team of workers to help see the process through to completion at the Courthouse after the polls close.

Commission welcomed the new editor of the Hermann Advertiser‑Courier Ray Scherer, who asked a few questions regarding the appointment of interim Sheriff, any flooding concerns they may have already and the new EMD contact information.

Clerk Lietzow mentioned that unfortunately the USDA employee vehicle that has been parked on the courthouse parking lot has been backed into again; fortunately, the driver gave contact information, so it could be shared. Commission agreed that she should consider changing the location and shared with Clerk Lietzow another option to pass on to her.

REPORT OF FEES

Commission reviews report of fees for February 2020, from Pamela R. Greunke, Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds for Divisions 1, 2 and 4 in the following amounts:

Recording‑$5,019.50

Dom Viol‑$25.00

CERF‑$1,820.00

Rec Records Reten‑$2,236.82

Record Techn‑$318.75

Clerk fees‑$625.23

County fees‑$606.82

Incarc/medcl costs‑$653.33

LETF‑$74.50

PATF‑$97.63

Fines‑$3,862.00

Sheriff’s fees/mileage‑$429.78

Overpayment‑$4.00

Misc county fees‑$26.00

Dep. Sher. Sal. Suppl.‑$10.00

Municipal Fines‑$3,271.50

Inmate Security Fund‑$89.00

LETF Municipal‑$50.00

REPORT OF FEES

Commission reviewed monthly report of gross collections from Shawn Schlottach, Collector for February 2020 in the amount of $369,271.52; also included in that amount is the annual interest earned and accumulated surtax.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to adjourn commission until March 19, 2020. Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.