March 19, 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 12, 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 115164 through 115279.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 with all the rains, there are some culverts that need replacing or cleaned out; road department is keeping up with maintenance.

Clerk Lietzow had contacted Rob Conaway at Archer‑Elgin engineers about if he had applied for reimbursement back to the county for the federal share of expenses thus far on the BRO project on Valentine Ford road; he told her that the documentation she needed had been sent with each invoice sent to the county. There was one page included with each invoice that would need Presiding Commissioner Miskel’s signature and date, and then the entire packet could be copied and sent to Kim Tipton at MoDOT.

Commission opened two bids received for used bucket truck and they will be sent to the road department for review and recommendation for acceptance.

The following bids for crushed or screened gravel were opened last week:

BID DETAIL ‑ GRAVEL, CRUSHED OR SCREENED

The following prices are per ton at 2,000 tons needed:

Stephan Bros. at Drake: $7.25; Stephan Bros. at Swiss: $7.25; Norman Hoener at Drake: $8.50; Norman Hoener at Swiss: $9.

Road department recommendation was to accept Stephan Brothers bid; Commission agreed to accept both bids and let the road department use their discretion.

MOTION/VOTE ‑ ACCEPT BOTH BIDS GRANTING ROAD DEPT. DISCRETION

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel made a motion to accept both bids granting road department discretion. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Absent),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Presiding Commissioner Miskel reported EMD Dan Dyer had briefed him this week on the COVID‑19 virus; after spending considerable amount of time on conference calls and meetings with officials from SEMA, DPS, Governor’s office and the Nuclear Plant, he feels confident that in Gasconade County the right people are talking to the right people about the right things. Further, the 20th Judicial Circuit Court issued an order March 16, signed by II Lamke, Presiding Judge, that judicial proceedings will cease until further notice and that the following persons shall not enter the Franklin, Gasconade and Osage county courthouses: persons who have traveled to any foreign country within the last 14 days or reside with or have had close contact with someone who has traveled accordingly; persons who have been ask to self‑quarantine; persons who have tested positive, been diagnosed with, or have had contact with anyone who has COVID‑19; persons with fevers, unexplained coughs or shortness of breath. Based on this order, Commission agreed to lock down the Courthouse from the general public, keeping the offices open within, only allowing entry to conduct business after calling in and being given permission.

Presiding Commissioner Miskel acknowledged Governor Mike Parson Executive Order 20‑03 ordering all Missouri municipal elections previously scheduled for April 7, 2020 be postponed to June 2, 2020 based on his previous declaration of a state of emergency in response to COVID‑19. Clerk Lietzow said election officials across the state of Missouri had been in discussions with Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft about whether to proceed normally or delay as it wasn’t a decision made without a lot of thought and consideration; personally, her biggest fear was being able to man the polling locations with sufficient number of election judges on April 7, after having already received between 5‑10 cancellations for this reason.

Sharen Speckhals, Kelly Thompson and Molly Maddox of the Gasconade County Health Department, came before the Commission asking for their support of a recent recommendation made by them to restrict food establishments to curbside service only, such as delivery, carry out and drive through and bars, taverns, wineries, etc., be restricted to carry‑out only and if consumed outside on the property, that social distancing be practiced in groups smaller than 10. Gasconade County Health Department felt prompted by the recent actions of neighboring Franklin County Commission who ordered such restrictions, in hopes that Gasconade County Commission would react accordingly, only to find out, that third class county government such as Gasconade, do not have the rule‑making authority of a first class county such as Franklin. The struggle is in first getting local governments’ on board and getting the message out across the county; City of Hermann has ceased advertising business as usual. While not‑for‑profit organizations are not county regulated, they too are being asked to restrict accordingly as well as bed and breakfast locations who are still allowed to provide one breakfast; many are dealing with above normal cancellations and attempting refunds. It was noted that there are currently 24 cases within Missouri and one death in Boone county. Presiding Commissioner Miskel has been in discussions this week with the health department, not always in agreement; he pointed out that there is no statutory authority behind this, only the Code of State Regulations, thus providing no enforcement by Prosecuting Attorney or Sheriff. After both sides of this issue understood the whole picture, Presiding Commissioner Miskel and Commissioner Holland both agreed to offer their support of which they were grateful. Health Department also mentioned they have put in a request to access national strategic stockpile of masks and gowns to offer locally for law enforcement, funeral homes, etc., and Presiding Commissioner Miskel said the federal government has agreed to start releasing military stockpiles of masks and ventilators into use as needed. He also said EMD Dyer has limited equipment available for release but always available if needed and will continue to follow state mandates through SEMA.

Last issue before adjourning, Clerk Lietzow reported that she and elected officials Treasurer Mike Feagan, Collector Shawn Schlottach, Assessor Paul Schulte, Joann Bickmeyer representing Prosecuting Attorney Mary Weston, and Pam Greunke, representing the Recorder of Deeds side of her office, met with AQM Computer Help to discuss moving forward with establishing new email accounts once Centurylink internet is discontinued; also, AQM was asked if they would make the transition from Centurylink to Callabyte for those internet services as the remaining work is to be done by the county’s IT specialist of which there is no one. AQM agreed to both requests put before them and will prepare a proposal and offered individual contracts to provide support to Treasurer, Prosecutor, Assessor and Recorder’s offices.

REPORT OF FEES

Commission reviewed the annual settlement of Shawn Schlottach Collector for the year ended Feb. 29, 2020, showing total charges and credits equaling $16,114,426.33 and distributions of $15,114,027.81. Also the final court order for the year outlawing personal property for 2016 in the amount of $17,734.99.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to adjourn commission until March 26, 2020. Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.