June 18, 2020

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

PRIOR MINUTES

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated June 11, 2020. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Absent).

WARRANTS FOR PAYMENT

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve the following items: warrants for payment 115649 through 115692.

Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Absent).

ROAD CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS

Commissioner Lairmore reported road department was out working on roads and in‑house they were checking inventory on culvert pipes to order. Commissioner Holland found the information that was needed for the VW replacement vehicle application and provided it to MoDNR.

Commission had been notified by Rob Conaway, Archer‑Elgin Engineers, that they were having issues in finding documentation in county records for the easement on the road at Valentine Ford BRO project; he asked for contact information for property owner Charlie Gerloff and hopes in talking to him, a draft for easement can be prepared to satisfy MoDOT’s requirements. Commissioner Holland agreed to put the two of them in contact with each other.

The following bid for all tires and tubes and service had been opened last week for road department review and they recommended it for acceptance and Commission agreed:

BID DETAIL‑TRUCK TIRES AND TUBES

JOST TIRE CO.

225/70R19.5 Steer ‑ Firestone FS561: $224.02 

225/70R19.5 Steer ‑ Hankook AH35: $221.79 

225/70R19.5 Drive ‑ Firestone FS690: $214.55 

225/70R19.5 Drive ‑ Hankook DH07: $235.80 

315/80R22.5 ‑ Firestone T819: $395.00 

315/80R22.5 ‑ Hankook AM09+: $393.19 

11R22.5 Steer ‑ Hankook AH37: $306.57 

11R22.5 Drive ‑ Firestone FD663: $317.23 

11R22.5 Drive‑ Hankook DH37: $324.91 

235/85R16 Tractn‑FirestnTransf A/T II: $114.62 

Service Call‑$2 per mile/$85 minimum

Chngs‑LT $16‑$18/Comm $30/Grdr $50  

BID DETAIL‑GRADER TIRES,TUBES,Service

17.5R25 Bridgestone VUT: $1,262.05 

17.5R25 Titan MXL: $950.00 

17.5R25 Firestone Versabuilt All Purpose: $1,054.72 

17.5R25 Recap Michelin CL3: $940.00 

Casing if available: $200

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to award all tires, tubes and service bid to Jost Tire Co. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Absent).

ROAD CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS

After the road dept. reviewed the following two bids for gas and diesel fuel, it was their recommendation to accept MFA Oil Co. in Hermann and Commission agreed:

BID DETAIL‑FUEL

STRUTTMAN OIL MFA OIL HERMANN

#1 diesel‑red

#2 diesel‑red Struttman Oil $1.139; MFA Oil Hermann $1.066 

#1 diesel‑clear

#2 diesel‑clear: Struttman: $1.134; MFA Oil Hermann $1.066 

Reg. unleaded: Struttman: $1.164; MFA Oil Hermann $1.164 

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to award all fuel bid to MFA Oil Co. of Hermann. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Absent).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

The first subject Commission wanted to discuss was the county fair board meeting that is being held tonight that commission is invited to, where the final decision will be made on whether to have the fair this year or not. Since Commissioner Lairmore can’t be there, he had tried to contact two different fair board members, but was only able to talk to Owensville mayor; in his opinion, he does not see how it can be held, the main reason being the inability to social distance both those who work the event or the crowds. He went on to say that with all other local fairs canceling, he would anticipate a large crowd; he is also aware of several companies that have indicated their crews of employees’ will not be working the shifts they normally work, so lack of help will be significant. Lastly, it could likely lead to spikes of COVID‑19 cases, which is the last thing anyone wants, particularly as the schools are working through how to be able to start opening up just a month later in August. Commissioner Holland will convey those feelings to the board this evening and agrees with everything Commissioner Lairmore has said; as far as spikes in cases, he feels that could definitely be the case simply because there is a lot more testing being done. If the board makes the decision not to have the fair, they might ask the commission to write a letter in support of the decision to send to the entertainment and vendors in an effort to help defray some of the cost of late canceling.

Commission had been notified by EMD Dan Dyer that there will be no drills conducted this year by the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant; they had also been notified by Public Administrator Fay Owsley of up‑to‑date charges for an ongoing legal bill from her bonding company for which no action will be taken.

Clerk Lietzow had spoken with Glen Englert and gave him a copy of Judge Ike Lamke’s positive assessment of the remodeling job nearly complete in the large second floor courtroom; there were some items left to be done yet and a couple things that were not originally bid so Englert will give an estimate of additional cost for those. Also regarding Judge Lamke, he has indicated that the 20th Judicial Circuit will remain in Phase 2 of the state’s re‑opening stages; Sheriff Mark Williams wanted clarification of how that affected the county employees’ at the courthouse because that was not addressed by Judge Lamke. Before Commission made a decision on how to move forward, they wanted to hear from the offices themselves and get their opinion; after a quick survey was done, Commission decided county employees could go back to pre‑COVID routine, i.e.: there will not be a sheriff’s representative at the front door except on court days; lunch hours can resume as staggered and employee entry into the building can be from any door. Further, any employee who chooses to wear a mask or take their own temperature may do so.

Commission was given notice by Supreme Court of Missouri that Chief Justice Draper has authorized the closing of all state judicial offices at noon tomorrow to reflect on recent events as well as the Juneteenth holiday; with more than one court session scheduled at the Courthouse tomorrow, it is unknown whether they will be finished by noon.

Clerk Lietzow and Treasurer Mike Feagan have registered to attend a workshop hosted by MRPC at the Phelps County Courthouse next Wed. June 24 at 1 p.m.; the speakers will be Travis Elliott, attorney for MAC and Tammy Alsop, auditor for Hocschild, Bloom & Co. and they will explain and answer questions as it relates to the business grant side of the CARES Act funds. Hopefully there will be time for discussion regarding the public entity side of the funding, too. Clerk Lietzow had prepared the first round of bills for Treasurer Feagan to pay, amounting to $5,161.09, but first checked with MRPC as to the procedure since this is not being done on a reimbursable basis. It was recommended to summarize on the spreadsheet MRPC had prepared and then submit for their records and eventually they would like copies of each of the invoices and the canceled checks. Buck Collier, special contributor of the Gasconade County Republican, finds it odd that the county contracts with MRPC for their services on this project simply because the county is perfectly capable of paying their own bills; while Clerk Lietzow agrees, that won’t be the case once cities, ambulance, fire, schools, hospital or any other public entities or businesses start submitting bills to be paid.

DELINQUENCY IN PAYMENT OF LOCAL SALES TAX

Commission was notified by Missouri Department of Revenue of the following businesses revocation of sales tax license due to delinquency in payment: The Hermann Diner LLC, 911 Market, St., Hermann, MO; Laura L. Labrier, 413 Market St., Hermann, MO; Bland Corner Market, 115A and 203 E. Colorado St., Bland, MO; Meadowlark Farm LLC, 3985 Juedeman Road, Cuba, MO; OPEX Communications Inc., Gasconade County, MO.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to adjourn commission until June 25, 2020. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.