Gasconade County Commission Minutes

Posted 8/13/20

Aug. 13, 2020

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Gasconade County Commission Minutes

Posted

Aug. 13, 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 Aug. 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 115867 through 115992. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

ROAD CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS

Road department is hauling gravel and getting ready to start on Doll road project; there has been a few calls of washouts due to all the rains, but they are being worked on. Commissioner Holland said Benson road is still on the list to be fixed.

The MoDOT bridge over First Creek on Highway J west of Hermann is on schedule for replacement in 2021 and comment period is open to the public now; bid will be awarded to the contractor yet this year.

Presiding Commissioner Miskel signed a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit authorizing Robert Conaway of Archer‑Elgin engineers, to act on Commissions’ behalf for the Valentine Ford BRO project. There was also a Floodplain Development permit to be signed by floodplain administrator, that being EMD Dan Dyer, approving the BRO project; while Director Dyer had no problem approving the project on behalf of the Commission, he did point out that the creek crossing is technically Third Creek rather than Crider Creek as the two merge in that area. Commissioner Holland said he has connected Charlie Gerloff to Mr. Conaway to get the right‑of‑way details worked out.

Clerk Lietzow wanted to be sure the final bid document accepted by road department from Viking Cives Midwest had been sent in by the deadline today to qualify for the VW emissions federal reimbursement program; Commissioner Lairmore called Debbie Thomas at the road department and confirmed the deadline was met. The next step will be once the truck has come in and the county pays for it, proof of that payment has to be sent in and then the county has 60 days to dismantle the old truck and detailed instructions on that process have been received.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Commission asked if Assessor Paul Schulte was able to download a user’s guide for the large map making printer in the EOC and Clerk Lietzow said he did have it now, so they are hoping it can be used to print county road maps in the future.

John Bassford, Ameren UE and Director Dyer, came in to review with Commission the revised partnership agreement between the two agencies as it relates to the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant emergency response plan; the only change in the document from previous years, includes an allowance for key personnel required to participate in the exercises/drills, be allowed an absence in case of significant personal illness or death of close family member, natural disaster or litigation requiring attendance. He recognizes here in Gasconade County that all three Commissioners are active participants in the drills and any one of them would be more than capable of filling in the absence of Director Dyer if one of these instances occurred. Commission said the same holds true for each agency position that participates, as they too, are cross‑trained within for drills. Mr. Bassford said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission indicated they had no problem with the change as long as there was no reduction in effectiveness and everyone agrees that will not be a problem in Gasconade County. He also talked about the upcoming plant shutdown that they go through every year, but this year will prove more challenging as most things are, due to COVID‑19; he said they will have hundreds of contractors coming in to service the plant that will have to be tested and will be staying in the Fulton area for as long as it takes. He also congratulated Commission on hiring Dan Dyer back to Gasconade County as EMD; he said it has been a smooth transition from Ameren’s perspective; Commission agreed it couldn’t have worked out any better. They acknowledge he has been busy since day one and does a great job keeping them informed as he goes along. Commission mentioned wanting to talk with Director Dyer at another time about the RAVE alert notification system and whether there could be some changes made within and look at the capabilities and limitations of the current system. Last issue Commission mentioned to Director Dyer is that they want to sell the mobile command post camper trailer on Purple Wave online auction site this year and they are going to talk with Debbie Thomas at the road department to start the process and to see if they have anything to sell also; he asked for advance notice to be sure it is ready for sale.

Jeff Arnold, Coroner‑elect came into Commission meeting to talk with them about moving forward with his needs upon taking office; he had checked into a property in Owensville that will be vacant after new police department building is complete and where his office currently is as city EMD. He had also talked with current Coroner Ben Grosse and found out that his business would be selling a couple older model Suburbans so that could be an option. Presiding Commissioner Miskel said as far as an office location, Commission will make appropriate space available in their building at Swiss, currently used by Sheriff’s department, including building a suitable cooler facility for housing bodies; he also said they were aware of the vehicles being sold by Coroner Grosses’ business and agree that is what they want to do. Arnold agreed with all these suggestions and added that Rick Copeland at Gottenstroeter Funeral Home offered to donate him two stretchers for transporting and he can buy some of the medical supplies he needs through the Owensville Ambulance district at their discounted rate. There will also be the expense of setting up his office, including supplies, office equipment, etc., all of which the Commission wants done and in place Jan. 1 when he officially takes office. Arnold also asked about the position of backup Coroner to serve when he is working and Commission wants him to research the option of Sheriff serving. The question was asked about whether the CARES Act funds could be used for any of this expense and Commission thought it worth asking MRPC about; Clerk Lietzow does not see how that’s possible. That brings Arnold to the second reason he is here today, which is to ask about some items the Owensville Volunteer Fire Department is looking at purchasing; Commission gave him Kelly Sink’s name and phone number at MRPC for him to begin the process of qualification of expenses.

Treasurer Mike Feagan presented his sales tax numbers received in August and it was the highest amount in the five years of keeping track; after being short all year, the county is over $14,000 higher than last year at the same time. Commission couldn’t help but talk about the use tax again and their thoughts about going back to the voters to ask for it; Commissioner Lairmore wants the state of Missouri to send someone who can explain the details clearly to come to town hall meetings and present the facts about what it means to voters so everyone understands. He also thinks they should maybe consider a single issue special election next year.

Clerk Lietzow had asked Commission if session in Owensville on Sept. 3 could be canceled as her office would be attending their annual County Clerk’s conference and they agreed; it’s possible they would still meet at Drake with the road department if it was needed. She also updated Commission on the lightning damage insurance claim; she submitted three invoices totaling over $7,200 for their approval and they agreed to send reimbursement to the county minus the $5,000 deductible, so she asked them to approve the Tech Electronics upgrade on the fire alarm panel which they did.

Presiding Commissioner Miskel has MRPC meeting tonight, County Health Department ZOOM meeting tomorrow and University Extension meeting Monday evening.

Buck Collier, reporter for Gasconade County Republican, asked Commission what their policy actually was regarding mask‑wearing within the building, and within offices. He noticed they are not wearing them, nor are others working in the building but acknowledged some are behind closed doors. Two of the Commissioners have masks that they wear coming in and out of the building, but took them off for the meeting. Collier said the policy they had agreed to adhere to as of Aug. 1 was as Circuit Judge Ike Lamke required which stated “all courthouse personnel will wear masks even at their work stations” so he was asking for clarification. Clerk Lietzow said her office was sitting behind a closed door so they were not wearing masks, until they stepped out into the hallway; she does not know what the other offices are doing. Presiding Commissioner Miskel agreed they would re‑look at the policy.

Commission received three applications for CARES Act funds approved by MRPC and voted their approval and gave them to Treasurer Feagan for payment. The first was from Missouri Thistle Inc. in the amount of $50,000 and is the first business application Gasconade County has received. Presiding Commissioner Miskel said the Hermann Chamber of Commerce is working on an application for their losses due to cancelation of the Wurstfest in March; they have to average the last five years income from that event and that is the amount they may apply for.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve application for CARES Act funds from Missouri Thistle Inc. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Commission received an application approved by MRPC for CARES Act funds for Charlotte’s White Mule Inc. in the amount of $56,188.10; they approved and gave to Treasurer Feagan for payment.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve application for CARES Act funds from Charlotte’s White Mule Inc. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Commission received an application for CARES Act funds approved by MRPC for Earth’s Classroom Inc., the first from a non‑profit organization, in the amount of $16,874.02; they approved and gave to Treasurer Mike Feagan for payment.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve application for CARES Act funds from Earth’s Classroom Inc. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

REPORT OF FEES

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

Recording‑$8,643.40

Dom Viol‑$85.00

CERF‑$2,989.00

Rec Records Reten‑$1,963.22

Record Techn‑$512.50

Clerk fees‑$398.06

County fees‑$458.13

Incarc/medcl costs‑$724.00

LETF‑$44.00

PATF‑$58.29

Fines‑$2,884.00

Sheriff’s fees/mileage‑$311.20

Overpayment‑$0

Misc county fees‑$76.05

Dep. Sher. Sal. Suppl.‑$0

Municipal Fines‑$5,177.50

Inmate Security Fund‑$63.50

LETFMunicipal‑$81.00

 

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to adjourn commission until Aug. 20, 2020. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.