Aug. 27, 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. 20, 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 116018 through 116037. 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 Holland said the road issues he has dealt with are just for routine maintenance; he also met with a resident and looked at cleaning debris from under a bridge.

Road department received a citation/order review from US Mine Safety and Health Administration stating the MSHA form 7000‑2 quarterly report had not been submitted timely; while it was due by April 15, 2020, it was not submitted until July 1, 2020.

Commissioner Lairmore said road department is working on in‑house bridge project; he had also been in contact with MoDOT representative about the quit claim deed to the county for old Highway 19, also known as Springfield Road, and it is just for the road and none of the property around it but he still recommends accepting.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to accept quit claim deed from MoDOT for Old Highway 19 also known as Springfield Road. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Commission received notice from Shawn Schlottach, Collector that there were 13 parcels sold on the 2020 Land Tax Sale; ten of those sold for exact taxes, penalties and advertisement owed and three parcels brought surplus totaling $3,424.95; they also received an invoice from Englert Construction for final courtroom work and beginning the rotunda and hallway work for sanding floors so the original billing will be given to Judge Ike Lamke for payment.

Scott Eiler, Sheriff‑elect, came into Commission meeting just to let them know if they would need him to take over the Sheriff’s office before his official date of Jan. 1, he could do that, but just asked that he be able to give sufficient notice to his current employer; Presiding Commissioner Miskel said as of right now, they have no change in plans.

Commission received a contract addendum from MRPC that allows them to recoup attorney fees, advertising costs associated and postage for large mailings all as it relates to the CARES Act administration; also included was an invoice for their administration charges through July 2020 in the amount of $4,274.29 and can be paid from the CARES Act funds. Commission also received from MRPC, three requests from MO Thistle Inc. for reimbursement for revenue loss for the months of April, May and June each in the amount of $50,000; while these are acceptable business applications for funds approved by MRPC, Commission wants to table those at this time, not because they don’t agree, but because they want to be sure there are enough funds to reach as many businesses as possible. Lastly, MRPC and the Commission approved an application for CARES Act funds from OATS, Inc. in the amount of $1,559.33 for this non‑profit agency.

MOTION/VOTE

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

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Clerk Lietzow said she and her staff will not be attending the County Clerk’s conference next week in Kansas City; they had been notified that several sheriff’s that attended their own conference a week ago have come down with COVID‑19, so rather than risk being exposed or having to quarantine, she will be watching it streamed live on Facebook on Wednesday and Thursday so Commission will still not be holding their session. Prosecuting Attorney Mary Weston had come into the meeting and said she too, was not going to her conference next week either; she was here to meet with Commission in closed session to discuss personnel and Commission agreed.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters authorized by RSMo 610.021 and in compliance with RSMo 610.022. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

RECONVENE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to close Executive Session and reconvene as the Gasconade County Commission. Commissioner Jim Holland 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.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Upon returning to open session, Presiding Commissioner Miskel had to leave, so the Associate Commissioners’ held the tax rate hearing; Clerk Lietzow presented the information as had been advertised publicly. The tax rate for Road and Bridge will remain the same as 2019 at .2614; the tax rate ceiling for General Revenue was .3566 before the reduction made of .1889 to offset one half of sales tax received, leaving the rate set at .1677. Commission accepted Clerk Lietzow’s recommendation.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to adopt tax rate of .2614 for Road and Bridge and .1677 for General Revenue. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Absent).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Before adjourning, Commissioner Lairmore mentioned hearing from south county resident Arlie Appler, who again voiced his disappointment in how the Commission has handled dealing with COVID‑19 in the county and their mask‑wearing decision.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to adjourn commission until Sept. 10, 2020. Commissioner Jerry Lairmore seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.