Nov. 12, 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 Nov. 5, 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 116261 through 116396. 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 Lairmore said road department will have both road projects open this week, not last week, as originally reported; Commissioner Holland said he had a few issues that have been taken care of and knows there will be a lot of hunting traffic on the roads this weekend.

Commissioner Lairmore and Clerk Lietzow had both been included in the email traffic this week between MoDOT and Archer‑Elgin engineers regarding right‑of‑way documents getting finalized on the BRO project on Valentine Ford road; there was also an invoice submitted for payment from Archer‑Elgin.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Presiding Commissioner Miskel received the state priorities list from MRPC as it has been ranked by committee members and will be presented to the full board for final ranking at the January meeting when presented to region legislators. All three commissioners received a questionnaire from Gasconade County R‑2 School asking for their thoughts on if they should hold the annual legislative breakfast this year and if so, where should they hold it, due to COVID‑19; Commissioner Lairmore will respond.

Presiding Commissioner Miskel announced MRPC is providing financing to expand businesses within the region; there are two businesses in Hermann that have taken advantage of this program before and now a new business is coming in under the same program.

Commissioner Holland asked Sheriff Scott Eiler about a prisoner board billing from Osage County and why not Crawford where we are contracted with; Sheriff Eiler said he has had some issues with Crawford County and Osage County agreed to hold them at a cheaper rate. He also asked Osage County Sheriff to draw up a contract for 2021 for prisoner board for commission’s consideration.

Presiding Commissioner Miskel had an up‑to‑date COVID‑19 report as issued by state of Missouri that shows Gasconade County to be in a yellow zone; he mentioned that the local County Health Department is so overwhelmed with handling contract tracing communications that all other work of the department has been put on hold.

Commission started looking at CARES Act applications received this week that have been approved by MRPC; Presiding Commissioner Miskel announced that no new applications are being accepted by MRPC because according to their records of approval, they already have more applications than funds available. He also mentioned that he spoke with FEMA representative further this week about additional money they offer for COVID‑19 expenses, most are law enforcement or emergency response related; he wants to talk further with MRPC about if they will handle distribution of these funds also through the county. Treasurer Mike Feagan reported that upon further review, the applications from Hermann Hill Vineyard last week indeed were for revenue loss continuing through the month of April 2020 totaling over $250,000, which will be tabled same as other applicants who have submitted multiple requests. Approved by Commission and passed on to Treasurer Mike Feagan for payment was Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $1,901.66.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve CARES Act application from Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Next application for review was from Gasconade County R‑1 School district in the amount of $21,141.49; approved by MRPC and by the Commission and given to Treasurer Feagan for payment.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve CARES Act application for Gasconade County R‑1 School District. Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

The next application approved by MRPC and now before the Commission is City of Owensville Parks and Recreation Department in the amount of $3,656.15; Commission approved and gave to Treasurer Feagan for payment.

MOTION/VOTE

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel made a motion to approve CARES Act application for City of Owensville Parks and Recreation Department. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Abstain),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Next application for approval by Commission was from St. Paul United Church of Christ in the amount of $259.65; MRPC approved as did the Commission and gave to Treasurer Feagan for payment.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve CARES Act application for St. Paul United Church of Christ. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

MRPC had approved an application for CARES Act funds from Owensville Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $10,271.00; Commission asked fire chief Jeff Arnold what it was for and he said a cargo trailer to be used as a walk‑in mobile COVID‑19 test center, heated/cooled and stocked with all medical supplies and cots necessary, so they approved and gave to Treasurer Feagan for payment.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve CARES Act application for Owensville Volunteer Fire Department. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

The final applications for today were from Hermann Regional Economic Development Corp., (also known as) HRED, in the amount of $25,000 each for Advancement funds up front to complete a community welfare program for those impacted by COVID‑19 and to conduct economic recovery activities in Hermann; Commission agreed and gave to Treasurer Feagan for payment.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve CARES Act applications for HRED. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Commission then began the budget meeting with elected officials and officers‑elect that could be here today, just to see where the budgets look to end in 2020 as we start to look into 2021; present were Public Administrator Fay Owsley and Public Administrator‑elect Kelly Thomas, Coroner‑elect Jeff Arnold, Sheriff Scott Eiler. Treasurer Feagan began by distributing the monthly sales tax report to everyone which showed great collection received in November, and it is very likely that if the payment received in December is remotely close to years past, the county could actually make the amount budgeted in January, which is unreal considering this was the pandemic year. Commissioner Lairmore pointed out how much farther ahead the county would be if the use-tax was in place, also during this pandemic year, when online sales have skyrocketed with almost everything purchased being without sales tax paid on it. Clerk Lietzow reminded everyone that General Revenue began the year with only $122,000 in the bank account and everyone having to cut their budgets and relook at revenue projections, just to get the budget to balance. Overall, she said it looks like 2020 income from all sources will only fall short by approximately $25,000; while expenses do not show any budget to be going over by year end, the total should fall well short of the $2.3 million budgeted, and be more like $2.1 million. If all these numbers are as Clerk Lietzow expects, the beginning balance for 2021 should be nearly $295,000, which is welcome news to everyone. She pointed out that her elections budget is the only one that will come close to being spent completely, which she attributes to the state of Missouri falling short of paying fully for the March Presidential Primary election by $7,000 which she had to make up for from her budget. For obvious reasons, the Sheriff’s budgets, including jail, are significantly running well under budget this year which Sheriff Eiler jokingly agreed to take credit for and everyone agreed he could because he would obviously be blamed when it went the other way.

Commissioner Lairmore appreciates how hard everyone worked to make it this budget year and knows they will continue to as we move forward through the process in January. Another topic of discussion was about the extremely low rate of interest earned on county funds this year, down by 2/3 of what was predicted; Commissioner Lairmore asked Treasurer Feagan if he had ever looked at other investment options allowing money to be tied up for longer periods of time, maybe to earn more interest and ask if there were any restrictions; Treasurer Feagan said that it can’t be in the stock market and must be where there is no penalty for early withdrawal and he will research other options as he agrees with Commissioner Lairmore.

As far as budget needs for 2021, Sheriff Eiler foresees vehicles to be his biggest budget item; Commission talked to him about selling any that are ready to go via online auction method as that has proven to be the best method. He also mentioned that the Gasconade County R‑2 School District talked to him about providing them with a school resource officer; the agreement the school had with the City of Owensville police department is no longer in force due to the city not being able to provide the service. He told the school to write up the same agreement which would have the county paying the entire salary and benefits for an officer, and the school reimbursing the county 75 percent of the cost; the officer would be at the school full‑time except when school is closed for summer. Commission is not convinced that school resource officer should be provided by the county, but rather should be by the city.

Also, Commission is well aware the budget of Coroner will be more in 2021 and from here on, due to Coroner‑elect Arnold not having the same access to services as a funeral director would have. Commission thanked Public Administrator Owsley for her service to the county as she will be leaving office at the end of December and welcome Mrs. Thomas to the position. Commission encourages all the newly elected officials to work closely with Clerk Lietzow regarding budget. Before meeting ended, Commission stressed how impressed they are with the job done this year by all elected officials.

Moving on to other business, Presiding Commissioner Miskel received notice that Commission needs to make an appointment to the Gasconade Valley Enhanced Enterprise Zone board due to the term ending of Dr. Chuck Garner, R2G superintendent and he is leaving the school; Commissioner Lairmore agreed to talk to new Superintendent about assuming that role. Also, the Owensville City Administrator position needs to be updated to the current holder of the position.

Commission had received from EMD Dyer his review of a Memo of Understanding to be signed with Red Cross; he did not agree with moving forward with it and neither did the Commission. While working with the Red Cross during drills conducted with Ameren, they are not in favor of this action with the Red Cross.

Commission acknowledged there will only be one more Commission meeting in the month of November, due to Thanksgiving; Clerk Lietzow said the process has begun for selecting an audit firm to conduct the single audit next year for compliance due to federal awards spent exceeding threshold. Commission agreed to continue paying the four-percent CERF retirement on behalf of county employees as they have always agreed to do and signed accordingly.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to continue to pay four-percent to CERF retirement on behalf of county employees for 2021. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

The final discussion regarding CARES Act is for an application submitted by Sheriff’s Department in the amount of $61,000 for purchase of new radios to improve communications with other agencies by allowing use of more than one frequency; Commission agreed and Treasurer Feagan will issue payment.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve application for CARES Act funds for Sheriff’s Department for new radios. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

DELINQUENCY IN PAYMENT OF LOCAL SALES TAX

Commission received notice of revocation of sales tax license for Norwex USA Inc. with locations in Gerald, Hermann and Owensville Area Ambulance Districts due to delinquency in payment of local sales tax.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to adjourn commission until Nov. 19, 2020. Commissioner Jerry Lairmore seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.