Dec. 10, 2020

The Gasconade County Commission met at the Courthouse beginning with Pledge of Allegiance.

PRIOR MINUTES

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated Dec. 3, 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 116468 through 116504. 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 didn’t have too much going on with roads, but said he will be meeting with Wayne Kottwitz and Roger Dahl at the Swiss building to detail the cooler construction requirements for the Coroner. Roger Armstrong, Chief Deputy Sheriff was in the meeting also, and mentioned that when they look at this area where the cooler will be constructed, to look at the problem with the insulation that was installed in the ceiling area as it is crumbling off and makes a mess. Commissioner Lairmore had very few complaints too, other than how rough the roads are again; he also said road department is busy screening gravel.

Commissioner Lairmore said road department is basically done with the initial budget request numbers penciled in for 2021; he did ask Clerk Lietzow about the line item for audit cost and BRO cost. She said the line item for audit should be left at zero, because the cost of this special audit being done in 2021 in basically because of the CARES Act funds received, not because of significant BRO funds received. Regarding the BRO line item, Clerk Lietzow looked at the original documents detailing the timeline on the project on Valentine Ford road and it is expected to be constructed in the year 2021, so the total cost remaining on the project would need to be listed as an expense item, with 80 percent of that amount listed as revenue coming back in. Commissioner Lairmore placed a telephone call to Rob Conaway, Archer Elgin engineers to get an idea of what that number might be and when he called back, said based on preliminary estimates, it should be $600,000. He also pointed out that if the Commission was interested in doing so, trading excess BRO funds for soft match funds with another county would definitely be an option; the county has over $850,000 in BRO funds available but virtually nothing in soft match, which could cover the 20 percent county cost of in‑kind work, being $120,000.

Received for file were consent forms from Ken Schlottach and Martin Schlottach for work performed on Piezuch Road.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Commissioner Lairmore announced that he had spoken with Dr. Jeri Hardy, the new R-2G school superintendent, and she will serve in the position held by Superintendent Chuck Garner on the Gasconade Valley Enhanced Enterprise Zone board; while a vote was taken on this appointment, he does need to confirm that this vacancy is on the GVEEZ, and not of the regular GVEZ board.

Members of the Gasconade County Historical Society steering committee came before the Commission to present their 2021 budget request; speaking on behalf of the group was Director Kristy Goss. She detailed the year of 2020 and of course, the visitors to the center was significantly down; on the flip side of that, the online requests for information has expanded greatly, still requiring volunteer hours. Three projects underway include Circuit Court files, Inquests indexed and digitized, school records nearing completion and variety of volumes of records; their 2021 request is slightly higher than last year, at $17,000. The microfilm machine is still functioning, but the last several years it’s been mentioned that if it has to be replaced, it is very costly; Commission suggested they ask MRPC if CARES Act funds could be used to cover the cost of purchasing the machine, and Commission will make the initial call on their behalf because the deadline for requesting is today.

Lydia Nipper, Engagement Specialist for University Extension also came in with their budget request for 2021; it too, was only slightly higher at $57,825 but being spent differently than in years’ past. She explained their transitioning to two part‑time employees with no benefits rather than one full‑time with benefits and being able to keep the office open four days per week. Doing that does require Franklin County to handle bookkeeping services but their charge for doing that still keeps the payroll section costing less; the remaining line items are also being restructured and the end result is a few hundred dollars less.

Treasurer Mike Feagan pleasantly presented Commission with the sales tax received for the last payment of the year and it was significantly higher than last three years; it allowed the budgeted amount projected of $1,016,000 to be surpassed by over $20,000 much to everyones’ amazement.

Commission extends their sympathies to the family of Judge Ada Brehe‑Krueger in the recent loss of her father and to the family of Assessor Paul Schulte in the loss this week of his mother.

Sheriff’s office had provided Commission with a new contract for prisoner board from Crawford County starting Jan. 1, 2021, for $40 per day for five beds; Osage County is preparing a contract also for consideration for any overflow. The main difference between the two counties offers’ are that Crawford has medical staff on site to provide service as needed, whereas Osage County would have to transfer to Cole County. Chief Deputy Roger Armstrong was in the meeting due to Sheriff Scott Eiler being gone to training and asked Commission if it would be possible to hire two more officers which would bring the staff up to 10 as the new year starts; he mentioned that there is one officer graduating from the academy that they would like to interview and another officer is interested. Budgetarily, there would not be a significant impact this year, because the final payroll of the year is Dec. 21 and either new hire might not be on staff yet by then so Commission agreed. He also mentioned that the new laptops and desktops purchased with CARES Act funds were installed this week.

Coroner‑elect Jeff Arnold was at the meeting to keep Commission up‑to‑date on moving forward with his office; he had been to Surplus Property and purchased the furniture and supplies needed after Clerk Lietzow got him set up as a purchaser on behalf of the county. He also submitted a receipt for reimbursement for the PO Box he purchased for Coroner mail; he talked to Fidelity and since this is a government office, they scheduled to come next week and Clerk Lietzow had given him the county’s account number for that service work to be charged to. He will purchase a re‑furbished computer he found at O‑Town PC and a new printer from WalMart. Clerk Lietzow asked about his bond and if he was purchasing a separate one or if the county blanket bond would be sufficient and he agreed he would not be purchasing a separate one. He asked Commission if they were aware that Peaceful Valley Lake area was putting up a gate at the entrances to limit access and Commission was not aware of it; they assumed as a first responder the codes would be given so access was available when it might be needed. Lastly, he told Commission that the City of Owensville would be interested in contracting EMA services to the county if they were interested.

There were a couple items Commission needed to discuss; one was regarding Christmas Eve. The state judicial offices are allowed to be closed so the question about county offices was posed and Commission agreed county employees would work as they always do on Christmas Eve. Regarding the swearing‑in for newly elected officials, Judge Ada Brehe Krueger has agreed to perform the ceremony and so it was scheduled for Dec. 30 at 10 am.

Clerk Lietzow presented the only proposal received for audit services and it was from Daniel Jones and Associates; since they have been the firm to audit Gasconade County on previous occasions, there was a discount offered, leaving the bid at $18,000 and it was her recommendation to accept, which they did.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to award 2021 single audit proposal to Daniel Jones and Associates. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Another contract for Commission consideration today was from Ivan Schraeder for legal services and it was agreed that it continues to be beneficial and agreed.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to sign legal services agreement with Ivan Schraeder for 2021. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Presiding Commissioner Miskel was attending another meeting first this morning and when he arrived, reported that the Gasconade County R‑1 School government day breakfast was a very nice event. Superintendent Scott Smith thanked the Commission for the CARES Act funds they received; he said of the $450,000 in expenses the district had, $445,000 was recouped. Representatives from U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, Missouri Senator Dave Schatz, Missouri Representative Aaron Griesheimer were present along with a representative of DESE. There was a lot of talk of the challenges teachers faced this year and good news that there were eight school buses equipped with wifi for the longer bus routes so students were able to have internet access; there is also a contingency plan in place to move those eight school buses to various locations in the district if necessary so kids at home have that internet access that they don’t always have in their homes.

It was mentioned that Presiding Commissioner Miskel will be attending the MRPC meeting this evening via ZOOM and Commissioner Lairmore will be attending the TAC meeting at 3 p.m. today where road priorities are chosen, but he was not sure the method of the meeting.

Commissioners’ Lairmore and Holland had reviewed and approved all of the CARES Act applications that had been submitted by MRPC and reviewed them for Presiding Commissioner Miskel and he was in agreement. Clerk Lietzow mentioned Missouri Thistle had called again to see if their additional applications had been approved yet and she told them not at this time, but Commission thought they should be able to make that decision very soon. First was the City of Owensville in the amount of $6,263.17.

MOTION/VOTE

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

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Another application for CARES Act funds approved was for Shear Perfection in the amount of $1600.

MOTION/VOTE

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

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Another application for CARES Act funds approved was for Quilting Bee Fabrics in the amount of $684.31.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve application for CARES Act funds for Quilting Bee Fabrics. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Another application approved was from Snowensville LLC in the amount of $30,000.

MOTION/VOTE

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

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Another application for CARES Act funds approved today was for Gasconade County Health Department in the amount of $21,580.43.

MOTION/VOTE

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve application for CARES Act funds for Gasconade County Health Department. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

There was an application submitted for pre‑approval by City of Owensville Police Department in the amount of $15,570.80 and Commission granted. The final application approved today was from Owensville Knights of Columbus Council No. 2547 in the amount of $1,850.

MOTION/VOTE

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel made a motion to approve application for CARES Act funds from Owensville Knights of Columbus Council 2547. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Abstain),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

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).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Commission offered that closed session was to review any applications or resumes received for position of EMD, and since there were none, they had talked with Dan Dyer, and he has agreed to stay on until a qualified replacement is selected.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jim Holland made a motion to adjourn commission until Dec. 17, 2020. Commissioner Jerry Lairmore seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.