Dec. 3, 2020

The Gasconade County Commission met at the Owensville City Hall beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance.

PRIOR MINUTES

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated Nov. 12, 2020. Commissioner Jim Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

PRIOR MINUTES

Lairmore made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated Nov. 19, 2020. Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

WARRANTS FOR PAYMENT

Lairmore made a motion to approve the following items: warrants for payment 116424 through 116467. Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

ROAD CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS

Commission first met this morning at Drake with the road department and reported the discussion to Clerk Lietzow for the official minutes: this years’ budget will be ending without going over and items needed in next years’ budget; they discussed right‑of‑way projects and encourage anyone interested in improving their right‑of‑way to contact them. If landowner will give 25 ft. from the centerline of road to road department, they will push out any brush, ditch appropriately, remove any dead trees or overhang that would impede snow melt, make room for blading snow. They will remove any fences so they can get this work done, but do not put the fence back up. County would not own the right‑of‑way, only have permission to work in the area.

Holland reported issues on several roads relating to all the deer season traffic.

Lietzow reported on the revenue side, she is submitting to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for reimbursement on the BRO project on Valentine Ford road and to the Missouri Department of Conservation for reimbursement for rock placement on county roads leading to their properties.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Lydia Nipper, University Extension Council was scheduled on agenda this morning to present their 2021 budget request but it has been rescheduled for next Thursday; Presiding Commissioner Miskel, who serves on their board, said the budget looks really good and after restructuring, they are hiring a part‑time employee which will allow them to expand office hours to 32 per week.

Coroner‑elect Jeff Arnold was here to ask Commission how he should submit bills for getting his office set up; the painting is done and he is ready to start buying furniture, supplies, business cards, getting telephone, FAX and internet hooked up, pay for a post office box for his mail. Lietzow said he had asked her about it and she told Commission after looking at the budget, the buildings and grounds or county expense budgets could probably handle the expenses this year; Holland asked for something in writing detailing what was needed and the estimate of the cost. When asked about the cooler situation, Arnold would like to show Commission the two that are at Gottenstroetter Funeral Home for an idea of size, so Holland will go there with him after the session so the road department knows what they are going to have to build at Swiss. Lairmore suggested Arnold go to State Agency for Surplus Property in Jefferson City for furniture, so everything could be bought tax exempt. Lietzow said the county has an account with Fidelity Telephone to charge to; Miskel offered the use of his county credit card also if necessary for tax-exempt purchases.

Treasurer Mike Feagan presented his monthly account balances to Commission and reviewed; he had not yet received the final sales tax payment of the year. Owensville Mayor John Kamler commented that based on how busy the Walmart store has been, the sales tax should be impressive and Feagan said if it is as hoped, the budgeted amount of $1,016,000 may be reached even in this pandemic year. Commission again talked about and pointed out to everyone present that the use tax not being in place in Gasconade County has cost countless thousands of dollars due to the number of people shopping online, also due to the pandemic. Any of the brick and mortar stores would surely support leveling the playing field by the county being able to implement this tax; Miskel said many of those stores are establishing mask‑wearing guidelines due to the increase in COVID‑19 cases in the county and unfortunately, there are 30 deaths reported. While many events are being canceled, he urges everyone to be positive, but also be careful.

Commission asked if there have been any resumes or applications received for the EMD position and Lietzow said not at this time; they also ask if any of the audit firms contacted had submitted proposals to complete the single audit and she answered no to that also. The deadline for both of these submissions is Dec. 9.

Commission asked Chief Deputy Roger Armstrong from Sheriff’s Department how everything was going; he said the new laptops and desktop computers bought with CARES Act funds will all be installed on Monday and Tuesday; when asked about prisoner board contracts, he said Crawford County has prepared a new one and Osage County will also be submitting one for consideration to Commission.

Lairmore asked City Administrator Randy Blaske if he would be willing to step into the position on the Gasconade Valley Enhanced Enterprise Zone to replace the former City Administrator and he agreed.

Commission then moved onto processing CARES Act applications, of which there were several that have been approved by MRPC, and are now awaiting Commission approval before being passed on to Feagan for payment. The first one was from Morrison Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $22,824 and was approved.

MOTION/VOTE

Lairmore made a motion to approve the application for CARES Act funds for Morrison Volunteer Fire Department. Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

The next application reviewed was from Swiss Evangelical Reformed Church in the amount of $9,617.14 and was approved by the Commission.

MOTION/VOTE

Lairmore made a motion to approve the application for CARES Act funds for the Swiss Evangelical Reformed Church. Holland seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

The next application for consideration was from Gasconade County Health Department in the amount of $12,461.40 and was approved by the Commission.

MOTION/VOTE

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

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

City of Owensville Police Chief Robert Rickerd had originally submitted an application in the amount of $43,610.97 to MRPC and it was given pre‑approval, but before Commission was to vote, the application was withdrawn. Owensville City Administrator Randy Blaske had submitted an application in the amount of $10,505.74 and it was approved by MRPC and by the Commission.

MOTION/VOTE

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

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (Yes),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

The application submitted by Arnold in the amount of $38,449.29 was discussed as to specifics; Arnold explained the items will all be part of the new truck that was also purchased with these funds. These items are all being purchased in order to limit the amount of people who will have to come in contact with COVID‑19 deceased, such as ramp loading system, power cot and body removal board all meant to be handled by only one person, PPE, radio equipment and portable UV light.

MOTION/VOTE

Lairmore made a motion to approve the application for CARES Act funds from Arnold. Miskel seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:

Jerry Lairmore (Yes),

Jim Holland (No),

Larry Miskel (Yes).

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Miskel reminded everyone present that any applications to be submitted for consideration must be submitted by Dec. 10; everyone present was thanked for coming in.

REPORT OF FEES

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

Recording: $8,894.40

Domestic Violence: $30

CERF: $3,353

Rec Records Retention: $2,149.88

Record Technician: $591.25

Clerk Fees: $327.61

County Fees: $195.43

Incarcerated/Medical Costs: $125

LETF: $30

PATF: $36.95

Fines: $1,311.50

Sheriff’s Fees/Mileage: $90.01

Miscellaneous County Fees: $66.30

Inmate Security Fund: $56

Municipal Fines: $2,780.50

LET Municipal: $38

REPORT OF FEES

Commission reviewed reports of collections from Shawn Schlottach, collector, for the month of November 2020 in the amount of $2,255,800.39; also from Scott Eiler, sheriff, for the same month in the amounts of $1,064.92 civil fee fund and $220 DSSSF.

ADDITIONS AND ABATEMENTS

Commission received for file additions No. 8851 through No. 8882 and abatements No. 2149 through No. 2160.

ADJOURN

Holland made a motion to adjourn commission until Nov. 10, 2020. Lairmore seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.