Gasconade County Commission Minutes

Posted 7/15/21

July 15, 2021

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Gasconade County Commission Minutes

Posted

July 15, 2021

The Gasconade County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel at the Courthouse beginning with Pledge of Allegiance. Attendance: Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, Present; Commissioner Jim Holland, Present; Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, Present.

PRIOR MINUTES

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to approve prior commission minutes dated July 8, 2021. 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 117311 through 117342. 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 Jerry Lairmore had spoke with Sheriff Scott Eiler, who was present for the meeting, about some right of way issues he has on two county roads; he also said the road department is doing a good job getting all the work done while still being one employee short. Commissioner Jim Holland agreed and said he knows the department is taking care of issues in the Pershing/Fredericksburg areas.

Commission received from the Lincoln County Commission, their signed request asking Gasconade County Commission to transfer $150,000 of their BRO funds to Lincoln County who will in turn transfer $150,000 of their soft match credit to Gasconade County. All were in agreement, so the signed document will now go back to Aaron McVicker, McClure Engineering, who will forward it to MoDOT for final approval and action.

Clerk Lesa Lietzow let the Commission know that she contacted MoDNR representative about the wrong legal description on the permit expansion letter for River Cement Co.; since this is a legal action sent by certified mail and published in the local newspaper for four weeks, she thought it should be brought to their attention. Both DNR and River Cement Co. were glad for notification of the error.

One of the road department employees was injured on the job this week with a claim filed with work comp; it was a smashed finger and needed medical attention.

Commission received notification from Missouri Department of Conservation that if they want to participate in the cost share for maintenance rock on county owned roads leading to MDC land or facilities that now is the time to send in the initial request; they agreed to participate as in years’ past. Lairmore did wonder if the cost share would apply to chip and seal option or just rock and he will make contact to find out.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Presiding Commissioner Miskel announced that MRPC is forming a new committee in Gasconade County to address expanding broadband; according to their numbers, approximately 60-precent of rural Gasconade County does not have access to high speed internet; this was one of the major problems schools in the area faced during the pandemic when trying to educate kids at home when there was little or no internet service and has also had an impact on the farming community. The first meeting will be held via ZOOM on Aug. 3 and he will participate.

Commission asked Lietzow if she had the most up to date flyer as prepared by Lisa Schlottach, Director at E-911, regarding the upcoming usetax election; she gave each a copy and had made extras for the rest of the elected officials when they come in for the budget meeting later this morning. There were a couple more errors found and Commission had a couple questions, mainly about distribution process; Lietzow’s office placed a phone call to Schlottach and the errors were corrected and she said that they would distribute at the county fair the last week of July and at any meetings attended and at businesses within the county. Lairmore wants some for when he attends the Owensville Chamber of Commerce meeting Tuesday and Commission agreed to publish it in both county newspapers the last week of July and will be allowed to use county funds to pay for it because it does not ask anyone to vote for or against the issue, only informational. Lietzow also said the E-911 board agreed to fund one-third of the election cost and will send a check for $6,118.70 to Lietzow; the county’s share of cost paid today is $12,237.41.

Commission will return to session on Monday, July 19, for convening of the annual Board of Equalization at 9 a.m.; there is still only one appointment scheduled. Lietzow said the other voting members of the board, i.e.: representing businesses, banking and county Surveyor will all be present. Commission also announced they will not hold session the week of the county fair, which would be July 29, 2021.

Commission then began the budget meeting with elected officials present as follows: Prosecuting Attorney Mary Weston, Coroner Jeffrey Arnold, Treasurer Mike Feagan, Surveyor Vincent Klott, Sheriff Scott Eiler, Circuit Clerk/Recorder of Deeds Pam Greunke, Assessor Paul Schulte, Collector Shawn Schlottach and in the absence of Associate Circuit Judge Ada Brehe Krueger, was court clerk Jenny Schneider. Feagan began by distributing and reviewing for everyone his monthly account balances and his semi-annual report, along with discussing the sales tax monthly receipts all showing the very good news Gasconade County is experiencing. Miskel would like to see a day when there is actually a significant surplus in General Revenue to serve as a cushion for emergencies arising, which is a luxury the county has not seen in many years. Everyone was brought up to date on how the CARES Act funds were finalized on June 30 and now the receipt of $1,428,234 for the American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA; Feagan explained another payment will be received in May 2022 for the same amount and the county will have until Dec. 31, 2024 to obligate the funds and until Dec. 31, 2026 to spend them. It was also mentioned that city governments will receive their money directly from the state government, whereas the county funds came directly from the federal government. Weston mentioned that she just held the first jury trial since before the pandemic, and while it was held in Franklin County, she was able to use the new equipment she had bought with CARES Act funds in anticipation of needing it if the trials were here at the Courthouse or at another location; this new equipment worked better than what Franklin County had available in their own courtrooms.

There really were not any budget issues to discuss, as everyone is right in line with where they should be at this halfway-point of the year; Schlottach was glad as everyone else was about the good news regarding positive numbers on the revenue side, but she also knows how unstable that can be, with no guarantees of it lasting. Holland said it was his hope that in January 2022 at budget time, they as a Commission, did not have to come back to each of the officials and ask for budget cuts and hopefully with the positive stream of revenue and hopeful passage of the usetax, that might happen. He would also like to see the Deputy Sheriffs receive a raise that would allow them to not have to rely on state grants to supplement their pay; Eiler said Gasconade County is the lowest starting pay in the area at $28,000 annually with the next lowest being $35,000. Miskel credited the officials for doing a fantastic job managing their offices to the highest degree, within the budgets they are asked to maintain; this meeting once or twice a year gives him the opportunity to let the officials know how much he appreciates them.

Lietzow gave each present who has an office in the building, a copy of the telephone proposal from Callabyte; she let them know it stemmed from Eiler also wanting to switch to Callabyte internet service like the rest of the offices have, but he is locked in a Centurylink contract until April 2022. For considering buying out that contract, Callabyte asked for this opportunity and presented a proposal with three options. While everyone is in agreement the antiquated telephone system is in need of replacement after 22 years, the exact needs of each office varies; Miskel suggested that each official express their needs to Lietzow so she can accurately convey those needs to Callabyte or whomever may get the bid. This will likely be a budget item for 2022.

Regarding the usetax issue on the Aug. 3 ballot, the informational flyer was distributed to everyone for comment; Lairmore had indicated his reluctance in placing the issue before the voters for this seventh time, but felt more confident after E -11 board reached out to Commission offering their support, both verbally and financially, since they also have a vested interest in it’s passage. Everyone agreed it was good information, but unfortunately with less than 20 days to distribute; Commission indicated their plans for distributing and Eiler has also agreed to do so. Since this flyer is informational, Commission will advertise it in both local newspapers and on their website; other officials are encouraged to distribute as much as possible.

ABATEMENTS AND ADDITIONS

Commission received for file additions No. 9020 through No. 9037 and abatements No. 2183.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Jerry Lairmore made a motion to adjourn commission until July 19, 2021. Commissioner
Jim Holland seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.