HERMANN - Office space for Gasconade County government’s newest department – the Recorder of Deeds – will be ready by Nov. 15, according to a target date given by craftsmen working on the renovation project on the first floor of the courthouse.

County voters in November will be electing their first Recorder of Deeds, a move resulting from the County Commission’s decision earlier this year to split the office of Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Deeds, a dual-duty department since the start of county government. The office split was advocated largely by Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Deeds Jennifer Schneider, who explained that an increasing caseload on the Circuit Clerk side of the operation is hindering her ability to devote time to the Recorder of Deeds part of the department.

Deputy Recorder Jessica Diebal is the presumptive incoming Recorder of Deeds as she was the only person to file for the office.

The completion of the Recorder of Deeds Office is important because it will clear the way for the work-space swap scheduled by the Circuit Clerk’s Office, located on the first floor, and the Assessor’s Office, which is on the second floor.

The move has been approved by the County Commission as way to improve efficiency in operations. Being on the second floor puts the Circuit Clerk’s Office physically closer to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department’s courthouse office and the main courtroom. Moving to the first floor puts the Assessor’s Office closer to the Collector’s Office and the County Clerk’s Office, departments with which the assessor works closely.

The Nov. 15 target date was given by craftsmen Mike LeRoy, a millwright who made the new courthouse doors and is doing the woodwork for the Recorder’s Office and Shane Gleeson of Shane Gleeson Masonry, which was contracted for cutting the space for the Recorder’s Office door. The target date came after a contentious exchange between the craftsmen and Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte, R-Hermann, during the Oct. 1 Commission session held in Owensville City Hall.

Schulte was upset that the office wasn’t ready by this month, which was the due date included in the agreement the county signed with the general contractor, Glenn Englert. Englert has done substantial work for county government in the past, but in recent years but has left the area with projects unfinished. He also left the subcontractors, LeRoy and Gleeson, to deal with the provisions of the agreement with the county. One of those provisions – the one Schulte was emphasizing during last week’s session – calls for a $250-a-day penalty to be assessed against contractors for going beyond the completion date.

LeRoy and Gleeson, sharing the speaker’s podium before the Commission, said they were not made aware of the late fee attached to the project and hoped the Commission would waive the penalty. “I want to move forward on this and get the job done,” LeRoy said.

Schulte was prepared to stand firm.

“If you don’t meet your deadline, there’s a penalty,” the presiding commissioner said.

He noted that the agreement to do the work was signed in May.

“Which,” Schulte said, “is more than enough time to get the job done.”

LeRoy voiced his frustration at dealing with the county on some projects.

“It seems like I get the clean-up on all these projects,” he said, referring to building the double doors that were placed on the main entrance to the courthouse. Those doors were ordered during the COVID pandemic and delayed several times before they were delivered and installed. He also built a companion door for the east-side entrance that was installed in recent months.

He noted that he was not the general contractor on the new-doors project and hasn’t been paid for a year and half.

“I don’t get paid until the job is done,” he said. “When the general contractor bails and leaves the state...,” he said, his voice trailing off.

“All I’d like to see is a vote of the Commission to waive the $250,” LeRoy said. “I’m on your project; I’m going to be on it until it’s done,” he said.

Schulte pressed LeRoy for a firm completion date. The woodworker was reluctant to give an exact date, saying it’s difficult to give an absolute date because something could happen that would delay work.

Associate Commissioners Jim Holland and Ron Hardecke appeared prepared to grant the subcontractors more time to finish the project.

“I would not be opposed to giving you more time, but that’s just me,” said Holland, R-Hermann.

Schulte pushed back.

“But Jim, that’s why we have bid documents” with completion dates, he said, adding that it would be fair to other contractors who might have submitted a bid to grant more time on this project.

LeRoy reminded the Commission there was no other contractor bidding on the project.

Southern District Associate Commissioner Ron Hardecke, R-Owensville, said he was ready to move on. “We need the room done. I’ll make a motion to waive the fee,” he said.

“I want a (completion) date,” Schulte insisted.

“Dec. 1,” said LeRoy loudly, moments later noting that he believes the remodeling can be done by mid-November. “I would hope to get all the job done by then,” he said.

“I think we need to move forward and get past this,” Hardecke said.

Schulte remained steadfast.

“If we can’t meet the 15th, damages will be sought,” the presiding commissioner said.

The board approved Hardecke’s motion.