The Stoddard County Commissioners met in a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, October 24, 2022 at 9 a.m. in the commission chambers. Commissioner Danny Talkington started with the Pledge of Allegiance and Kay Asbell said the prayer.
Carol Jarrell made the motion to make Beau Bishop the Stoddard County Emergency Management Agency Director to start on November 1, 2022. Salary will $50,400.00 and is a full-time position. Commissioner Danny Talkington seconded the motion. Both voted yes.
There were five bids for the Stoddard County employee insurance. Arch Brokerage is the lowest bidder and Southeast Hospital as the main hospital. Fixed cost $337,857.36 and their variable cost was 337,857.36 and a maximum cost of $696,322.44. Based on 77 employees and one spouse. The brokerage company is located south of St. Louis and is not a local brokerage with a contract of 1 year. Cost per month for each employee $319.00 $1,500 deductible. You will be able to go to St. Francis, but your deductible will be higher at $2,500. The Commissioners did not take the lowest bid, but decided based on the overall plan.
Commissioner Jarrell made a motion to accept Arch Brokerage and their insurance plan for a contract of 1 year to cover the Stoddard County employees with insurance. Commissioner Talkington seconded the motion. Both voted yet.
Debra Robey attended the meeting and asked about the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Water District #5 had requested $31,311. She asked what the turn-around time was for getting paid once the paid receipts are turned in. Talkington stated that if they are turned in by Thursday, the commissioners can pay it out on the following Monday. Water District #5 will have their first new board meeting on Tuesday, October 25th at 6:30 p.m.
Commissioner Jarrell made a motion to accept the minutes from October 17th. Talkington seconded the motion. Both voted yes.
According to Katelyn Lambert at the Bootheel Regional Planning, the Hazard Mitigation Plans are due. The Commissioners need to sign to update the plan. Once they are signed by FEMA, SEMA, and Bootheel Regional Planning a copy will be available to the Commission.
The engineer selected for Stoddard County’s Broadband grant, Conexon, is working to obtain permission to use Ozark Borders network to complete the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER). Once the PER is complete the project can be bid out for construction. Travis Elliot, county attorney, is working to draft a lease agreement to be used after the Broadband Infrastructure is constructed between the Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the county.
The lease is supposed to insure that the county is not responsible for any of the infrastructure maintenance or anything once it is constructed. That way the County is not out any extra money to maintain the infrastructure.
Commissioner Jarrell made the motion to adjourn at 11:55 a.m. Talkington seconded it. Both voted yes.
