The Stoddard County Commissioners met on Monday, December 12, 2022 at the government building in Bloomfield.

Katelyn Lambert, Asst Executive Director, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission updated the Commissioners on the ARPA Funds.  She presented them with a spreadsheet. 

Total amount of ARPA  Funds available to the County is $5,637.766.00   Funds requested are $4,338,255.96.  Funds actually paid to date $591,848.23.  Funds must be paid out by December 31, 2023.

Matthew Dowdy, Concerned Citizen

He had a letter dated November 22, 2022 from Liberty Mutual Insurance (County uses for their bonding insurance), stating "that under the fidelity insurance policy, only the insured, Stoddard County can be indemnified against covered losses allegedly caused by a dishonest or fraudulent set committed by one of their employees.  Only Stoddard County may submit a claim.  A review of your correspondence indicates that you are not a proper claimant under the terms of the policy.  As such, the Surety must deny this claim in its entirety."

The letter goes on to read, "We have contacted Stoddard County to advise it of the above information so that they may decide how to proceed.  Nothing in this letter is to be construed as a waiver of any of the rights or defenses available to The Ohio Casualty Group or Stoddard County."

Talkington said he would have to hire an attorney and file a suit against the Prosecuting Attorney.

"I'd like to thank the commissioners for their time today," stated Dowdy.

Kay Asbell, Stoddard County Recorder, attended the meeting.

Kay Asbell asked the commissioners if retires were included in the new insurance plan because her staff had a Zoom meeting last week and it was not in the slides.  Commissioner Talkington said yes the retires were on the plan if they had been employees of the County for at least 20 years.

2022 Single Audit Bid Opening at 10:12 a.m.

Bid #1 Daniel Jones and Associates CPA for $25,000, received on November 8th

Bid #2 Devereux and Companies CPA for $17,500, received on November 10th

Commissioner Jarrell made a motion to accept the bid from Devereux and Companies CPA for $17,500.  Presiding Commissioner Talkington seconded the motion.  Both said yes and passed.

Josh Speakman, Stoddard County Collector attend the meeting.

" A couple of programming errors was found in our tax system during the audit this summer and the voucher I was questioned on by the commission corrected one of them. The financial correction that occurred from the programming error was made this Nov since the amount of revenue that gets distributed to all the various political subdivisions during November and December is increased.  It was corrections from years 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021."

In last week's meeting Speakman discussed a bank card to be used by elected officials.

"I have requested the County Commission look into utilizing Central Bank who has a department that specializes in Municipal and County Government credit cards. This will keep county business, such as postage, hotel stays at statutorily required association trainings etc. from being applied to personal debit cards and then reimbursed to the individual. I feel as if it’s a more transparent and simpler approach. The cards come with the county logo and the tax exempt number on them, and would follow the same bill pay approval process as all other county bills."

Commissioner Jarrell made a motion to approve the revised minutes from November 21, 2022 to state the audit bids must be turned in by December 9th at 4 p.m.  Commissioner Talkington seconded the motion.  Both voted yes and passed.

Commissioner Jarrell made a motion to approve the minutes from the December 5th meeting.  Commissioner Talkington seconded the motion.  Both said yes and passed.  A copy of the minutes will not be available until next week's meeting.

Commissioner Jarrell asked Talkington if he had heard from Mr. McCarty at Arch Brokerage about the exclusion of St. Francis or making the deductible higher or co-pays higher.  St. Francis is in-network for HealthLink Insurance; however has been excluded in the County's health insurance plan.  This is from a discussion in last week's meeting with Josh Speakman, County Collector. Talkington state he had not heard from Mr. McCarty as to the changes in the insurance plan.  He will contact him this week.

Commissioner Jarrell made a motion to adjourn at 11:57 a.m.   Commissioner Talkington seconded the motion.  Both voted yes and passed.