The Stoddard County Commissioners met on Monday, May 1, 2023. Commissioner Carol Jarrell and Commissioner C.D. Stewart opened the meeting. Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis was not available at the beginning of the meeting. He did however attend near the end of the meeting.
John Grebing, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission ARPA Update
Grebing gave an update on the broadband/internet in the Stoddard County area utilizing the ARPA funds and CDGB grants. They will be sending out bid notices to the newspapers soon.
Quarterly report has been filed on the ARPA Funds for Stoddard County.
Grebing passed out a SLFRF Compliance Report
City of Advance has requested to shift monies. They made a formal request to transfer monies previously requested for a proposed annexation project to the Advance Municipal Sewer Infiltration and Inflo Project.
"Our sewer situation is in immediate need of inspection and repairs, so as soon as these funds are authorized we plan to begin the project," stated the letter from Mayor Dan Seger.
City of Advance was approved for funding in the amount $874,000 to apply water/wastewater infrastructure to annex a portion of land.
Transfer these funds over to the city of Advance. Instead of utilizing these funds for the annexation of the property, they would like to use the monies to use for the Municipal Sewer Infiltration and Inflo Project.
"Our sewer situation is in immediate need of inspection and repairs, so as soon as these funds are authorized we plan to begin the project," stated Dan Seger, Mayor of Advance.
Start the process on obtaining at $750,000 CDGB grant to use for the annexation of that said property.
"What is the estimated cost of this project?" asked Commissioner C.D. Stewart. "Can we cut any of this monies so we can fund some other projects that do not have any funding at this time."
"It is about 1.2 million or so according to the project engineers, Smith & Co.," stated Mayor Seyer.
The city of Advance is using their ARPA funds they received to upgrade bathrooms in the city park according to Mayor Seyer. They received about $265,000.
"The current system we have place can not maintain the new annexation infrastructure," stated Mayor Seyer. "If we do the annexation project now the current system will not be able to service those people. There will be pipes going nowhere."
Commissioner Jarrell asked about the ARPA funds that the city of Advance received and what projected they were using that money for. That amount was over $200,000, but the Mayor could not remember the exact cost and was unsure of how much the bathroom remodel would cost. He stated they needed to get bids. Jarrell asked if the money had been designated for anything else or if it could be applied to some of these projects. Mayor Seyer stated yes that would be a possibility.
The Commissioners said they would talk with Presiding Commissioner when he comes to the meeting later today and that they would contact Mr. Seyer and Mr. Grebing.
Ford Crown Vic Update
Mayor of Puxico had a marshall come over and drive the vehicle. They are interested in the vehicle. The question is could it be donated or could it be purchased rather inexpensively. Sheriff Carl Hefner said that the vehicle was not worth much, but still drivable.
Motion made to donate the Ford Crown Vic previously used by the EMA Director to the City of Puxico. Seconded by C.D. Stewart. Both voted yes. Motion passed.
Stoddard County IDA, Peter Coutavas
The original renter interested in the Bloomfield Medical building has decided not to rent the building. IDA Director Peter said Matt Phillips may be interested in putting in a coffee shop. Coutavas wanted to thank the Commissioners for getting the building ready for a renter.
Insurance by Alan Hedrick, Leavitt Group/CountyWide Insurance
Hedrick provided a couple of examples of policy and procedures for Sexual Harassment and Distracted Drivers. The Earthquake insurance is good. Cyber Security Insurance was also discussed.
Letting of Depository Bids for Banks
Bank of Advance, Southern Bank, First Midwest Bank, and First State Bank and Trust are the banks who submitted bids.
The County is currently with the Bank of Advance and receive about $300,000 a year in interest.
Mr. Josh Speakman, County Collector/Treasurer, made a spreadsheet showing all the information and rates by each bank. He did believe that Bank of Advance did give the best bid.
Other Business
Motion to accepts the Bank of Advance for the Bank Depository for a period of 4 years made by Commissioner Jarrell. Seconded by Stewart. All three voted yes. Motion passed.
Motion to accept the Adds and Abatements made by Commissioner Stewart. Seconded by Jarrell. Both voted yes. Motion passed.
Motion to appoint board members for Drainage Ditch #13 and #33. Motion passed.
Motion to accept the Meeting Minutes from Monday, April 26, 2023. Motion passed.
Motion to allow Alan Hedrick to purchase all of the toilets removed from the old jail at a cost of $15 each made by Commissioner Stewart. Seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes. Motion passed.
The Commission meeting will be postponed from Monday, May 8, 2023 to Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
Meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.
Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Ron McKain, guest, said the prayer. Commissioner Carol Jarrell was not present for the meeting.
Commissioner C.D. Stewart made a motion to accept the minutes from the regular session, April 17, 2023. Mathis seconded the motion. Both voted yes. Motion passed.
Commissioner C.D. Stewart made a motion to accept the minutes from the Closed Session, April 17, 2023. Mathis seconded the motion. Both voted yes. Motion passed.
Stars & Stripes Museum Expansion Update
Mathis stated that he has a surveyor getting a lot description for the Stars & Stripes Museum expansion. The Museum had requested an additional 7 acres and the land belongs to the County.
Update on the Old Medical Building Owned by the County
Mathis updated those present about the HVAC system and it is in good condition. This is in reference to the old medical building that someone wants to rent and make into a coffee shop. They will need to put a meter in place and have AmerenUE turn the gas on. Mathis asked William Dowdy, Maintenance Manager, who was present, to contact AmerenUE to get a meter installed.
City of Puxico Alderman Travis Stafford
There is an old Ford Crown Victoria police car that belongs to the Sheriff's Dept and has been sitting and will eventually go to auction. Mr. Stafford has asked the County to donate or allow the city of Puxico to purchase the vehicle as they are in high need of a car. The Puxico Police Department has a Crown Vic currently and all the partition cage parts will transfer to this vehicle. " Let's have the city of Puxico Marshall come over and start the vehicle and drive the vehicle and see if in working condition," commented Mathis. "It has been sitting over there for over a year."
Update on Mr. Ron McKain's Request to have a County Prayer Meeting Prior to Pentecost
Bloomfield Park was a no because of two weddings that will be held in the park during the dates he has requested. Dexter Park and Recreation office has not gotten back to him, American Legion wants $125 per night to rent and I can't do that. "I am going to put it in your hands and since it is for the County, I am leaving it in your hands to find me a place. You all know of places and have an influence over the people," stated McKain.
Dale Moreland with Castor Township
Sally Cato, representing the Blackshare Family who owns the property in question is requesting that the County remove County Road 570 as a designated road in Castor Township. A gate was put up more than 20 years ago because the road goes through a swamp area and since 1998 there has not been any road maintenance since the railroad took over. The land has been designated as a wetland by the state of Missouri and the family that has owned this property has since the 1800s and want to protect the land.
There is a procedure to "close" a road which takes signatures of 12 people and an application as well as the Castor Township Board would have to be agreeable. Then a public hearing.
Cato presented a MO State Statute 228.190 and 228.110 states that if no one has done anything for 5 years then you don't have to do this process. Mathis stated, "We will take the statute and get legal advice on the procedure." Moreland said the Castor Board will meet and vote and he did not see an opposition of this removal as a road.
Update on the ARPA request by Castor Township to asphalt roads.
"We bought the asphalt machine and we then found out that we needed new tracks. It will cost $22,000 to replace the tracks. That's why we need to have someone to asphalt the roads and don't have the money to replace the tracks on the asphalt machine," stated Moreland.
Mr. C.D. Stewart left the meeting at 9:45 a.m. to attend a funeral.
10:00 a.m. Open Bids/Letting of the Depository Bid
Four bids were received
1. Southern Bank
2. First Midwest Bank
3. First State Bank & Trust
4. Bank of Advance
"All bids will be reviewed collectively as a group. Then at that time we will vote and choose a bank. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me," commented Mathis.
Josh Speakman, County Collector, has offered to make a spreadsheet to help with choosing the bank.
No official closing of the Opening of the Bids portion of the meeting.
John McCarty, Arch Brokerage Insurance
Health EZ end of the emergency for COVID-19. Insurance wants to know how to process claims going forward since the national emergency is considered over. Will COVID-19 tests be covered yes or no. If they choose no, then the plan will have to be amended.
No further business was conducted. Meeting adjourned without motion around noon time.
The Stoddard County Commissioners opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance at 9 a.m. in the Commission Chambers.
Doug Lowery/Duck Creek Township
Mr. Lowery was requesting an update on the ARPA Funds; however Katelyn Lambert from Bootheel Regional Planning Commission was unable to attend today's meeting. She will get with him on an update.
Beau Bishop/Stoddard County EMA Director
He was supposed to present information regarding the ARPA Funds requests. Mrs. Lambert will call him today and get information from him.
Stars & Stripes Museum Request for Land
Sue Tippen came in and requested more land of about 7 acres on February 14, 2023. "We need to be deciding on this in the next few weeks," commented Mathis. "We need to get with the Assessor's office and look at the maps."
William Dowdy, Maintenance
William is having RL Persons to come in and look at the leaks in the old courthouse. They have repaired the roof before and will access the new leaks and see what it is going to cost to repair.
Colter Gabler/Smith & Company
Bridges on County Roads 766 and 752. He has ordered survey and drilling on 076 and will get authorization on the second bridge 075 soon. He was just updating the Commission on the two bridges they have signed a contract for them to rebuild.
Closed Meeting
Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis made a motion to enter into Closed Session pursuant to RMSo: Section: 610.021 (19) (Impair the County's ability to protect security, specifically cyber security) at 10:15 a.m.
Mathis stated that they had some questions and that Alan Hedrick would get the information to them as soon as possible.
Commissioner Mathis ended the Closed Session and opened the regular meeting again at 11:00 a.m.
Motion to accept the Earthquake Insurance with CountyWide Insurance/Levitt Group $141,500 with a $500 policy fees Risk Insurance Brokers.
Motion to accept the minutes from April 10, 2023 by Commissioner Carol Jarrell. Seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart. All three in favor. Motion passed.
Mathis had to leave the meeting early.
Motion to adjourn the meeting made by Commissioner Jarrell at 11:58 a.m. Seconded by Commissioner Stewart. Both voted yes and motion passed.
The Stoddard County Commission meeting opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Alligience by Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.
New Lisbon Township, Terry Bates
The Soybean Association has requested $12,000 returned after it was determined the the use of the money was not compatible with the requirements of its use. The money was to be for bridge repair in the New Lisbon Township.
The county asked if the money could be used for a box culvert replacement. It will go toward the box culvert along with $48,000 0f the original $120,000 ARPA fund request. The commission released the $48,000 for the replacement of the box culvert.
Water District #2, Bill Knoderer Secretary/Treasurer
"I have here to ask for $100,000 from ARPA funding. I have a copy of the bid for the metering system as well as a bid from MRWA for the software billing system," stated Bill Knoderer, Water District #2 Treasurer/Secretary.
"Water District #2 needs a complete upgrade our metering system and software billing system," stated Knoderer. They also need to have MRWA do a rate study. They haven't increased rates until last month because it did not have a cap on it."How many feet of pipes do you supply?" asked Presiding Greg Mathis. "Do you pump your own water? Do you have your own treatment plant?"
"We have 40,000 feet of line in the ground of which goes about 2 miles outside of Bell City up through Painton and Perkins, all the way up to Randalls. It covers water meters in both Scott and Cape Counties as well." commented Knoderer.
Presiding commissioner Greg Mathis said the estimates will be given to Katelyn Lambert with Bootheel Regional planning. Lambert will consult with the legal team and determine if the project can be covered by the ARPA funds. Lambert said there may also be some grants to assist with this project as well.
Katelyn Lambert, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission
"I met on Friday with Lambert to get the annual report completed for ARPA Funds," stated Mathis. "I was unable to log in."
The old Administrators for the log in are Josh Speakman, Stoddard County Collector, and Danny Talkington former Stoddard County Presiding Commission. Mathis was unable to log in at that time so the idea is to get Speakman to help with getting him on the log in. They were able to complete the report and submit.
Currently if the Commission were to disburse all ARPA funds requested they would be in the red in the amount of $218,951.00.. However, some entities who have applied for ARPA funds have applied for grants. If these grants are awarded additional ARPA funds could be freed up. The County received $5,637,766.00 in ARPA money in 2021 and 2022. To date the Commissioners have paid out $607,829.38.
The city of Advance and Bell City are also looking at getting CDGB grants and that may free up some of the ARPA funding.
The Commissioner voted in 2022 to add interest back quarterly from the money market accounts. To date $65,248.14 have been added from interest.
Originally the interest on the ARPA money was placed into general revenue and not back into the ARPA account. Commissioner Jarred fought to put the money back into the ARPA account.
Motion to release $450,000 of ARPA Funds to the city of Bloomfield to update their sewer lines made by Jarrell. Seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart. All three voted yes. This request was made on March 6, 2023.
Motion to approve $247,000 of ARPA Funds for Water District #4 made by Jarrell. Seconded by C.D. Stewart. All three voted yes. Motion passed. The request was made August 30, 2021.
Motion to approve $48,000 for New Lisbon which was requested on March 27, 2023 to replace a box culvert made by C.D. Stewart. Seconded by Jarrell.
Update on the Generator
We have received a reply from HMN. The Commissioners will have to have a meeting to discuss further legal action.
Clock Update
No update on the clock.
Old Pharmacy Building
Mathis has contacted a HVAC company to see what is wrong with the system and see if it can be fixed. A new boutique and potentially a coffee shop might be going in that building as well.
Opioid Money and Reporting Update
Mathis and Cecil Weeks, Stoddard County Clerk, met on March 31, 2023 and signed the necessary paperwork for reporting the funds received on behalf of the county. The county was awarded monies as part of a legal settlement.
The Commission went into a closed session around 11:15 a.m. no further details on what time the meeting ended or if they went back into regular session at this time.
The Stoddard County Commission meeting opened with a Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer by Presiding Greg Mathis.
Health Insurance Update
Closed session was held on Friday, Mr. John McCarty from Arch Brokerage, Cecil Weeks and his staff along with the Commissioners discussed the insurance. They will work with the insurance company to reconcile the census each month. No further discussion.
Steve Jordan Termination Update
As of last week, Mr. Cecil Week's has not received any information or letter from Jordan's attorney. "We will leave that alone for the time being," commented Mathis.
Letting of Depository Bid (4) Year Term
Motion to approve Letting of Depository Bid (4) Year Term to be placed in the newspaper and send a letter to all the banks in Stoddard County made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell. Seconded by Commissioner Greg Lintz. All three voted yes.
"We will send a letter to the banks," stated Mathis. "It will also be placed in the newspaper." It must be approved by 10:00 a.m. April 24th with a start date by July 1, 2023 made by
VanGuard Computer Systems
The VanGuard Appraisals, Inc. Computer Systems 5 year contract extension request was presented by Dan Creg, Assessor. The Assessor's office uses this system for everything in their office. The cost is $93,025.00 for the 5 years. There is also a 5 year Service Contract totaling $19, 250.00.
Motion to allow Assessor, Dan Creg, to enter into a 5-year contract with VanGuard Appraisals, Inc. for their computer systems made by Commissioner Greg Lintz. Seconded by Jarrell. All three voted yes.
Dale Moreland, Castor Township
Castor Township will be applying for ARPA Funds. County Road 413 needs much repair including asphalt. For a cost of $100,000 Causey Asphalt said they could do about 3/4 of a mile. Mr. Mathis stated that it would have to bid out via the newspaper and that Mr. Moreland needed to get a letter of request to Katelyn Lambert, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission of what exactly what Castor Township plans to do with the monies requests. Then get approval from the attorney if this is a good project or not.
Motion to accept the meeting minutes from the Regular Session on March 6, 2023. Jarrell made the motion, seconded by Lintz. All three voted yes.
Motion to accept the meeting minutes for the Regular Session on March 13, 2023 made by Lintz. Seconded by Jarrell. All three voted yes.
Motion to accept the meeting minutes for Closed Session on March 17, 2023 made by Jarrell. Seconded by Lintz. All three voted yes.
Plans to have Commissioner Appointed C.D. Stewart potentially sworn in at the next meeting. The Senate has been out on Spring break and do not convene until March 20th in the afternoon. The Committee has approved him, but the Senate has not had the opportunity to vote yet.
Motion to approve the Adds & Abates for February 2023 from the Collector's Office made by Commissioner Jarrell, Seconded by Commissioner Lintz. All three voted yes.
Commissioner Jarrell left the meeting early to represent the County Commissioners at the GoSEMO Fiber event in Sikeston. SEMO Electric Cooperative has been awarded 3 broadband grants to expand services in rural Southeast Missouri (see attached press release). An official award announcement at the cooperative offices with the MO Broadband Office director and staff has been scheduled for Monday, March 20th at 11:30 a.m.
Sawyer Smith, Prosecuting Attorney
Mr. Smith has requested to add a glass window inside the Prosecuting Attorney's office. This will be on the Agenda for next week. Mathis states he may ask other office holders if they would like the same in their office.
Mr. Smith also presented the Commissioners with a potential source for a grant for Child Sex Crimes advocacy and investigation. The grant is capped at $100,000 and is an ARPA Fund Grant through the State of Missouri. The grant can be used to hire additional employees for support to prosecute Child Sex Cases. The grant opened on March 13, 2023 and is open until May 13, 2023. This would be a part-time position and save the taxpayers in Stoddard County.
Since Mrs. Jarrell had left the meeting Mr. Mathis wanted her to have an opportunity to look over the document submitted by Smith. Mr. Smith requested a special meeting by the Commissioners this week to approve the grant proposal. Mr. Mathis will consider this once he has additional information as the document given is not all the information, but a Terms and Conditions for Contractor Receipt of Federal ARPA SFRF Funds and not the actual application for the grant.
Motion to adjourn at 12;01 p.m. by Lintz, seconded by Mathis. Both voted yes to adjourn the regular meeting.
