The Stoddard County Commissioners opened the next to the last meeting of the 2023 year with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

Old Business:

Commissioner Greg Mathis stated that everything looks good with the Department of Economic Development for the deobligation of the CDBG grant with Bootheel Regional Planning.  He does have one form to send to them and that is the "sign-in" sheet for the last Commission meeting.

The final contract for the health insurance has been finalized.  It was already voted on by the Commission at a previous meeting. Today the Commission signed off on the contract.

New Business:

Beau Bishop, Stoddard County Emergency Management

Bishop stated that the first quarter EMPG grant claims for the operating period of July 1, 2023 thru September 30, 2023 were submitted and approved.  ON November 17th we were reimbursed $6,540.91 for this claim.

The EMPG 2nd quarter grant claims for the operating period of October 1st - December 31st will be submitted before January 15, 2024.

Stoddard County EMA fiscal year 2024 budget has been submitted to the Stoddard County Clerk's office to be reviewed by the Commission.

"On August 22nd - 25th I attended the 2023 Missouri State Emergency Management Conference and from August 30th - September 1st I also attended the 2023 MFSMA Annual Conference," commented Bishop. "On October 19th, I attended the quarterly SEMO EMA and RHSOC meeting. On November 6th the Stoddard County EMA hosted the NWS Winter Weather Workshop with the Paducah National Weather Service.  Information was provided on the upcoming winter weather season and the new NWS Chat Service. 17 area stakeholders attended."

He continued to discuss the November 28th quarter Bootheel LEPD meeting and the December 13th quarter Stoddard County Consortium meeting.  Stoddard County EMA asked for, and received approval from the board, for access to the Zuercher System that all county dispatchers use.  With access, EMA will be able to start weather related CFS's for time tracking during an event, and will also have access to the map functions that will allow for EMA to place real time barriers and information on the map concerning flooded/blocked roads, etc.  Once these are placed on the map, all dispatches will be able to see the same information, so it can be conveyed to their appropriate people when routing to a call could be an issue.

The HMPG Siren Grant - Notice for bid is active.  I twas advertised int he Daily Statesman, and the Daily American republic.  Notice for bid is also posted on the front door of the Stoddard County Ambulance office.  Bids are due no later than Friday, January 5th at 3 p.m. CST.  Once all bids are received they will be brought to the Commission for discussion.

The procurement paperwork is ongoing for the HMPG Generator Grant.

The bid process has been completed for ARPA radios.  Battles Communications was the only bid received.  All paperwork submitted to BRPC and the approval was given to order radios.  Radios have been ordered and we are waiting for them to be received.  Preliminary breakdown of radio distribution is as follows: Puxico Fire (3), Dudley Fire (3), Essex Fire (3), Bernie Fire (3), Bloomfield Fire (2), Bernie MEA (1), Stoddard County EMA (1).

Bishop gave upcoming dates he will be attending three meetings.  On January 18th there will be a quarterly SEMO EMA and RHSOC meeting, January 30th a quarterly Bootheel LEPD meeting and on February 28th and 29th in Columbia for the Local Volunteer and Donations Management Class.

Debbie Ellinghouse, AFLAC agent for Stoddard County

She stepped in for just a minute to check in with the Commission and drop off the Employee Benefit Options for 2024 with rates for the pay period

Motion to accept the regular meeting minutes for December 11th made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to accept the closed session meeting minutes for December 11th made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commission Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to close the regular session of the meeting at 11:51 a.m.made by Commissioner Jarrell and seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Route 153 in Stoddard County will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform shoulder repairs. 

This section of roadway is located from Route A to Route Z. 

Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, Dec. 18 through Thursday, Dec. 21 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. A flagging crew will be in place as work is taking place.   

For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT

Route BB in Stoddard County will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert along the roadway.  

This section of roadway is located between Route C and County Road 208 near Advance, Missouri. 

Weather permitting, work will take place Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. 

For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT 

The Stoddard County Commission began their Monday morning with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance and by Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis. 

Bill Aslin, Mayor of Bloomfield

"I just wanted to clear up a few items on the parking regulations," commented Aslin.  "We will not be closing any parking around the courthouse only next to the businesses to give them a chance. We have new businesses and we want to give them a chance to be successful," stated Aslin.

"We did have AA down from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m for the Christmas Around the Courthouse event on Saturday evening," continued Aslin.  "We are very excited to have this event and our new businesses downtown."

"Christmas Around the Courthouse had sever vendors,' though we lost a few because of the threat of weather," stated Aslin.  "It actually turned out to be a great evening.  We had items for sale and many items for free.  A Parade of Lights prior to the event with several entries.  There were carriage rides for free, Santa was in the beauty shop with Dee Loflin taking photos for the Chamber.  The event date has already been set for next year on December 7, 2024."

Katelyn Lambert, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission

"Duck Creek Township has used all of their funding for the ARPA monies with this request of $18,346.65 for the culvert expenses, and rental equipment expenses," stated Lambert.

Motion to accept the Duck Creek Township request for $18,346.65 out of the ARPA funds made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commission Carol Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

There is approximately $188,934.04 left in ARPA Funds not designated for expenditure at this time.  This is due to the interest earned on the ARPA funds being placed into money market accounts.  The interested to date is $183,289.19.

New Lisbon Township

Mr.Terry Bates received a resignation letter from Loyd Hull who was on the board for the New Lisbon Township. The board met in a special meeting and have recommended Scott Jones or Mike Townsend.             

The Lisbon Township board of directors has nominated Scott Jones and the Commissioner must vote to appoint him to the board.

Motion to appoint Scott Jones to the New Lisbon Township Board made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and the motion passed.

Gary Wyman, Missouri Extension Office

Mr. Wyman brought in a budget request for the University of Missouri Extension Office.  The only addition to the budget is a raise for the secretary of $1.00 per hour.  Commissioner Mathis stated that they will take in consideration of their budge proposal.

"As long as I have served on the board I have never brought in a significant raise and we try our best to stay within our budget," stated Wyman. 

The Commission will be going over the Stoddard County budget in the coming weeks.  When it has been approved there will be a 10 day window if any citizen wishes to review the budget at the County Clerk's office before the final vote on the budget takes place.

Stoddard County 911 Board of Directors

"On October 10, 2023 I received a letter from the Stoddard County 911 Services Board of Directors that stated several members terms end on December 31, 2023.  They are Dan Seiger, Doug Siler,  Chuck Kasting, Leroy Stockton, and Andy Holden, stated Mathis.

Motion to reappoint Chuck Kasting, Dan Sager, Leroy Stockton, Doug Siler, and Andy Holden to serve another 3 year term made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.

Deobligation of CDB Grant with the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission as Administrator

On November 20th the Stoddard County Commission had a public hearing regarding the deobligation of the CDB grant rural broadband in the Puxico area.  Commissioner C.D. Stewart was at a meeting in the Ozarks and not in attendance.  Commissioners Mathis and Jarrell were in attendance; however no one came in with any issues or concerns during the public hearing. 

Motion to vote to terminated the contract with Bootheel Regional Regional Planning Commission with regards to the CDB Grant for rural broadband in the Puxico area made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

The Grant was tied to prevailing wages and the cost would be two to there times greater than just performing the work without the grant.  Also the Commission has already obligated 1 million in ARPA funds for the project in Puxico.  GoSEMO Fiber was awarded that money and is already performing the work in Puxico.

Department of Economic Development Money Owed

The Department of Economic Development performed administrative work on the CDB grant for rural Puxico for the fiber optic broadband in the amount of $21,600.  This money will need to be reimbursed.

Motion to reimburse the Department of Economic Development for the administration work done by BRPC in the amount of $21, 600 made by Commissioner Jarrell, and seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Josh Speakman, Stoddard County Collector/Treasurer

The city of Bernie entered into a contract, approved by the County Commission, with the Stoddard County Collectors Office to begin collecting city taxes for them a few months ago. 

"During the transition process, it was agreed upon that the Collector would attempt to help settle some of their more recent delinquent accounts," commented Speakman.  "In order to do this they gathered the last 4 years tax rolls and entered the delinquents into a separate collection software to monitor and then flag accounts in our county software."

"Let's back up a moment, the Bernie City's tax rolls were printed reports and when an individual came into pay at the city, they were given a stamped receipt/marked paid, copy retained at the city and then marked paid on the tax roll," continued Speakman.

The city of Bernie has had a handful of occasions where the County entered them into their city delinquent monitoring system, using the tax roll provided, triggering their system to flag them as they came in to pay the 2023 year and it showed they had not paid the previous years.

Speakman took action and offered two ways to deal with the issue:

1.  Do not pay them, and return with the stamped receipt.  They will then correct it on the city delinquent tracking system and all will be good.  In the event they were unable to produce a receipt, they were made aware they would not fall off and would have to be addressed in the near future.

2.  Pay the delinquent, return with the stamped or marked paid receipt from the city of Bernie and they would ensure the city of Bernie would reimbursed the tax and the County would correct it on their end.

The County Collector have been flexible and looking at each situation on a case by case basis.  

"The mayor of Bernie, city clerk, and their city hall staff have also been very helpful during this transition," commented Speakman.

"These issues have been somewhat rare," continued Speakman.  "By the County collecting , this helps eliminate these types of issues in the future.  The citizens of Bernie now have a one stop shop and the resources such as the Tax Installment Plan, paying online with card or E-Check, or having us send a link to their phone to pay, Monday through Friday access in person and a 24/7 online access.  Lots of options here for the citizens."

"I am not necessarily alarmed by the clerical errors, considering it was all done by hand, I somewhat expected some issues during this transition," continued Speakman.  "The city of Bernie's willingness to make it right has also been extremely helpful."

Cecil Weeks, Stoddard County Clerk

County Clerk's Office will be open 8:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. on December 26th.  This is the Christmas holiday for the County and they will be the only office open due it being the last day for people to file to run for office.  This is unfortunate and the state may rectify this in the future to have the dates changed, but for now someone has to work that day.

Other Business

Motion to have the weekly Commissioner's meeting at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 29, 2023 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to approve the Ads and Abates for November 2023 from Josh Speakman, County Collector/Treasurer made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to accept the open session minutes from December 4, 2023 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to accept the closed session minutes from December 4, 2023 made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to accept the closes session minutes from November 20, 2023 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to enter into closed session at 11:04 a.m. for Personnel issues made by Commission Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Monday, December 4, 2023 - The Stoddard County Commission meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer by Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.`All three Commissioners were available at the meeting.

Katelin Lambert - Bootheel Regional Planning Commission/ARPA Funds Update

1. Bell City Fire Department requested a draw down on their already approved ARPA Funds for $5,000 for clean-up including demolition and haul off of concrete from the building site. 

2. Water District #5 is waiting on software for their new meters and will have training as well soon.

3.  SCAD has about $8,000 left, but she has not heard from them.  She thought they were going to purchase computers. Chuck Kasting is the director and will need to get with Katelin Lambert.

4. Bo Bishop on Friday got all his documentation for 15 radios.  He is going to get more radios under the micro purchase for that as the bid came in lower than he predicted.

5. Bernie, Advance, Bloomfield have projects that will start in the spring and all are using a Poplar Bluff engineering firm.

     Bernie will bid in the spring for the water basin.  Advance and Bloomfield have larger project for CDBG grant.  They should bid out in the spring as well.

6.  Duck Creek is getting the rest of their requests and documentation.

7. Water District #2 - Katelin has been back and forth with their lawyer with signing the documents. No other city or township or even a water district has hired an attorney for the documentation for the ARPA Funds.  they can not move forward unless they sign the documents that everyone has signed thus far.  

8. City of Essex will try for a CDBG grant for street repairs and are currently working on their LMI requirements.

Motion to authorize payment to Bell City Fire Department in the amount of $5,000 from ARPA Funds made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Carol Jarrell.  All voted yes and motion passed.

Gary Wyman, Stoddard County Extension Council

"I am here to discuss the parking issues around the Courthouse," commented Wyman.  "There are 8 people in the courthouse and there is a parking situation because we have two people that have difficulties walking around.  One is even going out every two hours to move her vehicle." (If that is the case that person is walking more by moving the vehicle every two hours than actually just parking a little farther away from the building).

"Is there anyway we can get some designated parking places for those employees?" asked Wyman.

"I am not going to ask for a motion on the parking and leave as is and let the city deal with their two hour parking sign," commented Commissioner Mathis.  "I have already spoken to those employees and I let them know the city of Bloomfield put the 2-hour parking signs up for the new businesses that have just recently opened and other businesses downtown."

Wildflower Boutique and Cafe'Ghost Lease Agreements

The two new businesses renting from Stoddard County have rental leases.  Peter Coutavas, IDA, will need to get copies of their liability insurance for the contents of their business.  The County should have liability insurance on the building itself.

The lease is for one year and then month-to-month after that beginning January 1, 2024.  The rent will be five dollars per month, increasing to one hundred fifty dollars per month on May 1st and then two hundred fifty dollars per month beginning September 1, 2024. 

Motion to sign the lease agreement for Wildflower Boutique located in a building in Bloomfield owned by the County made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to enter into the lease agreement with Cafe' Ghost located in a building in Bloomfield owned by the County made Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

10:00 Audit Bid Opening 

Cecil Weeks, Stoddard County Clerk, opened the bid package as they only received one sealed bid.  

Bid is from Daniel Jones & Associates in the amount of $25,000.00 for the 2023 audit.  The bid packet however had an error and had 2022 on the paperwork.  Mr. Weeks placed a call to the firm to be sure it was an error and not the wrong paperwork. After the call Weeds confirmed it was an error and new paperwork was submitted electronically..

Motion to accept the single audit bid for 2023 from Daniel Jones & Associates bid in the amount of $25,000 made by Commissioner Jarrell seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

New Lisbon Township 

The New Lisbon Township board received their letter of resignation from a board member.  The person they wanted to put on the board has a relative that works for the Township so the would have to quit or they could not have this person on the board due to the MO State Statute on nepotism.  They have two people interested so the board and will have a meeting to discuss and bring a candidate's name next week to the Commission for appointment.

Ben Godwin, Stoddard County Public Health Center Administrator, Mailed Documents to the Commission

Statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Update

In April of 2017, St. Louis County implemented a prescription drug monitoring program and Stoddard County joined them.  Then on May 12, 2023, the Missouri Legislature passed SB 63 which authorizes a statewide prescription drug monitoring program.  Essentially, the State Department of Public Health is taking over the monitoring of this program.  Mr. Godwin has asked that the Commission sign the Order and User Agreement provided, Stoddard County is allowing St. Louis County transfer their data pertaining to Stoddard County to the State Department of Public Health.

Godwin came to the meeting after the Commission reached out to him and discussed the program and how it is implemented by St. Louis County since 2017.  

Motion to authorize St. Louis County to release the Prescription Drug Monitoring information to the State of Missouri as per SB 63 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All voted yes and motion passed.

Liability Property is currently under the Leavitt Group/Countywide Insurance.

The insurance renewal is due February 1, 2023.  The Commissioners are in agreement to leave as is and not bid out this year as it is already close the end of the year.

Drainage Districts

District #17 did bids and over spent what they had in their account due to a clerical error.  The amount to be corrected is $10, 526.32.  Mr. Weeks and Mr. Josh Speakman, County Collector/Treasurer have been looking at the best way to correct the line items.  After discussion and explanation the Commission made a motion.

Motion to transfer $10,526.32 out of the General Revenue into the Drainage District #17 fund due to an clerical oversight was made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Other Business

Motion to accept the regular session meeting minutes from November 27, 2023 made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.   

Motion to accept the closed session minutes from November 27, 2023 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to enter closed session at 11:05 a.m. for personal reason made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.