The Stoddard County Commission meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer for the agriculture community, the county office holders, employees and for those who lost their lives on September 11th and their families who will be remembering the ones they lost.
"Any direction on township with FEMA?" asked Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.
"We actually have a meeting with a FEMA representative to go over things with Duck Creek Township," stated Lowery. "She asked about damages and how much money we were out over the phone."
Motion to approve the official statement of the Proclamation for the National Diaper Need Awareness Week made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
The Honorable County Commissioner: Official Statement - Whereas, diaper need, the condition of not being able to afford a sufficient supply of clean diapers to keep babies and toddlers clean, dry, and healthy, can adversely affect the health and well-being of children and their families;
Whereas, national surveys and research studies report that nearly one in two families struggles with diaper need, and 48 percent o families delay changing a diaper to extend the available supply; and
Whereas, a daily or weekly supply of diapers is generally an eligibility requirement for babies and toddlers to participate in childcare programs and quality early-education programs that enable children to thrive and parents to work; and
Whereas, many parents struggling with diaper need report missing an average of five days of work each month due to an insufficient supply of diapers: and
Whereas, without enough diapers, babies and toddlers risk infections and health problems that may require medical attention resulting in medical costs, and parents may be prevented from accessing childcare needed to go to work or school, thereby destabilizing the family's economic prospects and well being; and
Whereas, the people of Stoddard County recognize that diaper need is a public health issue, and addressing diaper need can lead to economic opportunity for the state's families and communities and improved health for children, thus ensuring all children and families have access to the basic necessities required to thrive and reach their full potential; and
Whereas, Stoddard County is proud to be home to trusted community-based organizations including (list state diaper banks) that recognize the importance of diapers in ensuring health and providing economic stability for families and thus distribute diapers to families through various channels; and
Whereas, through their important work of addressing diaper need, diaper banks play a critical role in supporting families, improving infant health and well-being, and advancing our local and state economic growth; now
Therefore, I, County Commissioner, do hereby proclaim the week of September 23rd through September 29th, 2024 as
NATIONAL DIAPER NEED AWARENESS WEEK
In Stoddard County, thank the aforementioned diaper banks, their staff, volunteers, and donors, for their courageous service during the crisis, and encourage the citizens of Stoddard County to donate generously to diaper banks, diaper drives, and support those organizations that collect and distribute diapers to families struggling with diaper need, so that all of Stoddard County's children and families can thrive and reach their full potential.
Greg Mathis
Presiding Commissioner of Stoddard County
Other Business
Motion to approve the Ads and Abates from Collector/Treasurer Josh Speakman made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Carol Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
There was some discussion about the right away document for County Road 766 bridge project and an error on the document; therefore the Commission needed to approve the new document.
Motion to approve the right away County Road 766 bridge project made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis received a letter from MoDOT about bridge inspections. Stoddard County is due for biennial inspection of non-state bridges with 20 feet or greater spans. These inspections within Stoddard County will be held during the month of January 2025.
Motion to approve the regular session meeting minutes for September 3, 2024 made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to approve the closed session meeting minutes for September 3, 2024 made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Carol Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Kendra Eads, Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence will be here next week during the meeting to give a presentation according to Mathis.
Joe Pulliam with Pulliam Surveying
His term is up even though he resigned the position due to living outside the county, but there is no other surveyor that wanted the responsibility.
SB40 Board Vacancy
The media brought up that the SB40 announcement for the board vacancy was not in the paper last week. Mr. Mathis will get with the DAR to put that in the paper next week and change the deadlines.
Property Insurance Agent Bid
Mathis asked Mr. Cecil Weeks about the property insurance and how it was bid out last time. Mr. Weeks brought in a document. December 9th will be the bid opening at 10 a.m. for the Property Insurance Bid. There are only three insurance companies that will even insure the county due to the jail size and previous claims. The Commission is bidding out for an agent and not a broker to get bids from those three insurance companies. Document was not available in a typed format by the end of the meeting, but will be published when it become available.
Motion to accept the Property Insurance Bid for the newspaper made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Carol Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to go into closed session to discuss legal at 11:04 a.m. made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart.
