Stoddard County Commission meeting opened with a Pledge of Alliance and a prayer by Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.

Bill Robison, Smith & Co. - Castor Township/New Lisbon Township Bridge

"The program we talked about last week goes up to $200,000 and not the $100,000 that we thought," stated Robison. "That cap is now $200,000". Since we are on that approved list then the county doesn't have to do the selection process you can choose Smith & Co and not have to bid out for an engineer.  We confirmed with MoDOT as well.  The selection process is up to the Stoddard County Commission."

Robison passed out a Missouri Local Public Agency Off-System Bridge Program Statewide Large Bridge and Emerging Needs Funding Request form for the Commission to sign.  The total estimated project cost is $1,215,332.50 to repair the Bridge which is currently closed to all traffic.  Federal share is $500,000 match.

Explanation of the repair, "Intense rainfall in January 2025 in the Castor River drainage basin below the Diversion Channel caused debris to collect on the bridge bents, causing damage beyond repair to bent 3 and bent 4.  The bridge is closed, as 3 concrete pilings were displaced at their base.  The bridge provides ingress and egress to homes and farming operations.  Union Pacific railroad crosses the Castor River 1.25 miles upstream and crosses County Road 551, 1.1 miles south of the bridge.  This creates a landlocked situation for a home and farm operation south of the bridge when trains cross County Road 551 or are stopped at the crossing."

There is an ongoing investigation into the ownership and responsibility for the bridge due to previous poor record keeping.  The Commission at this time does not know who is responsible for the cost of the repairs, county, Castor or New Lisbon or a combination.

"Our normal bridge process takes about 18 months," stated Robison.

"From start to finish we are looking at 3 years to complete the entire project," stated Mathis. 

Motion to hire Smith & Co. to start 055 0011 Federal Id 14047 on Stoddard County Road 551 made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Wes Howard.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Matt Dowdy, Concerned Citizen of Pyletown

      Handicap Parking

"I would like to see the compliance with handicap parking around the government buildings here in Bloomfield," stated Dowdy. "I brought copies of the Missouri State Statute on handicap parking."

Missouri State Statute 301.143 Parking space for physically disabled may be established by political subdivisions and others - signs, violations, enforcement, penalty - handicap and handicapped prohibited on signage, when.....You may also look at Missouri State Statute 301.010 and 301.142.

"Accessible parking spaces must be identified by signs that include the International Symbol of Accessibility," commented Dowdy. "Signs at van-accessible spaces must include the additional phrase "van-accessible.  Signs should be mounted so that the lower edge of the sign is at least five (5) feet above the ground."

     Citizen Review Board

"One other item I have is a Citizen Review Board," stated Dowdy.  "Columbia, Springfield and other cities have a review board and that group listens to the public and makes recommendations to the sheriff's department."

MO State Statute 590.653.  Civilian review and oversight — board, division, and entities — powers, duties. — 

1.  Each city, county and city not within a county may establish a civilian review board, division of civilian oversight, or any other entity which provides civilian review or oversight of police agencies, or may use an existing civilian review board or division of civilian oversight or other named entity which has been appointed by the local governing body, with the authority to investigate allegations of misconduct by local law enforcement officers towards members of the public.  The members shall not receive compensation but shall receive reimbursement from the local governing body for all reasonable and necessary expenses.

2.  The board, division, or any other such entity, shall have the power solely limited to receiving, investigating, making findings and recommending disciplinary action upon complaints by members of the public against members of the police department that allege misconduct involving excessive use of force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or use of offensive language, including, but not limited to, slurs relating to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and disability.  The findings and recommendations of the board, division, or other entity and the basis therefor, shall be submitted to the chief law enforcement official.  No finding or recommendation shall be based solely upon an unsworn complaint or statement, nor shall prior unsubstantiated, unfounded or withdrawn complaints be the basis for any such findings or recommendations.  Only the powers specifically granted herein are authorized and any and all authority granted to future or existing boards, divisions, or entities outside the scope of the powers listed herein are expressly preempted and void as a matter of law.

"It is not the intention to micromanage any elected office holder's office in Stoddard County," stated Presiding Commissioner Mathis.

Charter Communications

Charter Communications contacted Commissioner Mathis on Friday and wanted to have a conference call about the BEAD Grant.  Charter representatives expressed concern about confidentiality, especially regarding specific project information the tmight be sensitive or proprietary.  It was clarified by Mathis that this meeting was an open session and all discussions could be reported by the media.

"We are completing the process of applying for BEAD Funding on projects in your county identified by the state," stated Jennifer Hoskins, Area Director of Charter Communications.

Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis asked about the deadline.  Hoskins replied it was due on February 20, 2025. 

They then decided to explain that they were applying for the BEAD Grant for Broadband in the Puxico rural area.

The representative with Charter stated that there was a majority in the Puxico area near Mingo Wildlife Area that was unserved with fiber internet; however it was brought to their attention that GoSEMO Fiber had received ARPA money to finish out the Puxico rural area.

There were questions from the media as well and the representative from Charter took down an email address to get more information to the ShowMe Times. As of this posting, no emailed information has been received.

Questions were "How old is the map or data you are looking at as sometimes the map is as much as 6 months old? How many people do now have access to fiber internet in the Puxico area? If you later found the area was covered with fiber would you have to return the BEAD monies or could you redirect that money to another project?"

Other Business:

Motion to approve the minutes from February 3, 2025 made by Commissioner Wes Howard, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to adjourn at 12:03 p.m. made by Commissioner Wes Howard, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.