NOMINEES FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
STODDARD COUNTY EXTENSION COUNCIL MEMBERS



Citizens of voting age in Stoddard County, pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 262-577, R.S. Mo. 1969, will have an opportunity to vote and elect members to the University of Missouri Stoddard County Extension Council in February 2023. The elected and appointed members of the extension council will guide and direct extension work within the county.

Listed in alphabetical order, the following persons have accepted the nomination to run for an open seat on the Stoddard County Extension Council.

James Childers

Robinn Daves-Huey

Pam Elder

Ashley Jarrell

Kelly Midkiff

Additional nominations may be made by petition of 25 or more qualified voters residing within Stoddard County, filed with the council within 20 days after the publication of this notice of election. Forms for nominations are available in your county extension office located at:

316 South Prairie Street

Bloomfield, MO  63825

573-568-3344

Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis opened the weekly Commissioners' meeting stating he had spoken to Katelyn Lambert at Bootheel Regional Planning Commission about the ARPA Funds.

He stated, "Lambert had no update in relation to the ARPA funds; however she had reached out to a few people who wanted to still consider their application for the funding."

Commissioner Carol Jarrell said Lambert had also reached out to Water District #4 and they still wished to proceed with their application.

Lambert said she had a meeting with Bell City Fire. She said Bell City Fire was informed of a possible grant was available later in the year. Lambert said Bell City was interested in this. She then recommended retaining the ARPA request Bell City Fire submitted until it is determined what type of match this grant will require. Lambert also said she was waiting to hear from her legal team as to whether a new building would be covered under the ARPA funding. Bell City Fire is requesting funding to build a new fire station.

IDA Director Peter Coutavas said part of the building his office is in has been condemned. Coutavas said he would like to see this part of Bloomfield restored as part of his effort to bring more businesses to the county.

Coutavas said he also had a woman wanting to move in and open a boutique. Coutavas said he believed she preferred the old pharmacy building. Mathis asked Coutavas to submit a list of what she needs and what the building needed.

Stoddard County Commissioner Carol Jarrell made a motion to open the 2023 budget hearing. This was seconded by commissioner Greg Lintz. And the hearing opened with a 3-0 vote.

Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis went through the budget briefly for those in attendance during the hearing. Mathis opened by asking that Jarrell and Lintz to look at the equipment and remodeling budget. He said the collector/treasurer's office had a budget that was $6,000 less than the previous year.

Mathis said Stoddard County Collector Josh Speakman sent the commission Missouri Statute 52.317 that said the budget of his office may not be less than the previous year. Mathis said Speakman does not anticipate any remodeling but for legal reasons the budget was adjusted to what it was the previous year.

Mathis then called their attention to Legal Delinquency and Status Offenses. Mathis said the juvenile office received an email from the state that said whenever delinquency issues occur within the county's school districts, those juveniles will now be represented by the public defenders office. Mathis stated these attorneys would come out of St. Louis when their schedule permitted. Rather than potentially bogging down delinquency issues within a school administration $30,000 was put in the budget for a local attorney to handle the cases. Mathis said these cases could be handled on a weekly basis rather than wait for an attorney out of St. Louis.

Mathis pointed out a $37,000 increase to the juvenile office. He said this was simply due to the addition of a new employee.

Mathis then addressed the coroner's office and the refrigeration rental for storage of deceased individuals while the coroners office worked on the case. Mathis was renting refrigeration space to the Stoddard County Coroner's office $650 due to the county not having its own facility. Mathis said he stopped charging the county for this service once he presiding commissioner.

Mathis said he called the ethics commission prior to taking office and found this service could be bid out and if no one bid he could legally collect the $650 a month rent. Mathis said with everything that has gone on in the commissioners' office the last year it would be better if this went away. He said the money he had collected via the rent went to Midwest Crematory.

Next Mathis went to the Sheriff's Commissary Fund. He stated that the Sheriff's Department has had a part time nurse and has requested it become a full time job. The Sheriff's Department has direct video and audio with Southeast Health. This allows the nurse to communicate with a doctor and address an inmates' medical needs without transporting the inmate to a clinic. This will save the county both time and money.

The inmate will still be transported to a medical facility if the situation requires it. The Stoddard County General Revenue Fund and the Sheriff's Department will each pay half of the salary and benefits for the nurse position.

Mathis said the sheriff's salary is now mandated by the state. This is why there is an increase on this. Mathis said that the sheriff got a pay bump in the middle of last year plus back pay to meet state statutes.

Employees and office holders were given a three percent pay raise. Mathis said the commission and office holders did a good job with the budget, Mathis stated that he wanted to keep this budget as close to last year's as possible and this was a good budget.

In the 2023 budget the county has $5,794,913.92 in total accumulated revenue along with $15,801,625 in new revenue for a total of $121,596,538.92. The county has $21,532,694 in budget expenditures which covers salaries, benefits, utilities and any other expense that one of the county offices could incur. The county has a revenue surplus of $63,844.92 in the 2023 budget.

Commissioner Carol Jarrell motioned to accept budget, Commissioner Greg Lintz seconded. The budget passed with a 3-0 vote.

Article by by JOSH AYERS, Editor of the Dexter Statesman 

Missouri Route 153 in Stoddard County will be closed as railroad crews perform railroad maintenance on the tracks.  

This section of the roadway is located from Route 60 to Route 114 near Essex, Missouri.  

Weather permitting, work will take place Friday, February 10 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

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

Route AH in Stoddard County will be closed as railroad crews perform railroad maintenance on the tracks.  

This section of the roadway is located from U.S. 60 to Route 114 near Grayridge, Missouri.  

Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, February 13 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

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