The Stoddard County Commission meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer over the county and county employees.

Kenny LaRue is a concerned citizen

Greg Mathis contacted the Public Service Commission during the last Commission meeting and got some information.  He asked about who notified the customers of Liberty Utilities of their increase in sewer rates effective March 1, 2025.  He was told that the it was the responsibilities of Liberty Utilities to notify the public of the increase.

Mr. LaRue had several pages of information.  "We believe we are being scammed by Liberty Utilities," stated LaRue.  "They are a privately owned company and it's a money making thing. The rates were $34-$36 per month and now it has increased to $93 per month which is over $84,000 to take care of this water treatment plant per year, and not they will receive 2 million over 10 years in profit.  This takes money away from Stoddard County and gives to Chicago, Illinois. It is costing $8 to dispose of $1 of water. I just can't believe it."

"If this is the new rate increase then $232,000 will be taken out of Stoddard County and moved to Chicago.  It will cause our property values to go down and no one will buy a house as they will have to pay another $93.00 to flush their toilets," stated LaRue.

"Public Service Commission not very open," continued LaRue. "We would like to see a document from these appointed officials and should be responsible for their actions and what did they base this increase on."

Kari Standley, Clerk, City of Bloomfield - Proclamation to make May 4th - May 10th Local Government Week

Standley was not in attendance, but the Commission said they had no issue making May 4th - 10th as Local Government Week.

Moiton to sign the Local Government Week Proclamation for the city of Bloomfield made by Commissioner Wes Howard, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

At 10:00 it was requested to have a meeting with Colter Gaebler with Smith & Co. Engineering to discuss bridge contracts.

Reconstruction Conference 

Bridge 752 Project - Bridge is currently closed and will be closed until first week of September

Colter Gaebler will be Construction Manager on this project.  

Keith Simpson, Keith Simpson Contracting will be the contractor and site foreman and was available at the Commission meeting.  He stated it would be the second week of June to begin work on the bridge with a completion date of end of July.

Matt Wilkerson with MoDOT was also at the Commission meeting.

Bridge CR 766 Bridge Project - Bridge will be shut down from August 4, 2025 thru the first week of November 2025

The responsibilities of the engineers includes inspection with authority to require compliance to contract documents.  Gaebler went over the contract for responsibilities of owner's governing body, of contractor, and any other agencies contributing to the this project.  He made sure all law requirements were discussed such as EEOC requirements, wage rates, and an onsite job poster.  

Andy Holden, Stoddard County Sheriff's Department

Allowing Mr. Holden to apply for for the Adoption of the Resolution 04/28/25 Blue Shield made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Wes Howard.  All three voted yes and motion yes.  This resolution demonstrates the counties commitment to pubic safety and crime reduction.  Mr. Holden will apply and once the application is approved will come back to the Commission for a photo opportunity and completion of the resolution.

SB40 Board Update

"It was a productive meeting; however none of us have talked about the SB40 to give any type of recommendation," stated Mathis.

"I felt pretty good." stated Stewart. " I thought it went really well."

"Once both sides aired out a little bit it was productive," commented Howard.

SB40 Meeting with Sheltered Workshop meeting minutes will be available next week.  Mathis stated that minutes were taken during the meeting between all parties involved.

Other Business

Motion to pay city of Advance $149,673.63 from ARPA funds made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Wes Howard.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to approve the Open Meeting Minutes for April 21, 2025 Commissioner Wes Howard, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to approve the Closed Session Meeting Minutes for April 21, 2025 made by Commissioner Wes Howard, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to adjourn into closed session made at 11:04 a.m. for personnel made Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Wes Howard.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

The Stoddard County Commission opened their meeting with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Katelyn Lambert, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission

New Lisbon has finished up their storm damage and this will finish up their gravel money under the ARPA approved monies from the Commissioner.  Their final request is $5,680.56

Motion to approve the payment to New Lisbon in the amount of $5,680.56 from ARPA funds already approved by the Commission made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Wes Howard.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Advance does have their first invoice and they are moving along and will be requesting about $150,000 of ARPA funds.

Bloomfield City did received CDBG funds.  Environmental study should be done this week and they will move ahead on their sewer project.

April 30th an annual report is due.

Mathis had a question about the interest on the ARPA monies.  As of 2024 all monies were to be allocated and then spent by the end of the 2026.  "Can we move that interest into another account since we have allocated all of the ARPA monies?"  The answer was yes.

New Business:

Kenny LaRue, Concerned Citizen contacted Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis about sewer rate increase.  Mathis had a copy of his bill for the meeting.

Concerned citizen, Jimmy Commstock, also attended today's Commission meeting in regards to the increase in sewer rates.

Both live in the Western Heights/Ecology Acres area of Liberty Township.

Mathis stated that Liberty Utilities is who increased the rates so the first phone call he made was to them.  "Bailey" with Liberty Utilities in Joplin, Missouri answered his call.

The question to her was, "There was a rate increase in Stoddard County specifically for the Western Heights/Ecology Acres from estimated $24 per month to $93 per month.  The customers of those areas state they did not receive any communication, not a letter, nothing to notify them of the rate increase on March 1st.  How did Liberty Utilities contact each of their members?"

She said there was information on the bills, information on the website and several virtual meetings as well as in person meetings across Missouri for people to attend.

Commissioner Mathis asked what date did this request to increase the rates go through the Missouri Public Service Commission.  She stated on January 23rd and February 18th.

"They charge by the gallon and I don't have a meter on my sewer, so how do they charge?" asked Comstock.  Apparently they go by pipe size and do not meter the water outflow.

She also stated that there were virtual and public meetings held on September 16, 17, 19, 24, 25, 26, and 27th of 2024. 

Commissioner Mathis then called the Missouri Public Service Commission and spoke to Justin.  He stated it was up to Liberty Utilities to notify their customers of any rate changes.  

The closest location of a public hearing was in Cape Girardeau on September 27, 2024 at 7 p.m.

Andy Holden, Stoddard County Sheriff's Department

"I have been seeing this for a while. It's some type of program called the Missouri Blue Shield and it is for cities and counties throughout Missouri," stated Holden. "I am wondering if you as the Commission would sign a proclamation so the county sheriff's department could belong to the Missouri Blue Shield Program.

There were several questions as to what the program was about.  Holden had a one page hand-out for the Commission to review and will put on the Agenda for next week.

Beau Bishop, EMA Director

Bishop went over the recent storms and updated the Commission on the SEMA and FEMA declarations on storm damage.

March 14th storm is still under FEMA review.

March 30th - April 8th is still under SEMA review.

There was 1 major, 2 minor, and 2 affected areas the numbers SEMA came up with while doing damage review for individual assistance.  FEMA and SEMA will return to review the area for the public assistance, for example roads, culverts, erosion damage, bridges etc. 

"Keep us posted on how things go," stated Mathis. "How many people from SEMA or FEMA come to review the area?"  Bishop answered that there are different numbers of people due to their expertise.  Could be 5 or 6 or less, just depends on environmental expertise or road/bridge inspections.

Other Business:

There will be a 6 pm Stoddard County Commission meeting will meet with the SB40 Board and the Sheltered Workshop Board.

Motion to accept the April 14, 2025 regular meeting minutes made by Commissioner Wes Howard, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to enter into closed session at 11:03 a.m. made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Wes Howard.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

The Commission meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer over Stoddard County and Delta, Missouri by Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.

Bootheel Regional Planning Commission will have their annual community meeting Thursday at 2:00 p.m. speaking about grants and guest speaker from MoDOT.

Loyd Rice , GoSEMO Fiber and Electric

130 poles damaged and needed to be replaced. 1.4 million in damages. Mutual aid came in and helped with replacement of poles and lines.

Cecil Weeks, Stoddard County Clerk

Only 12% of the registered voter came out and cast their ballots.

"It's another tool in the toolbox is the new receipts that are given out to the person who is coming in to vote," stated Weeks. "In November several asked about getting a receipt that they had voted."

This also helps the election judges to get the ballot number matched to the 10 different ballot styles in Dexter.  People vote on the ballot in the area that they pay personal property taxes, for example, rural, Ward 1, Ward 2, etc.  At the bottom of the ticket it shows what ballot number they need to get.  

1/2 Cent Sales Tax Approved by the Voters in the April Election

We owe about 2 million dollars for the jail that will come out of the general revenue account and not out of this 1/2 Cent Sales Tax.  this will take place at the end of 2025.  The new 1/2 cent sales tax will take effect on January 1, 2026.  This tax does not have a sunset time frame as it will go on forever.

Solar Farms

C.D Stewart and Greg Mathis attended the Scott County meeting on solar farms.  

New Business:

Motion to enter into contract for the BRO Project R103077 replacement 0550011 on County Road 551 over Castor River made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Wes Howard.  All three voted yes and motion passed.  Standard Contract for the engineers to send plans to MoDOT for review.  

Other Business:

Motion to accept the Bid Opening meeting minutes for the Stoddard County Jail annual maintenance agreement for the HVAC system on March 24th made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Wes Howard.

Motion to approve the request for ARPA monies for New Lisbon Township in the amount of $10,417.28 for storm gravel made by Commissioner West Howard, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to accept the Meeting Minutes from April 7, 2025 made by Commissioner Wes Howard, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to accept the closes session meeting minutes from April 7, 2025 made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Wes Howard.  All three votes yes and motion passed.

Motion to adjourn at 11:55 a.m. made by Commissioner C. D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Wes Howard.  All votes yes and motion passed.