The Stoddard County Commissioner meeting started their weekly Monday morning with a prayer over the county and a Pledge of Allegiance.

BRPC Commission Block Grant Closeout Hearing

Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Block Grant Closeout Hearing made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Carol Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.  The Public Hearing is open as directed.  Mr.Greg Mathis, Presiding Commissioner, turned the meeting over to Mrs. Melissa Clary from the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission.

Bootheel Regional Planning Commission building roofing replaced, guttering, electrical, replaced some windows, new doors put in, HVAC replaced, computer lab with new hook-ups,  

"There will be a public computer lab with 10 terminals," stated Lambert.  "There will be a printer available."

Presiding Commissioner Mathis asked if there will be rules set up and Mrs. Lambert stated yes.  At this time there is no time limit and anyone can utilize the computer.

Motion to close the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Block Grant made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

ARPA Funds Update, Katelyn Lambert, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission

Water District #2 - December 19th is the last time Mrs. Lambert has heard from Water District #2. 

City of Dudley - Mrs. Lambert updated the city of Dudley with their replacement of water meters.  She has spoken to Mrs. Mullins.

Ambulance District - She spoke to Chuck Kasting about the $8,000+ that was left on the Stoddard County Ambulance District funds.

Liability Insurance Update with Alan Hedrick, Leavitt Group Insurance Company in Dexter (formerly County Wide Insurance)

"The insurance industry is in a harder market than in year past driven by cost repair, number of losses, and catastrophes (not in our area), but in other areas," explained Hedrick. "You are looking at an 18% increase overall.  It is a significant increase on this size of the premium."

"We did try additional market places for you.  We had two declines and one that felt they didn't have enough time to get their information in to us," continued Hedrick.

In the last four years $227,000+ in reserves brought about and $69,000+ paid out on claims," stated Hedrick.

Hedrick went on to say that employee manuals, policies and procedures in place and having them available can prevent claims in the future. We have requested these items from Travelers, but haven't been able to obtain them.

Commissioner Stewart asked about the Earthquake Insurance and there is about 2.5 million and the County has ascertained Earthquake insurance from an outside source as well in April of last year.

Commissioner Jarrell asked about the policies and procedures are needing to be given to the insurance company and the response was yes, not just the handbook but the policies and procedures for example the Sexual Harassment policy or the use of cell phones while driving are good examples of polices that should be in place.

There is no need to bid out the insurance as it hasn't been four years since the last bid.  They also do not need to file a motion to accept the new increase, the Commission can just sign the voucher and a check be written for the liability insurance.

Motion to accept the minutes from January 22, 2024 made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to accept the closed session minutes from January 22, 2024 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Beau Bishop, EMA Director

Storm Sirens that were approved through FEMA.  I have received two bids.  Bid opening was on January 7, 2024 at the Stoddard County Ambulance District building.

Three new storm sirens and upgrades to the software for setting off the sirens.

Outdoor Warning Consultants - $169,207.00  "We currently have now and are electronically sirens. We can also have voice recordings."

Table Rock Alerting Systems - $129,710.00 "They use century sirens and are electro-mechanical sirens. This does not allow for voice recordings."

All the software will work together on both systems.   Battles Communications handles the maintenance on the sirens.

Motion to allow Beau Bishop to accept the Table Rock Alerting Systems at $129,710.00 made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Radios paid for from the ARPA Funds

All 16 radios have been delivered to Battles and are getting programmed.  "I will be keeping up with the radios and will have a spreadsheet showing who has the radio.  Also that since these radios are county property then I will have a letter to the recipient of the radio to sign and I will keep up with those as well."

RADAR OMEGA Project - Price per camera 3 year contract for $5,000.  Bishop will get a formal request or invoice from the Radar Omega for the project.

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

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

Budget Hearing

While the Budget Hearing was in process, Commissioner Carol Jarrell made the comment that the Public Hearing Notice was not in the Dexter Statesman on January 10th as required by law.  

"I reached out to the Attorney General's office and said that they could not give an opinion," commented Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis. "They stated they would reach out to the other office within the Attorney General's office and get clarification.  We did proceed to approve the budget as no one come in and asked any questions about the budget."

"If anything else needs to be done we will do that," stated Mathis.  "The Budget was approved and passed."

Rebecca Gratton, City Clerk for the City of Dudley

Gratton produced a "Letter to request ARPA Funds" from the Mayor of the city of Dudley, Lucille Mullins.  

"We have been working with Katelyn Lambert, of the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission," stated Gratton. "This request is for water meters."

The 3 bids included in the letter:

IMCO - $62,524.05 - does not include installation, system training, or plastic lids for the meter boxes.

Midwest Meter - $55,570.00 - Includes installation, system training and plastic lids for the meter boxes.  These items are necessary fore the city to ensure the proper installation.

Core & Main - $46,238.62 - Does not include installation, system straining, or plastic lids for the meter boxes, but does offer software training.

The letter goes on to say that replacing their water meters is not just a necessary expense, but also a strategic investment in the future of Dudley.  "This project will have a positive impact on residents, environment, and the city's financial well-being.  We are confident that funding this initiative aligns with Stoddard County's commitment to supporting infrastructure improvements and sustainable water resource management within its communities."

On the detailed spreadsheet from previous year, the City of Dudley, was not on the initial listing.  The paperwork had been misfiled. Loflin of SthowMe Time and Lamber of BRPC found the paperwork while auditing the files.  It was unfortunate that the city of Dudley did not get approved for funding sooner.

Motion to accept and approved the funding of $55,570.00 to be paid to the city of Dudley for water meter replacement made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Carol Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Mathis instructed Gratton to turn in the invoices etc to Katelyn Lambert as soon as possible and then a check could be processed.

Old Business:

Motion to accept the December Ads and Abates made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

2024 Budget Appropriation Order must be signed within 5 days after approving the budget by the Commission.  It will need to be sent into the Missouri State Auditors office.

Motion to sign the 2024 Budget Appropriation Order made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three votes yes and motion passed.

You can find the requirements RSMO 51 - 60 online if you are interested in running or just want to see what the qualifications are for each elected official.

Cecil Weeks, County Clerk - Election 2024

Filing for County offices start at 8 a.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2024 and ends on March 26th at 5 p.m. in the Clerk's Office.

Public Administrator, Sheriff, Collector/Treasurer, Coroner, Associate Commissioner District 1, Associate Commissioner District 2, Assessor and Surveyor for Stoddard County are all positions that will be on the ballot in the primary in August 2024.

Township County Committee man or Committee Woman Republican Central Committee and Democratic Central Committee - cost is $100 to the committee

Motion to accept the meeting minutes from January 16, 2024 made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to accept the closed session meeting minutes from January 16th made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to accept the minutes from the budget hearing from January 18th made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell.  All three voted yes and motion passed.

Motion to enter into Closed Session at 10:57 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  All three voted yes and motion passed.  

The Stoddard County Commission meeting began with a prayer by Presiding Greg Mathis and the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Jim Mayo - Stars and Stripes Museum/Stoddard County Historical Society.

"In 1964 we organized the Stoddard County Historical Society," commented Mayo. "We purchased the old General Baptist Church and put our museum in there.  Over the years we have had to put a roof on it and do other things like fix the basement.  We had to sell the old church because the floor was going out and we did sell the church to Bloomfield Schools.  They have since torn it down and built a park lot."

"We bought another church and put a new roof on it, but the floor was also falling through so we got another building downtown, but we have a young lady wanting to rent it," continued Mayo.  "Do you have any ideas where we can relocate our museum.  We have a lot of papers, important historical papers."

"Is there anyway the County can help us out?" asked Mayo.  "We want to stay as close to the Courthouse as we can.  We are just asking if you all have any ideas or any vacancies?"

Mathis asked, "Is this for just storage or for opening to the public?"

Mayo went on to explain that the membership is getting old and we want to get it set up to turn over to the younger people. We are getting in a bind to find a location.

"We need a place for storage at this time with heat/air." stated Mrs. Sue Mayo.  "We have a lot of cemetery books that were printed in 1992 and lots of paper that needs to be stored."

"We have a good history and we should preserve it," Jim Mayo went on to explain. "We need to preserve it.  History grows every day and we are trying to save it. It is time for our younger people to take it over, but we want to make it strong for them."

"I think the upstairs of the courthouse would be a good spot," stated Mayo. "The old courthouse would be a great place for the history.  Of course we would like to put an elevator in if we open it as a museum.

Commissioner Mathis stated that there is storage area; however it a little messy right now, but he would have to discuss it with some other elected officials as they store important documents in there as well.  He would get back to Mr. Mayo as to whether or not that was a viable option.

Josh Speakman, County Collector/Treasurer 

Speakman discussed drainage districts and ditches that need to be cleaned out specifically in the Advance area. Those ditches in question are #1333 and #14.  The Commission and Mr. Speakman discussed several ideas and would form a game plan to help with the drainage of those two ditches.

There is monies available.  Per Missouri State Statute 243.260 they can combine monies to help eliminate or improve the drainage in these ditches by performing some type of clean-out.

Per MO State Statute 243.260 - Districts may contract with other districts for outlets - cost determined, how. - Drainage districts organized or incorporated under this chapter may contract with each other, and with districts organized and incorporated under any other law of this state or under the laws of other states, for such outlet or outlets as the one may need and the other can furnish on such terms as may be deemed to be just and fair.  The cost of obtaining such outlet or outlets to be paid as other expenses of the district for making improvements.  If the districts cannot agree upon the compensation to be paid for the outlet, the district supplying the outlet, by action in the circuit court of the county wherein the district for which the outlet is supplied is organized, may recover from such district fair and just compensation for supplying the outlet.  Any compensation received by the district shall be applied to improving its ditches or levees or reducing taxation or indebtedness.

Ads and Abates were postponed until next week.

Motion to accept the regular meeting minutes from January 8, 2024 made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Carol Jarrell.  All three voted yes and minutes approved.

On Thursday, Budget Hearing will be at 9 a.m. for one hour per Commissioner Mathis.  

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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection and Health Service (APHIS) will be conducting a multiple-day aerial operation to control feral hogs on Mingo National Wildlife Refuge between January 16 and 26, 2024. This management action will involve a helicopter flying over the refuge with APHIS personnel targeting and shooting feral hogs. For public safety, the entire refuge will be closed to public entry intermittently, with all roads entering the refuge closed. This closure includes all access to the refuge including vehicle, foot, bicycle, and horseback.

The refuge will be closed for periods over the ten days; however, because of numerous circumstances (weather conditions, etc.), the actual closure date(s) have not yet been determined. If planning to visit Mingo National Wildlife Refuge January 16-26, 2024, please check our website fws.gov/refuge/mingo for updates on this activity. You can also call the refuge office at 573-222-3589 to get an update on the timing of the closure(s).  

This refuge management operation, paired with a larger eradication plan utilizing multiple tools, will substantially decrease the feral hog population on the refuge. Feral hogs are a non-native species that can proliferate quickly and negatively impact the native plants and animals of the refuge. Feral hogs are opportunistic feeders and will forage on the eggs of ground nesting birds and will even eat reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. They also compete with native species like deer and turkey for important food sources such as acorns. Their rooting and wallowing behavior heavily alter the native habitats of the refuge, thus impacting the refuge’s primary missions of protecting bottomland hardwood forest habitat and serving as an inviolate sanctuary for migratory waterfowl. 

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge is located 1.5 mile north of Puxico, MO on State Highway 51. For more information, contact (573) 222-3589 or email the refuge at mingo@fws.gov. Check our website, fws.gov/refuge/mingo, for refuge updates and be sure to check our refuge events tabs for upcoming events and observances!

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the world's premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants. Since President Theodore Roosevelt designated Florida's Pelican Island as the first wildlife refuge in 1903, the System has grown to more than 150 million acres, 570 national wildlife refuges and other units of the Refuge System, plus 38 wetland management districts. Visit www.fws.gov