The Stoddard County Commissioners began their weekly meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer for all county officials and farmers.
Jim Mayo, Emeritus Stars & Stripes Foundation Board Member and founder of the Stars & Stripes Museum, Jim Martin, Foundation Member, and Sue Tippen, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer.
"As a Vietnam veteran, retired educator, former Stars & Stripes National Museum President, Missouri Veterans' Hall of Fame Board member and Stars & Strips Region Foundation Facilitator, I can tell you that we are incredibly indebted to legislators, such as legislation sponsors Rep. Dave Griffith and Senator Jason Bean, Lt. Gov Kehoe, former legislator and current Director of Revenue Wayne Wallingford, Senators Steven Roberts, Holly Reeder and Bill Eigel, Representative Jamie Burger, John Voss, Herman Morse, Dale Wright, Rick Francis and so many others for their work over two and half years to get this so important legislation passed. And now, per the explicit original wishes and vision of our sponsors and advocates, it's up to us at the not-for-profit Stars & Stripes Historic Region Foundation and our public and private partners across the region to carry out that clear vision and mission, to whit:
"To promote, enhance, celebrate and encourage the inculcation of the awe-inspiring history, heritage an dgod given beauty of our nation's and Missouri's incomparable Stars & Stripes Historic Region," stated Jim Martin, The Stars & Stripes Historic Region Foundation.
"In the coming weeks we will be sitting down with the leadership in each of the 26 counties and the city of St. Louis as well as other public and private stakeholders in the region to explore how we can best partner with them to address this wonderful vision and mission, but additionally we are also working to put together partnerships with leading state institutions including, but not limited to MO Humanities Council, MO Tourism, MACVB, MO Tourism Commission, MO Historical Society, MO Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the MO Conservation Heritage Foundation," continued Martin.
The Foundation's commitment is to embrace and celebrate your identified and indelible history, heritage, culture and awe-inspiring natural beauty via strategic standard billboard signage, digital billboard signage, a strategic investment in Geofacing, securing a dedicated cohort of journalist, writers, media experts and advocates to create/write and disseminate content telling the stories of your citizens, your communities, your history and your incomparable portion of our God's creation. Along with our partners, we will work diligently with your to educate your citizens and their children on the indelible imperatives of individual, community and national commitment, service, and informed citizenship. Identity and aggressively and innovatively pursue the utilization of a growing number of regional and national public and private partners to secure every possible opportunity to enhance the infrastructure, attractions and institutions of your county by grant funding of infrastructure: roads, bridges, communications, power, etc.; grant and private investment funding of historical and cultural institution enhancement; grant and private investment funding re. the creation of resorts, institutions, transportation systems, etc.
What would the Stoddard County have as a commitment? The Commissioners will decide next Monday if they are willing to commit to giving $600 per quarter as well as identify/recruit passionate history/patriotism/education focused individual within county as Stars & Stripes County Liaison and Leadership Team Head; task this individual to recruit and coordinate a strong team within the county from leadership in the: education, journalism, business, government religious, first responder and law enforcement community to coordinate communication, identification of need, investment delivery, potential partners, etc; identify and secure an appropriate level of financial commitment from within the county to cement the partnership on a quarterly basis, identify and put in place an appropriate measurement system/determinator re. the quarterly functionality/"success" of the county's investment.
Josh Speakman, County Treasurer/Collector
LACTF Money came in this year at $50,000. We received $50,000 last year as well and have a total of $100,000 to spend," stated Josh Speakman, County Treasurer
Speakman did some research on the drainage ditches in Stoddard County. The ditches could be combined in the accounts. The commissioners will look into combining them in the future.
John Fisher, Southeast Diaper Bank
"I have a Proclamation for a Diaper Needs Awareness for Stoddard County plus 9 other counties we serve," stated Fisher. "September 18th thought September 24, 2023 is National Diaper Need Awareness Week."
The Proclamation states:
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; and
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, Commissioner of Stoddard County, do hereby proclaim the week of September 18th through September 24th, 2023 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 children and families can thrive and reach their full potential.
"We as a Commission do support this for our region," commented Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.
Motion to sign the Proclamation for Diaper Need Awareness Week made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart. All there voted yes and the motion passed.
Signed by Stoddard County Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis
Other Business
Commissioner Mathis stated that they received a Sunshine Law request from Oliver Law Firm for cell phone information and text information from August 27th 10:00 a.m. to the present, being September 1st. It was also stated that Carl Hefner, Stoddard County Sheriff also receive a copy of the Sunshine Law request. Cecil Weeks, Stoddard County Clerk stated during the meeting that he has a letter for the Commissioners to sign in regards to the Sunshine request.
Motion to sign off on the ARPA Contract between Stoddard County and city of Bell City for the monies that they have requested made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to accept the Minutes for August 28th made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to accept the Closed Session minutes for August 28th made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Herman Morse, State Representative 151st District will have an Appreciation Dinner on Saturday night. He stopped in and gave away some tickets. This is not a fundraiser, but an appreciation dinner.
William Dowdy, Stoddard County Maintenance
The generator at the jail is out of the one year maintenance contract at this time. Dowdy has one company that he works with for the other generators. Southeast Services is the current company that has the maintenance agreement with the County.
Motion to add the Stoddard County Jail 500kw generator to the annual maintenance agreement with Southeast Services made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. Both voted yes and motion passed. Mr. Mathis had to leave early.
Motion to not go into closed session made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. Both voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to adjourn at noon made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. Both voted yes and motion passed.
John Fisher, Southeast Diaper Bank attended the Stoddard County Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 to ask the Commissioners to sign a Proclamation.
"I have a Proclamation for a Diaper Needs Awareness for Stoddard County plus 9 other counties we serve," stated Fisher. "September 18th thought September 24, 2023 is National Diaper Need Awareness Week."
The Proclamation states:
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; and
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, Commissioner of Stoddard County, do hereby proclaim the week of September 18th through September 24th, 2023 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 children and families can thrive and reach their full potential.
"We as a Commission do support this for our region," commented Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.
Motion to sign the Proclamation for Diaper Need Awareness Week made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart. All there voted yes and the motion passed.
Signed by Stoddard County Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis
The Stoddard County Commissioner began their weekly meeting with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance lead by Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis. Mathis got right to business going over ARPA funds.
Katelyn Lambert, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission with ARPA Update
New Lisbon Township - New Lisbon Township did get the bridge completed and are now requesting reimbursement in ARPA Funds.
Motion to accept the request by New Lisbon in the amount $51.68 for advertising reimbursement and $60,051.58 to Payne Contracting LLC from the ARPA funds made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Carol Jarrell. All three voted yes and the motion passed.
Water District #4 - According to Mrs. Lambert Water District #4 has all documents submitted to BRPC for the Commissioners and all procurements have been met. This amount had been pre-approved. The total amount is $247,000
Motion to authorize the payment from ARPA funds to Water District #4 of $238,806.11 to Persons & Son, No. 1 and $8,193.89 to G&C Contracting No. 1 made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell and seconded by Commissioner C.D. Stewart. All three voted yes and the motion passed.
City of Essex - The ARPA Distribution Agreement was made available for the Commissioner to sign. The city will now resubmit application for the CDBG grant for their assault roadwork. The request will be a cash match for the city of Essex to use for the CDGB Grant thru Bootheel Regional Planning Commission.
Motion to accept the ARPA Distribution Agreement between the city of Essex and the Commission for $50,000 for paving project made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and the motion passed.
City of Advance - They are in the process in obtaining a CDBG grant and were to select an engineer at their last city meeting.
City of Bloomfield - They have obtained an engineer and are also obtaining a CDBG grant thru Bootheel Regional Planning Commission.
Justice Center Mold Update
Mathis reached out to consultants and they need to get together and decide on what to do with the HVAC units and make sure this mold issue does not happen again.
Other Business
The Stoddard County Commission will not meet on Monday, September 4th due to the Labor Day Holiday. They will meet on Tuesday morning, September 5th at 9:00 a.m.
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 10:00 the Commission will sign a proclamation for National Diaper Need Awareness Week.
10:00 a.m. Public Hearing to set the 2023 Tax Levies for SB40 and County Drainage Districts
Motion to open the Public Hearing at 10:16 a.m. made by Commissioner Jarrell and seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and the motion passed.
Motion to set the Tax Levies for Drainage District 1 Reformed at 1.50 per acre made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and the motion passed.
Motion to set the Tax Levy for Drainage District No. 7 for $1.00 per acre made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and the motion passed.
Motion to set the Tax Levy for Drainage District 13/33 at 10% Maintenance Levy w/a $10.00 minimum made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to set the Tax Levy for District #14 at 10% Maintenance Levy w/a $10.00 minimum made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to set the Tax Levy for District 17 at 10% Maintenance Levy made by Commission Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to set the Tax levy for District #19 at $2.50 per acre made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to set the 2023 Tax Levy for the Stoddard County Developmental Disability Board (SB40) at .0794 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
The assessed valuations are as follows:
Real Estate for 2023 $286,771,870.00. The prior year was $365,301,117.00.
Personal Property for 2023 $221,488,718 and the prior year was $213,762,230.00
Motion to close the 2023 Public Hearting to set the Tax Levies for SB40 and County Drainage District made by Commissioner Jarrell at 10:43 a.m., seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to accept the Open Session Meeting minutes from August 21, 2023 made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
No minutes from the Closes Session meeting from August 21, 2023 were available for the Commission to vote on..
Motion to close the regular session at 11:00 a.m. made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
It’s that time of year again to increase awareness regarding school bus stop arm safety! Dexter Police Department reminds all drivers to be extra cautious when driving during morning and afternoon hours when school buses are on the road.
Displayed yellow flashing lights on school buses does not mean hurry up to beat the red lights! The yellow lights mean the school bus is approaching a bus stop to load or unload children. Be alert, there could possibly be little brothers and/or sisters at the bus stop waiting for their siblings to get home from school and they are not watching for you. Please be prepared to stop!
Displayed red flashing lights, crossing arms, and/or stop signs, on school buses mean all drivers MUST stop and yield to all pedestrians. It's the law and you will receive a ticket if you do not stop.
"Dexter School buses are equipped with digital cameras that record in a high clear resolution," commented Sergeant Forshee, Dexter Police (SRO) School Resource Officer. "Those cameras and recordings are used in identifying vehicles, drivers, and used for prosecution of offenders who fail to stop for school buses."
"At the beginning of 2022 school year, the Dexter Police Department issued approximately 30 tickets for failure to stop for school buses while loading/unloading students in the school’s first semester alone," continued Sergeant Forshee. "This is a big safety concern for our children! We will be on patrol and you will get a ticket if caught failing to stop for any school buses while loading/unloading children."
Further, be cautious of all pedestrian traffic in and around the schools when travelling in the area.
"We have two new crosswalks near Dexter Public Schools this year to help with the pedestrian traffic," stated Sergeant Forshee. "One is located at the corner of One Mile Rd and Brown Pilot Rd. The second is located on Grant Street in front of the high school."
"Our student’s safety is our number one priority! Please do your part to help keep our children safe as they travel to and from school this year."
Dexter Public Schools begin their 2023-2024 academic year on Thursday, August 24, 2023.
"Please allow extra time to get to and from school during the morning and afternoon hours," commented Tim Fowler, Dexter R-XI Schools Transportation Supervisor, "Also slow down as the speed limit is 20 mph around the school campus."
In a groundbreaking medical achievement, Saint Francis Healthcare System is proud to announce the successful completion of robotic bronchoscopy utilizing the Ion endoluminal system. The first two procedures were completed on Monday, August 21, by Hussein Asad, MD, interventional pulmonologist at Cape Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, a Saint Francis Medical Partner.
"This marks a significant advancement in minimally invasive medical techniques and underscores Saint Francis's commitment to providing state-of-the-art healthcare to its patients and community," Asad shared.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States. According to the American Lung Association, only 16 percent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage.
Utilizing the Ion system, Saint Francis is able to offer minimally invasive biopsies for the detection of lung cancer. The flexible robotic end reaches far into the peripheral lung, where more than 70 percent of nodules exist. By navigating to difficult-to-reach areas of the lung, providers can better diagnose lung cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage.
"The successful completion of the first robotic bronchoscopy at Saint Francis Healthcare System represents a remarkable leap forward in our ability to provide the best possible care for our patients," said Justin Paletta, MBA, Director of Operations (Medical) for Saint Francis. "By harnessing the power of robotics, we can offer less invasive procedures, shorter recovery times and, ultimately, better outcomes for our patients."
Yearly low-dose CT screenings are recommended for individuals aged 50 to 80 who currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years and have at least a 20-pack-year smoking history. If a low-dose CT detects a lung nodule, a biopsy follows to determine if the nodule is benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous)
To schedule a low-dose CT screening, please speak to your primary care provider or call 572- 331-5111. For more information, visit sfmc.net/pulmonology.
About Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
Intuitive (Nasdaq: ISRG), headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., is a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and a pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery. At Intuitive, our mission statement is we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints. Intuitive brings more than two decades of leadership in robotic-assisted surgical technology and solutions to its offerings, and develops, manufactures and markets the da Vinci surgical system and the Ion endoluminal system.
Saint Francis Healthcare System is guided by our Mission to provide a ministry of healing, wellness, quality and love inspired by our faith in Jesus Christ. Founded by Franciscan Sisters in 1875, our priority remains the same: serve all who enter with dignity, compassion and joy. Serving nearly 713,000 people across Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, our focus is on patients' outcomes, experience and value.
Anchored by Saint Francis Medical Center, a 306-bed tertiary hospital, and supported by nearly 3,000 employees and more than 250 providers in ten communities, the Healthcare System is a driving economic force in the region. Major services include the Cancer Institute, Emergency and Level III Trauma Center, Family BirthPlace and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Heart Hospital, Neurosciences and Orthopedics.
