Monday, December 4, 2023 - The Stoddard County Commission meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer by Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.`All three Commissioners were available at the meeting.
Katelin Lambert - Bootheel Regional Planning Commission/ARPA Funds Update
1. Bell City Fire Department requested a draw down on their already approved ARPA Funds for $5,000 for clean-up including demolition and haul off of concrete from the building site.
2. Water District #5 is waiting on software for their new meters and will have training as well soon.
3. SCAD has about $8,000 left, but she has not heard from them. She thought they were going to purchase computers. Chuck Kasting is the director and will need to get with Katelin Lambert.
4. Bo Bishop on Friday got all his documentation for 15 radios. He is going to get more radios under the micro purchase for that as the bid came in lower than he predicted.
5. Bernie, Advance, Bloomfield have projects that will start in the spring and all are using a Poplar Bluff engineering firm.
Bernie will bid in the spring for the water basin. Advance and Bloomfield have larger project for CDBG grant. They should bid out in the spring as well.
6. Duck Creek is getting the rest of their requests and documentation.
7. Water District #2 - Katelin has been back and forth with their lawyer with signing the documents. No other city or township or even a water district has hired an attorney for the documentation for the ARPA Funds. they can not move forward unless they sign the documents that everyone has signed thus far.
8. City of Essex will try for a CDBG grant for street repairs and are currently working on their LMI requirements.
Motion to authorize payment to Bell City Fire Department in the amount of $5,000 from ARPA Funds made by Commissioner C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Carol Jarrell. All voted yes and motion passed.
Gary Wyman, Stoddard County Extension Council
"I am here to discuss the parking issues around the Courthouse," commented Wyman. "There are 8 people in the courthouse and there is a parking situation because we have two people that have difficulties walking around. One is even going out every two hours to move her vehicle." (If that is the case that person is walking more by moving the vehicle every two hours than actually just parking a little farther away from the building).
"Is there anyway we can get some designated parking places for those employees?" asked Wyman.
"I am not going to ask for a motion on the parking and leave as is and let the city deal with their two hour parking sign," commented Commissioner Mathis. "I have already spoken to those employees and I let them know the city of Bloomfield put the 2-hour parking signs up for the new businesses that have just recently opened and other businesses downtown."
Wildflower Boutique and Cafe'Ghost Lease Agreements
The two new businesses renting from Stoddard County have rental leases. Peter Coutavas, IDA, will need to get copies of their liability insurance for the contents of their business. The County should have liability insurance on the building itself.
The lease is for one year and then month-to-month after that beginning January 1, 2024. The rent will be five dollars per month, increasing to one hundred fifty dollars per month on May 1st and then two hundred fifty dollars per month beginning September 1, 2024.
Motion to sign the lease agreement for Wildflower Boutique located in a building in Bloomfield owned by the County made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to enter into the lease agreement with Cafe' Ghost located in a building in Bloomfield owned by the County made Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
10:00 Audit Bid Opening
Cecil Weeks, Stoddard County Clerk, opened the bid package as they only received one sealed bid.
Bid is from Daniel Jones & Associates in the amount of $25,000.00 for the 2023 audit. The bid packet however had an error and had 2022 on the paperwork. Mr. Weeks placed a call to the firm to be sure it was an error and not the wrong paperwork. After the call Weeds confirmed it was an error and new paperwork was submitted electronically..
Motion to accept the single audit bid for 2023 from Daniel Jones & Associates bid in the amount of $25,000 made by Commissioner Jarrell seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
New Lisbon Township
The New Lisbon Township board received their letter of resignation from a board member. The person they wanted to put on the board has a relative that works for the Township so the would have to quit or they could not have this person on the board due to the MO State Statute on nepotism. They have two people interested so the board and will have a meeting to discuss and bring a candidate's name next week to the Commission for appointment.
Ben Godwin, Stoddard County Public Health Center Administrator, Mailed Documents to the Commission
Statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Update
In April of 2017, St. Louis County implemented a prescription drug monitoring program and Stoddard County joined them. Then on May 12, 2023, the Missouri Legislature passed SB 63 which authorizes a statewide prescription drug monitoring program. Essentially, the State Department of Public Health is taking over the monitoring of this program. Mr. Godwin has asked that the Commission sign the Order and User Agreement provided, Stoddard County is allowing St. Louis County transfer their data pertaining to Stoddard County to the State Department of Public Health.
Godwin came to the meeting after the Commission reached out to him and discussed the program and how it is implemented by St. Louis County since 2017.
Motion to authorize St. Louis County to release the Prescription Drug Monitoring information to the State of Missouri as per SB 63 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All voted yes and motion passed.
Liability Property is currently under the Leavitt Group/Countywide Insurance.
The insurance renewal is due February 1, 2023. The Commissioners are in agreement to leave as is and not bid out this year as it is already close the end of the year.
Drainage Districts
District #17 did bids and over spent what they had in their account due to a clerical error. The amount to be corrected is $10, 526.32. Mr. Weeks and Mr. Josh Speakman, County Collector/Treasurer have been looking at the best way to correct the line items. After discussion and explanation the Commission made a motion.
Motion to transfer $10,526.32 out of the General Revenue into the Drainage District #17 fund due to an clerical oversight was made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Other Business
Motion to accept the regular session meeting minutes from November 27, 2023 made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to accept the closed session minutes from November 27, 2023 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to enter closed session at 11:05 a.m. for personal reason made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
From the Desk of Josh Speakman, Stoddard County Collector/Treasurer
Missouri Property Tax Credit
You MUST PAY your local taxes first; this is a refund from the state.
If you FILE TAXES, 65 and older, or you are disabled see next few bullet points.
Married and own home, income 34,000 or less, and file taxes: fill out the following
File 1040 with MO PTS form accompanied with tax receipt and 948 (assessor form)
Single and own home, income less than 30,000, and file taxes: fill out the following
File 1040 with MO PTS form accompanied with tax receipt and 948 (assessor form)
Married and RENT, income 29,200 and file taxes: fill out forms below.
File 1040 with MO CRP accompanied with tax receipt and form 5674 from land lord. If the rental property is tax exempt the renter does not qualify.
Single and RENT, income 27,200 or less and file taxes: fill out forms below
File 1040 with MO CRP accompanied with tax receipt and form 5674 from land lord.
If you DO NOT file taxes, 65 or older, or you are disabled, see next few bullet points below.
Married and own home, income 34,000 or less, and file taxes: fill out the following
Fill out MO PTC form accompanied with tax receipt and 948 (assessor form)
Single and own home, income less than 30,000, and file taxes: fill out the following
Fill out MO PTC form accompanied with tax receipt and 948 (assessor form)
Married and RENT, income 29,200 and file taxes: fill out forms below.
Fill out MO CRP accompanied with tax receipt and form 5674 from land lord. If the rental property is tax exempt the renter does not qualify.
Single and RENT, income 27,200 or less and file taxes: fill out forms below
Fill out MO CRP accompanied with tax receipt and form 5674 from land lord.
If you are 100% VA service connected, and file taxes, follow the first set of bullet points; income and marital status threshold is excluded.
If you are 100% VA service Connected, and DO NOT file taxes, follow the second set of bullet points; income and marital status threshold is excluded.
The Stoddard County Commission meeting opened with a prayer and a Pledge of Allegiance lead by Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.
Designated Parking Signs
"I am here on behalf of the ladies that work in the courthouse. They are getting older and some don't get around as well as they used to. I was wanting designated employee parking areas to keep people out of them," stated Mrs. Wilson.
At the current time there are 2-hour designated parking spots. The signs were put up by the city of Bloomfield.
At this time the Commissioner Mathis is not in favor of putting up designated parking signs. He stated that we will put it on the agenda for next week and take a vote at that time.
Loyd Rice, GoSEMO Fiber
We are getting ready to have services in the city of Puxico. People will then begin requesting services. This has nothing to do with the grant monies that th eCommission designated for the rural Puxico area, but Rice wanted to update the Commission and let them know everything is on schedule.
"There will be a lot of people getting service soon. We have worked much better with Duck Creek and their county roads over there," Rice stated.
Mathis asked if GoSEMO Fiber would be applying for other grants.
"Yes we will look at all alternatives of grant funding," stated Rice. "There is a BEAD Grant that will be available; however there are David Bacon requirements, prevailing wages and other matching requirements and the rules are yet to be determined."
MAC Conference Update
CART money is managed differently across the state of Missouri per Josh Speakman, County Collector/Treasurer. Also lots of discussion on the SB 190 real estate tax credit for the elderly.
December Payroll
The Clerk's Office is requesting that the Commission ask the office holders to have their payroll in on December 20th vs December 21st. Mathis stated he would have the Clerk's office send an email to the Office holders to reflect that date.
Other Business
Motion to accept the November 20th regular session meeting minutes made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Mathis since Mr. C.D. Stewart was absent. Commissioner Jarrell and Commissioner Mathis both voted yes.
Meeting minutes for the closed session were not available.
Motion to enter into Closed Session at 11:01 a.m. made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
The Stoddard County Commission meeting began with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner C.D. Stewart is absent from the meeting. He is attending a meeting with Cecil Weeks, County Clerk, and Josh Speakman, County Collector/Treasurer at the Missouri Association of Counties in the Lake of the Ozarkds.
There are 503 County elected officials in attendance. Speakman is on the Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee and they voted to pass a list of items that the Missouri Association of Counties will support or object to during this legislative session at the Missouri State Capitol.
Old Business:
The IDA, Peter Coutavas, paid foe the hot water heater in the building for Cafe'Ghost and did not pass the invoice on to the Commission.
New Business:
Wildflower Boutique and Cafe'Ghost lease agreements
The Commission has received the lease agreements and when Mr. Stewart returns next week they will go over the lease agreements and sign off on them. They go into effect January 1st per Peter Coutavas, IDA.
New Lisbon Township held their regularly scheduled monthly meeting and the board has requested that Mr. Loyd Hull give a resignation letter in writing. Mr. Hull stated he would send them one. Terry Bates made the motion to remove Mr. Hull from the Board as he no longer wishes to serve.
"It is the job of the Stoddard County Commission to make that appointment," stated Mathis. "New Lisbon Township board has made a recommendation for replacement. We will vote on that at the next meeting since New Lisbon Township is in Commissioner C.D. Stewart's area.
For reference MO State Statute 65.183 Removal of Township Officers, Procedure and Section 65.200 Vacancies in office - how filled.
Other Business:
Motion to accept the regular meeting minutes from November 13, 2023 made by Commissioner Carol Jarrell, seconded Commissioner Greg Mathis. Both voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to enter into the 10:00 am Hearing for the de-obligation for rural Puxico CDGB grant made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Mathis. Both voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to close the Public Hearing for the de-obligation of CDBG grant at 11:00 a.m.made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Mathis. Both voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to enter into closed session at 11:01 a.m. made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Mathis. Both voted yes and motion passed.
The Stoddard County Commission opened their Monday morning meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer on Monday, November 13, 2023.
Mr. Gary Wyman, Stoddard County Extension Council
"I would like to ask for the Commissions' consideration about the possibility of putting a mailbox on the courthouse square for our office," Wyman stated. "The cost of a P.O. Box has had a tremendous increase this year and we currently have a regular business mailbox at the post office. We don't want to take away from the look of the courthouse, but I just want to have options before our next council meeting. We don't have sensitive type items like the County has when it comes to mail."
No questions at this time from the Commission. Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said he would look into it and get back to him.
Chase Marable with Higgonbottom Insurance of Springfield, MO
"I have spoken to Cecil Weeks for several years now and I work with city of Dexter within your County on Liability Insurance," stated Marable.
"We have 12 attorneys on staff that review all contracts and we have HR services as well," continued Marable. "We are seeing higher premiums all over."
Ms. Carol Jarrell asked if he was a broker for several insurance companies and he said yes I am a broker.
Insurance renewal is set for February 2024 and will have to be renewed or bid out for new premiums.
Alan Hedrick, County Wide Insurance/Leavitt Group Insurance along with Beth Keller Acct Manager with St. Francis Medical Center and Marv Meyer with GBS
"We typically start looking at the insurance (referring to the Liability Insurance) in October or November and just wanted to make ourselves available for the Commission," commented Hedrick.
"There is a lot of moving parts at SoutheastHEALTH and in nursing," commented Commissioner Mathis. "We will not be doing anything in 2024 as far as new health insurance for our employees. We had a 4% reduction in health insurance premiums so we are staying with them. As far as the Liability Insurance we will get back with you all after discussing. The renewal deadline would be in February 2024 so we need to discuss shortly."
Town Pharmacy of Bloomfield
The Town Pharmacy has been paying the minimum electric bill for the past three years on the building they donated to the Stoddard County Commission.
The total amount is $2,494.06 and the Commission will reimburse Town Pharmacy this amount. Moving forward the businesses that have rented the buildings will begin paying December 1, 2023 for the electricity.
Other Business
Motion to accept the regular session meeting minutes for Monday, November 6, 2023 made by C.D. Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Jarrell. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to accept the closed session minutes from Friday, November 3, 2023 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to accept the closed session minutes from Monday, November 6, 2023 made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
Motion to close the regular session at 11:08 a.m. after the ribbon cutting at the courthouse made by Commissioner Jarrell, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. All three voted yes and motion passed.
