The Stoddard County Commission I s seeking interested Stoddard County citizens for open positions on the Stoddard County SB40 Board.  there are four (4) positions available this year.  Two will be up due to their third year serving, one resigned effective immediately and one is resigning in June.

The SB40 Board oversees the distribution of funds to assist the advancement of the developmentally disabled in Stoddard County, specifically the Sheltered Workshop.  The SB40 Board was created after voters of Stoddard County approved a tax to be distributed to the Stoddard County Workshop many years ago.

Interested individuals should submit their resume or letter of interest to the Stoddard County Clerk's Office, in the Government Building, located at 401 South Prairie Street, Bloomfield, Missouri or by mail, P.O. Box 110, Bloomfield, Missouri 63825 by 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 2, 2025 

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If you any questions, please contact the Stoddard County Presiding Commissioner, Greg Mathis, at (573) 421-6629.

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.