Stoddard County commissioners rejected a revised bid of $173,000 from R.L. Persons Construction of Poplar Bluff, Mo., for the courthouse cupola project during Monday's meeting.
The bid proposal was received July 30 after negotiations with Dale Rogers of Robert Stearns and Associates, Inc., on behalf of the county.
The revised bid came after the bid presented in April was rejected as well. The project was rebid and no bids were submitted in June.
The revised pricing was based on removing and reattaching the spire, removing, painting and reattaching the ladders and roof coating.
Stoddard County was awarded a grant for $60,000 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and State Historic Preservation Office for cupola repairs.
In addition to the $60,000 grant, the county would contribute $40,000 to the improvements.
The county budgeted $35,000 for the project this year and along with the grant amount offered, another $75,000 would be needed to fund the project.
"It's not leaking now and not deteriorating anymore," Commissioner Steve Jordan said. "With the current grant situation and contractor's bid, I think it's cost prohibited right now for the taxpayers of Stoddard County."
Commissioner Carol Jarrell said while she would like to see the cupola fixed, she did not feel comfortable with spending $75,000 of county revenue at this time.
"There is no way I'm going to vote to spend an additional $75,000 on that at this point in time," Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said. "At this point I'm looking for immediate satisfaction of what we have within our offices that we provide money to."
Jordan added while the cupola is a historic piece of property and needs to be preserved, he was in agreement with Mathis.
"I feel the same way," Jarrell said.
Nuisance Ordinance
After reviewing several nuisance ordinances from other counties in the state, commissioners agreed to not move forward in pursuing ordinances pertaining to junk on property within the county.
Commissioners began looking into the matter several months ago when Dale Kirkbride approached the commission regarding a property along Highway 25.
In the mean time, Kirkbride contacted the Missouri Department of Transportation division responsible for regulating junkyards adjacent to controlled travelways, including Highway 25.
The property owner was sent a letter advising the property met the definition of a "junkyard." The owner has 60 days to remove the junked items or screen it from view of Highway 25.
If not corrected in 60 days, the property owner will be contacted again and then the issue will be sent to Jefferson City for the state to review.
Mathis said MoDOT employee Stacy Heckert, who oversees 23 counties in Missouri, none of which are zoned, reported the process is not a quick one, but in the process of being handled from the state's standpoint.
Coroner's Budget
Stoddard County Coroner Kenny Pope presented Jordan and Jarrell with an increased proposed budget for his office for next year during the July 30 commission meeting. Mathis was not in attendance at the meeting.
"It's going to be a great deal more of expense," Pope said. "The coroner's budget has been minute for the last 25 years. It does not compare to any other budget in this area."
This past year, the coroner's budget was $45,840 and Pope's proposed budget was $70,700.
After Mathis, who owns Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, announced he would not be running for re-election, Pope said it was "time for the county to step up and do something."
Pope, who also works at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, reported Mathis and the funeral home have endured a majority of costs while serving as presiding commissioner such as maintaining vehicles, insurance, providing a cooler, autopsy and toxicology reports and equipment.
Pope added he tried to average the budget from other counties and because of the increase and changes, he wanted to address the commission ahead of the budget meeting.
Public Administrator Update
Newly appointed Public Administrator Cindy Duckworth approached the commission Monday morning to request an additional bond for protection of the clients she serves.
The request comes after a recommendation from Judge Bradley Jarrell for the extra layer of protection.
Of the 99 clients represented, Duckworth said her office oversees over $4 million in client money, one in particular having over $2 million.
Duckworth is currently covered under the blanket of $100,000.
The extra bond would provide an additional $100,000 of protection at the cost of $770 until the end of Duckworth's term in two and a half years.
"I would think we as a commission need to follow the recommendations of Judge Jarrell to her," Mathis said.
New SB40 Board
Member
The commission received a letter of resignation from SB40 board member Larry McGonigal following last month's SB40 meeting.
The commission must appoint someone before the next SB40 meeting in September. If anyone is interested in the position, they should contact one of the commissioners.
Flood Study
The State Emergency Management Agency will be hosting a meeting next week to present and explain new Risk MAP products and flood risk datasets.
During the meeting, staff and stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide comments, further discuss study methods being used in the ongoing flood study, provide an update on study progress and provide information about how to elevate risk awareness and stimulate mitigation actions to reduce risk in the community.
Emergency Management Director Kent Polsgrove said the new maps will include elevations that will assist when someone is planning to build to advise if they are above or below base flood plain elevation by a surveyor.
Polsgrove also warned changes could be included in the new, detailed maps.
"Stuff that use to be in a floodplain might be pulled out," Polsgrove said. "That's good news for those people."
The bad news, Polsgrove said, is some could be pulled into a floodplain who were not previously included.
All counties in Missouri, Polsgrove said, will hopefully have new floodplains maps within 18 months.
BOE Tax Appeal
Kenneth LaRue of Dexter sent a letter to the Board of Equalization to appeal the county assessment of his RV because he said he was being forced to pay property taxes on furniture in the RV.
BOE opened July 9 and closed July 23. LaRue's letter was received July 26, after the closing of BOE.
"We don't set the rules," Jordan said. "We are following state statutes and are mandated to do so by law."
LaRue has been appealing his assessment on the RV for several years.
Jarrell said she contacted Senator Doug Libla's office last year about LaRue's concern. A representative from the office sent a letter explaining the statute, which was then sent to LaRue.
The letter stated the county assessor would be in violation if the contents of the RV were assessed separately from the assessment of the RV itself.
"It looks like the assessor is assessing the RV at market value, which would include all the permanent fixtures in the RV," the letter stated.
Jarrell added the commission cannot suspend the collection of property taxes.
A letter will be prepared and sent to LaRue explaining the county's reasoning.
Delinquent Liquor Licenses
Stoddard County Clerk Joe Watson reported establishments within Stoddard County who have not paid their license renewal have been sent a second notice.
A total of eight businesses within the county are past due on liquor license payments.
According to Watson, a liquor license runs from $50 to $500, depending on what the business serves and when.
The commission agreed Sheriff Carl Hefner and Deputy Sheriff Andy Holden would go by the businesses and advise those who need to pay.
"The businesses will not be shut down," Watson said. "They will just be told they can't serve alcohol anymore until they pay their county liquor license."