A new public administrator has been appointed for Stoddard County, Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said Monday, following a meeting of the Stoddard County Commission. Commissioners also discussed replacing a Senate Bill 40 board member who resigned last week and budget concerns for the group that helps the county's developmentally disabled.
Cindy Duckworth has been appointed by Gov. Mike Parson, effective Aug. 1, Mathis said, following current public administrator Pamela Lape's resignation.
Lape, who is retiring, sent a letter to county officials March 19 announcing her last day would be July 31, after nine years in the position.
In her letter, Lape said she wanted the public administrator's office to continue to grow.
"I will gladly assist with the transition to another person," she said. "I wish many achievements to my successor."
SB40 update
After last Thursday's SB 40 meeting, commissioners expressed their thoughts following the appointment of three new board members this month.
SB40 treasurer Larry McGonigal announced his resignation during the SB40 meeting.
Mathis said the commission will need to discuss the matter further in August, but will appoint someone to fill McGonigal's spot. The SB40 board meets again in September.
The 2019 SB40 budget was presented to the board, but not approved. Under the proposal, the board would have less than $24,000 in revenues left before costs for budget items left blank were determined.
The proposed budget estimated revenues at $400,000 and estimated loan payments around $90,000.
Mathis, who was not at the meeting, asked Commissioners Carol Jarrell and Steve Jordan if discussions of refunding the "old" sheltered workshop was brought up during the meeting.
"Yes," Jarrell said.
She added the SB40 board wanted a contract signed first, so the existing sheltered workshop is working on a contract.
The loan of over $101,000 took out by the existing sheltered workshop was also brought up, as well as possible monthly loan payments of $8,700 for new buildings scheduled to house targeted case management and a new sheltered workshop building. These possible loan payments for the new buildings would be higher than the 2019 budgeted amount. The SB40 board is still negotiating the details for debt for the new buildings.
"We got loans from the new Senate Bill 40 sheltered workshop and a $101,000 loan here for the old sheltered workshop," Mathis said. "At some point in time, there isn't enough money to go around to pay all the loans. If we are paying loans, we are not going to be able to help the developmentally disabled that's suppose to be getting help to begin with."