BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission voted 2-1 to appoint Don Rhodes to the Senate Bill 40 Board of Directors at the commission's regular meeting July 24. Associate Commissioners Steve Jordan and Carol Jarrell voted to appoint Rhodes, while Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis voted to appoint Dan Robinson.
Rhodes and Robinson both addressed the commission prior to the vote. The SB 40 Board recommended Robinson for the position, while the Stoddard County Sheltered Workshop recommended Rhodes. June Moore resigned her position after moving from the area. Both candidates for the position were asked to meet with the commission prior to the appointment.
The SB 40 Board is a local county board founded by Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri in 1968. Once a tax levy was established in Stoddard County in 1976, the SB 40 Board of Directors for the county was established and funding was provided for residential, vocational and other related programs and services for the mentally handicapped in Stoddard County.
Among the agencies receiving funding from the SB 40 Board are ARC, Partnership for Hope and the Sheltered Workshop.
Robinson, a licensed professional counselor and clinical social worker, noted that he has been involved in counseling and mental health for 34 years. He also said he served as a program administrator for many years which provided him insight into the administrative side of the business.
Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis asked him why he was interested in being appointed to the board.
Robinson said he and his wife had adopted two children with special needs as well as his mother was a special education teacher.
"I want to try to help make a difference in the lives of adults with disabilities," said Robinson. "I think it is important to help people feel good about themselves."
Robinson said he has learned that he doesn't have all the answers, so that has made him more of a team player.
Jarrell asked Robinson if he has ever been to the Sheltered Workshop and the ARC. Robinson said he has been to both facilities to meet with clients. He said he would like to see more businesses "open to hiring adults with disabilities."
Rhodes, a Bloomfield attorney, was the next to address the commission. Rhodes said the purpose of the SB 40 Board is to help people with disabilities. He said it was not supposed to be a profit making organization.
"Have you ever served on a board like this?" asked Mathis.
"No," responded Rhodes, "I do have some experience in providing for adults with disabilities."
"Have you ever been to the ARC or Sheltered Workshop?" asked Jarrell.
Rhodes said he had not. He said he was aware of what each entity did and he knew that it took funding to provide those services.
"I would be looking at cost management, to see whether the administrative cost is too low or too high." said Rhodes.
Jordan asked Rhodes if he knew any of the other board members. Rhodes said he was not personal friends with any other board members, but he knew some of them.
"So you would consider yourself an outsider on the board?" asked Jordan.
"Yes," said Rhodes.
After a break, the commission reconvened with Mathis asking for a roll call vote.
"We have two good candidates, and either one would be a good board member," said Mathis.
Jordan and Jarrell voted for Rhodes, while Mathis voted for Robinson.
Drainage Districts
Jordan noted there were some unfilled board positions on three Stoddard County Drainage Districts. He said he knew of five people who were willing to serve, but he was not ready to submit names. He said there was a problem that involved Districts 13, 14 and 33, all in the Advance area. The only board member listed in those districts is Robert Morris.
Mathis said there were supposed to be three members on each board, though those positions had not come to the attention of the commission in a long time.
County Clerk Joe Watson provided a copy of the listings of board members for County Drainage Districts. Board members were Gary Crump, Wafe Burlison and F.L. Robinson in Districts 1; Walter Strickland and Mark Kelley in District 7; and Gary Murphy, Jerry Barker and Dale Mayberry in District 19.
"Will you come back with some recommendations?" asked Mathis of Jordan.
Jordan said he would do that.
BOE question
Kenneth LaRue addressed the Board of Equalization about the assessment of recreational vehicles (RVs) in the county. He was unhappy with the assessment of his RV because he said he was being forced to pay property taxes on furniture in the RV.
LaRue has been appealing his assessment on the RV for several years.
"It is unconstitutional," stated LaRue.
LaRue pointed to language in a Revised Missouri Statute about exemption from taxation which states, "Household goods, furniture, wearing apparel and articles of personal use and adornment, as defined by the state tax commission, owned and used by a person in his home or dwelling place..."
LaRue said that language has been added by the state tax commission, which is an illegal form of added taxation.
LaRue then asked that the County BOE rescind the tax on all RV contents.
"This is an issue of taxpayers rights," said LaRue."I would like to ask the board to seek a determination if RV furniture is taxable."
Board Member Mike Bollinger said the BOE had no choice but to follow state laws, and the statute provided by LaRue was proof that RV furniture was not exempt.
Jarrell asked LaRue if he had appealed the issue to the state tax commission. LaRue said he had not because they were the ones that had exceeded their authority.
County Assessor Jody Lemmon said he had tried to get LaRue to file an appeal with the state tax commission to get an opinion on the matter.
"If he had done that, this would have been settled years ago," said Lemmon.
Board Member Mary Worley suggested that LaRue try to organize RV owners and file an appeal together to the state tax commission.
The BOE took the matter under advisement, but took no action.s