First Midwest Bank of Dexter was awarded financing of the jail expansion by Stoddard County commissioners Monday following last week's opening of bids.
"We had several bids and they were all good bids, but First Midwest Bank stood out," Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said. "We are very pleased it's staying with a county bank."
Before formally accepting the bid, commissioners met with First Midwest Bank representatives last Friday to ensure everything included in the bid was understood, Mathis said.
Joining with affiliate banks, First Midwest Bank of Poplar Bluff and First Midwest Bank of Ozarks, the lease-purchase agreement in the amount of $9 million plus a 10 percent overrun for a total not to exceed $9.9 million will be funded.
The term of the lease will be a maximum of 20 years and will be paid in monthly, quarterly or annual installments at the option of the county commission. The lease will be amortized over 20 years with no prepayment penalty for early partial or full payments.
The interest rate will be fixed for the first seven years at a rate of 3.99 percent.
If the lease is not fully repaid within seven years, then First Midwest Bank and commissioners will renegotiate the rate for the remaining term, up to an additional seven years at a rate not to exceed NY Prime less 1.26 percent as published in the Wall Street Journal.
The lease will contain a line of credit draw feature to minimize interest charges and the commission may draw amounts as needed on the project, required to be in writing at the request of First Midwest Bank.
"We are looking forward to working with the county in getting this project finished," First Midwest Bank Executive Vice President Jerry Dorton said.
METHODIST CHURCH DEMOLITION
Dale Rogers of Robert Stearns and Associates, Inc. presented the commission with options to be included when preparing the Methodist Church demolition bid for the jail expansion project.
Tentative demolition dates were presented for the commission to choose from as well as instruction to make a list of items to be salvaged before the removal.
According to Rogers, if items are inside the church when contractors view the property during the pre bid meeting, they must remain.
Commissioners also agreed to replace public sidewalks which will be damaged during the demolition, but will be bid during a separate contract.
CORONER ADDITION
Mathis revisited questioning how fellow commissioners felt about the construction of a county morgue during the jail expansion project.
"Now is the time to do something while you have the people and man power," he said. "It's going to be a lot less expensive now then it will be later on."
Commissioners Carol Jarrell and Steve Jordan agreed it was time to look into the addition, but the question of whether or not the voter approved tax funds could be used was the topic of discussion.
Presiding Commissioner elect Danny Talkington suggested a form of appropriation from the coroner's budget to fund the addition.
Mathis proposed constructing a small examination room that would lead into a cooling and refrigeration area with the only access from a garage area.
"We are not talking about a great expansion," he said.
During an October commission meeting, Rogers said space for a morgue could be added in the lower level at double the 20' by 20' space Mathis currently provides.
Mathis, who owns Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, has endured a majority of costs while serving as presiding commissioner by donating his space and maintaining vehicles, insurance, autopsy and toxicology reports and equipment.
Mathis has previously said he will no longer donate his space or carry the liability once he leaves office Dec. 31.
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
Prior to the 2019 budget, several amendments were made to 2018 budget items that exceeded expenditures at this time.
While expenditures for the county revenue fund was only at 91 percent of the budget, Watson said payroll and several other items are expected to come out of the account before the end of the year. He predicted this would put the item over 100 percent and need to be amended the last day of the year.
"We have one more round of expenses to be paid Friday," County Clerk Joe Watson said.
Amendments were made to the general school fund, intangible tax fund, sheriff commissary fund, county employment retirement fund and commercial property surcharge fund.
Watson reported revenues are expected to be received in these areas to offset the expenditures.
Amendments were also made for the crime restitution fund, collector's maintenance fund, law enforcement training and prosecuting attorney training fund.
Amendments were needed to cover annual trainings, supplies and vehicles that were purchased throughout the year, or not budgeted for previously.
HAZARD MITIGATION
PLAN UPDATE
Commissioners approved the Hazard Mitigation Plan, which was updated and presented by the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission.
Mathis said the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission did all the footwork for the plan and the county had no input on putting the updated plan together.
The updated plan will now be sent to the State Emergency Management Agency to be approved and then on to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for final approval.
Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Hannah Barnett predicted the plan will be approved in about two weeks.
This will be in time for county school districts to submit paperwork for grants to complete projects.
ABANDONMENT
OF ROAD
Danny O'Neal requested permission from the commission to look into abandoning a portion of County Road 483 in Duck Creek Township.
According to O'Neal, 7/10 of a mile past his home on County Road 483 and roughly 1/2 mile after turning East changes into a field road with no gravel.
When searching the area on GPS, O'Neal said the road is shown as a public road, which could be dangerous for 911 and firefighters searching for a residence.
O'Neal was given a petition to abandoned the road, which must be signed by all the land owners in the area and published in the newspaper.
If there is no objection, the road can be abandoned.