By JOSH AYERS
Editor
Katelyn Lambert with Bootheel Regional Planning opened the weekly commission meeting with an update on the ARPA funds. She Water District Number 5 will have an update on their computer software in January.
The Bell City Fire Department had a $5,000 claim for clean up of the site for the proposed new fire station. The commission approved the release of $5,000 from the ARPA funds already approved for the Bell City Fire Department.
Lambert said Stoddard County EMA turned in the paperwork for new radios. This purchase came in under the original claim price therefor EMA Director Beau Bishop will do a micro purchase for additional radios.
The Stoddard Count Ambulance District has $8,000 left on its approved ARPA funds. Duck Creek Township was scheduled to submit the final paperwork for their claim on Monday. The City of Essex will try for a CBDG Grant for street repairs. The city is currently working on paperwork for low income requirements.
Gary Wyman with the Stoddard County Extension Council spoke to the commission regarding the parking situation around the courthouse. He asked for designated parking for the employees in the courthouse. Wyman said some do not physically get around well. He said one employee is moving her car every two hours to adhere to the two hour parking ordinance implemented by the City of Bloomfield.
Commissioner C.D. Stewart said because the city implemented the the two hour parking he did not believe the commission could do much.
Bloomfield Mayor Bill Aslin was scheduled to attend the commission meeting to speak about the parking but was unable to attend due to another obligation. Aslin informed Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis that he will try to attend the December 11 meeting. No vote was taken by the commission.
Bid Opening
An audit bid opening was held. Mathis turned the opening over to county clerk Cecil Weeks. Weeks said one bid was received. The bid was from Daniel Jones and Associates for $25,000 for the 2023 audit. The 2022 audit was just completed. The bid had an error as it said 2022 audit rather than 2023 audit. Weeks placed a call to the firm to be sure it was an error and not the wrong paperwork submitted.
After the call Weeks confirmed it was an error and new paperwork was submitted electronically. The commission accepted the bid.
Other Business
The commission approved the leases for the Wildflower Boutique and the Ghost Cafe. Both businesses are renting property owned by the Stoddard County Commission.
Stoddard County Health Center Director Ben Godwin submitted a document to the commission in regards to the Prescription Drug Management Program. This program was established in 2017 to oversee the prescription and dispensing of controlled substances and has been overseen by St Louis County.
Godwin said in the document that the Missouri Senate passed Senate Bill 63 that says the state will take over the program. If the commission signs the document it will authorize St Louis County to release prescription drug management records to the state. Godwin was on hand to answer any questions. The commission agreed to sign and authorize the document.
County Collector Josh Speakman said the county overspent on Drainage District 17 $10,526.32. This must be corrected on the budget as each drainage district in the county has a certain amount of funding allotted. The commission authorized $10,526.32 from the general fund to the Drainage District 17 budget to correct the error.
The commission approved the open session minutes from November 27. The commission then approved the closed session minutes from November 27.