BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission amended the 2013 budget and discussed the recently completed county audit at their regular meeting Monday.
"It was the best audit I've ever seen," said Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis about the 2012 audit released by the State Auditor's office. "Some issues in the past are being taken care of by the clerk's office."
Commissioner Carol Jarrell added, "I think the key is Joe (County Clerk Joe Watson) and his employees in the clerk's office."
The county received a "good" rating on their audit, and the only issues cited were more internal controls within some of the county offices. The auditor did a separate audit on the sheriff's office which received a "poor" rating. Prior to release of the audit, the sheriff's office discovered irregularities in one of the accounts and an employee was subsequently charged with theft. Approximately $15,000 was missing from that account.
The commission then moved on to approve five amendments to the 2013 budget, as recommended by Watson. Each year the commission has to amend the budget at the end of the year.
The first amendment was in the capital improvement fund. The budget was $210,000, and actual expenses were $267,385.65. Watson said the purchase and installation of new windows in the courthouse at a cost of $63,500 was the reason for the overage.
The second amendment was in the general school fund. The budget for the fund was $70,000, and actual expenditures were $85,824.55. Watson said this fund was money raised through fine distributions. The money came to the county and then was paid out directly to the schools.
The third amendment was in the tax sales surplus fund. The budget was $12,000, and the actual expenditures were $14,017.65. These are funds that are expended from the collector's office for redeemed land sale.
The fourth amendment was in the miscellaneous fund. The budget was $115,000, and the actual expenditures were $124,929.54. This account is also a "pass through" account, according to Watson. A Bootheel Regional Planning Commission grant goes to the county before being used for its intended purpose, as well as some other grant monies that must come to the county before being used for their original purpose.
The fifth amendment was in the county employee retirement fund. The budget was $202,100, and the actual expenditures were $211,989.45.
Commissioner Danny Talkington asked if this dealt with employee contributions to the retirement fund.
Watson said it was when the county paid into the retirement fund, another "pass through" situation.
Talkington made the motion to approve the amendments, and Jarrell seconded it. It passed by a 3-0 vote.
Watson also proposed amending the commissary expenditure fund in the sheriff's office. He said $54,000 as budgeted, but the actual expenditures were $63,447.19.
Talkington asked if the total would change before the end of the year. Watson said it would. Mathis also noted it would have to be amended again at the end of the year.
After discussion, the commission decided to wait until the expenditures were final before making the amendment.
In another matter, Mathis noted that the county's Workers Compensation insurance was being reduced by 20.7 percent for 2014. The premium in 2013 was $38,166 and that will be decreased to $30,259 in 2014 due to a good loss performance over the last year.
Mathis reported that Emergency Management Agency Director Kent Polsgrove had activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during the recent ice and snow storm. While the storm did not cause widespread power outages, Mathis said it was important that the county was prepared. He said there six or seven people manning the center who were prepared to direct people to warming shelters or provide them with supplies if needed.
"He (Polsgrove) did a heck of job," said Mathis. "The county took a pro-active stance which was good."
He also pointed out the only snag was finding a warming center in the Bell City area. He said that will be worked out.
Engineer Bill Robison with Smith and Company, Engineers, told the commission that all the easements for the new bridge on County Road 784 had been signed as of Monday morning, so that will allow the firm to move on with the project. He said plans for the new bridge on County Road 754 had been completed and sent to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Both projects are being funded with BRO funds.
Mathis asked Robison about availability of BRIO funds. Robison said the fund, both hard and soft money, was in good shape in the county.
Mathis said New Lisbon Township would not be able to replace any of their bridges using BRO funds. He asked both Jarrell and Talkington to check with other townships about bridges that may need to be replaced.
Talkington said he had been approached by MoDOT officials about replacing a bridge on Highway E with three culverts. He said MoDOT was going to repave and improve Highway E from Bloomfield to Highway N. He said he has talked with the drainage district, and none of the officials saw a problem with the proposal. Talkington made a motion to allow the bridge to be replaced with culverts, Jarrell seconded it, and it passed by a 3-0 vote.
The commission approved paying $4,400 for snow removal on the county parking lot and grounds after the snow storm. The county paid a private contractor to remove the snow. Mathis said four front-end loaders and two dump trucks were used to scoop up the snow and haul it to a designated area at the Bloomfield City Park. He thanked the City of Bloomfield for letting the dump the snow there and also the Bloomfield Police Department for directing traffic during the removal and disposal.
Mathis said this had not been done before, but this was the first snow of over 11 inches that had fallen in the area for some time. Jarrell said it was "a great help."