Stoddard County commissioners dissolve unidentified drainage districts, redirect funds to general revenue

Stoddard County commissioners dissolve eight unidentified drainage districts, reallocating nearly $11,000 in funds to the general revenue after historical records failed to reveal their locations.

BLOOMFIELD — Stoddard County commissioners made several motions to transfer drainage district funds Monday after eight unknown districts were identified by Collector Josh Speakman.

After numerous hours of research, Speakman summarized by saying, “There are eight ditches that were created in the early 1900s that I cannot find where they are. I went to the archives. There has been no tax revenue collected on them throughout my time.”

Speakman distributed a spreadsheet containing tax revenue for all drainage districts operated by the county.

It was learned only six of the 14 drainage districts could be identified and located.

“Nobody basically knows where they are,” said Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.

Speakman said the county should make use of the funds.

He suggested, “moving the funds and interest associated with the dissolved drainage districts to general revenue.”

Without delay, the following nine motions were made and agreed upon by the commissioners to dissolve Fund 3 by transferring funds to general revenue:

• $37.29 transferred from drainage District 25

• $1,931.21 transferred from drainage District 26

• $2,104.79 transferred from drainage District 27

• $1,918.57 transferred from drainage District 39

• $2,506.83 transferred from drainage District 40

• $179.27 transferred from drainage District 41