BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission approved the purchase of more shelving for the prosecuting attorney's office at a cost of $1,925 at its regular meeting held on Tuesday because of the Labor Day holiday. The commission also was updated
by County Building Superintendent William Dowdy about installation of a new HVAC unit at the Justice Center.
Debbie Robey, who works in the prosecutor's office, said she obtained two bids from companies for portable shelving. She asked the commission to approve buying the shelving at the Aug. 13 meeting. She said the approximate cost would be $2,200. Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis asked her to look into portable shelving and to get bids. The two bids were: $1,925 from Scheffer's Office Furniture and $1,968 from Office Unlimited. The shelves are to be installed in the area set aside for the prosecutor's office in the basement of the Government Building.
Commissioner Frank Sifford asked Robey if the funds were to come from the prosecutor's budget. Robey asked that the funds come from the county building fund. She said there was no money in the prosecutor's budget for the purchase. Sifford said he thought the office had money in its budget for equipment purchases. Robey said they did not, but the shelving was badly needed. Records are stored in an old storage space in another building with no heating or cooling. She said there were numerous records that needed to be relocated.
"I will say this to Mrs. Robey," Mathis said, "I have come in here on weekends and after hours and she is here working."
"I have a lot to do," replied Robey.
"What are your plans for money from the PA delinquent tax funds?" Sifford asked.
Robey said she had no information about these funds and had not received any information from the state. Sifford said there was $15,200 in that account, and this could be used to pay for the shelves.
"If you can use the money from that fund, that's fine with me," said Robey.
Sifford made a motion to approve the purchase using money from the PA delinquent tax fund. Mathis responded, "I'm okay with it." Jarrell said she approved as well.
Dowdy reported that the RTU Unit 2 was to be installed at the Justice Center on Sept. 13-14. The unit is being purchased from Langford Mechanical and Sheet Metal, Inc. of Jackson, Mo., at a cost of $29,475. The commission took bids on the project. The bid calls for a 12 1/2 ton Trane rooftop unit featuring a hot gas dehumidification capability. Also, part of the bid is for installation of new ceiling diffusers in both courtrooms and the jury room, crane rental fees and all miscellaneous electrical wiring.
Mathis asked if the date had been approved by the judges and judicial offices at the Justice Center. Dowdy said he spoke with them and they were the ones that approved that date. He said they would try to utilize Courtroom C during the installation. He added that all the pews, jury seating and other furniture in Courtrooms A and B would have to be removed. They would also have to remove items from the break rooms.
Mathis asked if they could do one courtroom at a time and move items back and forth between the two. Dowdy said they would need to do it all at the same time. He read through a list of all the items that would need to be moved.
After some discussion, it was agreed that the hallways at the Justice Center could be used to store the furniture and equipment during the installation.
There was some discussion about the humidity levels in the Justice Center. The commission has focused on this after the county was out around $300,000 to eradicate and clean mold from the building nearly a year ago. Dowdy reported that humidity levels in both courtrooms were high, but thanks to some dehumidifiers the level was acceptable in the Juvenile Offices. Mathis was not happy with the reported 57 percent humidity levels in the Juvenile Offices.
"I think the new unit will take care of the humidity problems," said Dowdy.
County Clerk Joe Watson reported that letters were sent to Duck Creek, Essex, Elk, Liberty and Richland Townships as well as LaValle Special Road District asking them to erect tonage requirements on their bridges. He said the letters were sent out at the end of July. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) submitted a list of the bridges that did not have load limit signs displayed. These signs must be posted or the county could lose transportation funds.
Watson said he heard back from Essex, Liberty and Richland Townships, and they reportedly have taken care of the problem. He said he had heard nothing from the others.
Sifford asked Watson to send out another letter requesting they respond to the request. He said if they fail to reply, then the county will purchase the signs and have them installed. He said the county would withhold enough CART funds to those townships to pay for the signs and installation.