BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission focused on scheduling a company to discuss a self-insured health insurance plan in 2015 at their regular meeting held Wednesday due to the weather. It was a brief agenda.
Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis was not present. He notified the clerk's office that he was away on family business.
Commissioner Danny Talkington suggested that the county look at the cost of moving to a self-insurance health insurance plan. He said it would be a good idea to begin obtaining information from various companies on what was required to set up such a plan and how much it would cost.
"We have to take a look at some way to control our insurance costs," said Talkington.
Talkington and Commissioner Carol Jarrell also discussed some new storage shelving for the circuit clerk's office. The storage area is in the basement of the Government Building.
Talkington said special shelving was needed that "rolls on tracks." He said the type of shelf needed could not be installed by county workers, and an outside company would be needed. The estimated cost of the shelving would be $2,000. He said it was below the amount that required bids to be taken.
It was also noted that progress on bridges on County Road 784 and County Road 754 was still on hold awaiting the signing of a usage agreement with the Little River Drainage District. The agreement is required before MoDOT will approve the projects. Design work by Smith & Company engineers has been completed, but no progress can be made until it is approved by MoDOT.
Talkington said the drainage district board was scheduled to meet March 18, at which time they are to sign the agreement.
County Assessor Jody Lemmon presented the commission with a warranty deed giving the county possession of .12 of an acre that contains a private cemetery. The land is owned by Jack and Patsy Jines and is located in the northern part of the county. Attorney Don Rhodes prepared the deed and submitted it to Lemmon.
"I never heard of such a thing," said Lemmon. "Does that mean the county will be liable for anything that might happen on the property?"
County Clerk Joe Watson provided a Missouri Statute establishing the procedure for establishing a family burying ground. It provides for conveyance of not more than one acre to the county in trust for setting in "perpetuity burying grounds or cemeteries for the use and benefit of the family and descendants of the person making such conveyance."
Talkington said he would like to look into it further before taking any action. Jarrell agreed, and it was to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.