BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- County Clerk Joe Watson told the Stoddard County Commission that he is looking at purchasing electronic equipment in 2015 that would allow vote counting at the respective precincts in the county, as opposed to bringing the ballots back to the Government Building before counting. He briefed the commission about the purchase at their regular meeting Monday.
The commission met with elected office holders in the county to find out if they are planning any expenditures that would affect the final 2014 budget, and also whether they had any large purchases planned in 2015. The commission is preparing to close out the budget year and put together a new budget.
Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis asked for for the budget items to be put on the agenda so the commission could begin the budget process.
"I just wanted to see if there was anything that we needed to be aware of," stated Mathis.
Watson said he has been considering the purchase of new vote tallying equipment since other area counties began making the change. The estimated cost of the equipment is $100,000.
Watson noted that most counties in the Bootheel -- including Dunklin, Butler and Scott Counties -- have already made the move to electronic counting of ballots at the precincts.
The process works as follows: Once voters complete their paper ballots, they insert them in the top of the machine. The machine will then electronically register the ballots and automatically deposit them in the locked container underneath. An electronic "memory stick" will record the votes. The data will be brought to the county clerk's office where it will be compiled for final election results.
A reservation was expressed about making sure the count could be verified. Watson said there would still be paper ballots, which could be recounted if a question arose. He said precinct electronic counting would be faster and more efficient.
Mathis asked about "checks and balances" in terms of the respective political parties having an observer present. Watson said that would continue with the political parties represented when the votes are compiled.
In another matter, County Treasurer Carla Moore said she will have to purchase a new server in her office at the end of this year.
"I can pay for it out of this year's budget if that is needed," Moore told the commission.
Mathis asked how old the server was and how often it needed replacing.
Moore said the server was replaced every three to five years.
In answer to a question about the cost, Moore said she expected it to cost between $5,000 and $8,000.
County Assessor Jody Lemmon informed the commission that he would be retaining the services of a company in Springfield, Mo., for mailing his assessment forms.
"I've made some changes for mailing which will mean only a small increase in cost," said Lemmon.
Lemmon said there had been a problem with mailing out tax assessment statements. He said many of them are returned because of wrong addresses. He said Rice in Springfield would keep the addresses more current and make changes when someone moves in a more efficient way than his office has the staff to do.
"They keep a good handle on addresses," stated Lemmon.
"It will help us too," noted Moore. She said there are also problems with tax statements being returned because of wrong addresses.
Commissioner Danny Talkington asked Moore if the tax statements were to be mailed next week.
Moore said the tax statements will go to Jackson this week where the envelopes will be sealed and stamped for mail out. She said it would be a couple of weeks before they are received by county residents.
County Recorder Kay Asbell and County Public Administrator Pam Lape said they foresaw no major purchases or variances from the budget in their offices. Sheriff Carl Hefner and Prosecutor Russ Oliver were not able to attend the meeting.
Mathis said he has some "concerns" about the budget in 2015. He said one of the concerns was about sales tax exemptions that were approved at the end of the 2014 legislative session. He said the exemptions were vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon, but the veto was overridden for some of the exemptions by the legislature in September. He said original estimates were that Stoddard County would lose $350,000 from the exemptions. He also noted that the use tax will expire in 2016 and that, at some point, the county may have to look at helping finance 911 services in the county.
Mathis said county 911 is funded though a fee on land telephone lines, which have decreased dramatically in recent years.
County health insurance
Mathis said he had been contacted by Steve Phillips about county health insurance renewal. He said Phillips and Account Executive Dennis Boggess made a presentation to the commission about providing the county health insurance. He said the two men are to meet with the commission on Wednesday to "give us some prices." Mathis also noted that Phillips, formerly owner of First Choice Insurance in Poplar Bluff, Mo., has sold the company to First Midwest Bank. Boggess is to have an office in the downtown branch of the bank in Dexter.
Mathis said Danny Young with Young Insurance in Bernie, Mo., said he intends to have new health insurance costs sometime this week. The county has its current health insurance through Young Insurance.
County Building Superintendent William Dowdy gave the commission a written estimate for constructing a fence for an outdoor area for the Juvenile Detention Center. The estimate was $3,786.18 from J & S Fencing and Metalcraft of Dexter. Mathis asked about another county company that constructed fences, and Talkington said they were no longer is business.
Talkington noted that the estimate was around $1,700 more than anticipated by the commission. He said he would like for Dowdy to get estimates from other companies, even if they were out of county. Mathis and Commissioner Carol Jarrell agreed.
Mathis said Engineer Dale Rogers will meet with the commission next week to go over specifications for renovations and repairs to the Justice Center. Mathis said advertising for bids for that work should take place in two weeks.