CEDAR COUNTY COMMISSION

The Cedar County Commission met June 26, 2023. Present: Kenneth Thornton; Presiding Commissioner; Don Boultinghouse, Northern Commissioner; Ted Anderson, Southern Commissioner; and Heather York, County Clerk.

Met with Tammie Papenfuhs, Interim Assessor

Requests to process court order #28878-28887 to add-on the assessed valuation of newly purchased personal property.  Papenfuhs hired Katie Walker to fill the part-time Field and Office Assistant position.

Met with Sheriff McCrary

Inmate Housing – 20

Met with David Hickman, HIC Insurance

Hickman submitted preliminary health insurance rates that are running around $100 less per month than current premiums.  Preliminary rates are without health history and will change once health history census is completed.  The Commission discussed whether to allow health history to see if the county would be eligible for cost savings, and potentially improved coverage for employees.  Deputy Clerk Ritter will notify the current agent of the county’s interest in the plan options proposed by HIC, and timeline for renewal rates for discussion with commission on 7/3/23.

Met with Tyler Garst, Community Building Solutions

Garst offered guidance and administrative assistance in any future building upgrades.  The Commission is not currently planning any large building projects.

Met with DJ Ford, Road & Bridge Supervisor

Interviewed two people to fill the road & bridge position; these are two additional from the previous June 12th interviews.  The crew has nearly finished spraying thistles on the county right of ways.  The crew will be hauling rock from Montevallo for the next few weeks.  The commission received a request to relocate the old Turkey Creek Bridge to the park.  Ford reports that the truss is twisted so the bridge wouldn’t be suitable for re-use, but the county will salvage what they can.     

Met with Bob Clark, Roeslein Alternative Energy LLC

Clark presented declined responses to previous linear foot rates requested by the Commission.  He inquired as to whether the commission had made a decision on the rate as to what would be acceptable since previous offers have been rejected.  Boultinghouse argued that if Roeslein can’t accommodate at least $5.00 per foot linear foot then he will not consider an agreement.  Thornton argues that agreeing to the pipeline at all encourages other CAFO’s or hog operations to pursue this avenue.  Anderson is inclined to turn down the offer as well.  All agree that if the county moves forward, they prefer the pipeline to be installed closer to the fence lines than the ditch.  If the road would be widened at any point, installing in the ditch would require moving the pipeline.  This natural gas pipeline would be attached to an already existing pipeline and would be connected to Vernon and Barton Counties.  Barton has already approved; Vernon will be meeting to discuss tomorrow.  Clark states that whatever is decided for the county linear foot rate will need to be fair for all.

Motion by Boultinghouse to approve the $5.00 per foot with the restrictions that were discussed to prohibit installation in the ditch, no second was received.  Motion fails, Boultinghouse rescinds.

Motion by Boultinghouse to approve at $6.00 with the restrictions specified prohibiting installation in the ditch, second by Anderson.  Anderson – Yes; Boultinghouse – Yes; Thornton – No

Clark points out that other CAFO’s will not be eligible to work in this pipeline only Murphy Hog Farm and this is part of their new program 20,429’ at $6.00 per foot.

Clark presented the Pipeline Easement and Access Easement Agreement, Boultinghouse signed.  It may still be rejected by Roeslein corporate if the linear foot rate is rejected.   

Motion by Anderson to approve the WGU Education Affiliation Agreement permitting the Cedar County Health Department to be a host agency for nursing staff pursuing their education through WGU, second by Boultinghouse.  Anderson – Yes; Boultinghouse – Yes; Thornton – Yes

Approved the purchase of two generators at a rate of $1,499 each, previously requested by the Cedar County Health Department for emergency services.

Approved increasing the professional liability aggregate limit to $3m to comply with HealthLink’s participation requirements for provider coverage.  The increase in coverage will only increase the premium by $7.00.

Approved the 2022 Financial Statement for publication.

Approved contracting with a shredding company for shredding services, staff can still shred daily items as needed but the bin will be more for retention schedule purposes as man hours spent shredding are much more costly than renting bins.  This will be a building and grounds expense for all offices to utilize.  Deputy Clerk Price collected prices from two vendors and will present an agreement for the Commission to approve next week.

Reviewed weekly time logs submitted by CCHD.

Reviewed approved CCMH May 2023 board minutes.

Reviewed the annual PILT payment received in the amount of $84,057 from the Department of Interior.

Reviewed quarterly reports submitted by the Circuit Clerk confirming the receipt of $61,529.70 in 2022 for court cost reimbursement.

Reviewed monthly reports for Sheriff’s Office and Lake Patrol Invoice.

Approved accounts payable and payroll.

The Cedar County Commission met July 3, 2023. Present: Kenneth Thornton; Presiding Commissioner; Don Boultinghouse, Northern Commissioner; Ted Anderson, Southern Commissioner; and Heather York, County Clerk.

Met with Tammie Papenfuhs, Interim Assessor

Requests to process court order #28888-28912 to add-on the assessed valuation of newly purchased personal property.

Met with Sheriff McCrary

Inmate Housing – 23

McCrary presented the agreement for the jail equipment grant with Accurate Controls quote #221216CC; this grant requires a 50% match from the County.

Clerk York reported to Sheriff McCrary and the Commission that Stacy Rogers was grateful to the Sheriff’s Office and their kindness towards her and her family, and law enforcements efforts in handling the situation with her brother.

Met with Tiffany Taylor, All Star Snow Cones

2021 paperwork was completed.  2022 permit form was completed at inspection, but the fee was not collected.  Cedar County took over in February 2022.  The commission feel things are up to date for 2022 not having been paid previously.  She is now current and up to date through 2023.   

Received request for rock on East CR1500.

Met with Charles Cummins, Dogwood Special Road District Commissioner and Treasurer Kenney

Cummins requests funding from PILT funds that the county receives annually.  Treasurer Kenney reached out to the Department of Interior on this in 2019 to inquire whether the specific revenue he is asking about must be separated out among political subdivisions.  There are several different pieces of PILT funding and are being distributed as required or allowed.  In the specific PILT funding Cummins is inquiring about it is at the Commission’s discretion to distribute or use as seen fit, most others are distributed among various political subdivisions.

Motion by Boultinghouse to approve the Big Bear Shredding agreement for the county, second by Anderson.  Anderson – Yes; Boultinghouse – Yes; Thornton – Yes

Motion by Anderson to approve the MOU with Missouri University Extension and CCHD to receive 200 A1C test kits, and 200 Cholesterol kits, second by Boultinghouse.   Anderson – Yes; Boultinghouse – Yes; Thornton – Yes

Met with DJ Ford, Road & Bridge Supervisor

Report of culvert washout on CR1551 off of H HWY; Ford will check on this.  Ford will check into putting rock on CR1500.  Brush cutter is at Hazel Dell area.

Motion by Boultinghouse to approve a one time, 1% allocation of LATC funds be set aside for 2024 budget in the amount of $2,148.68, second by Anderson.  Anderson – Yes; Boultinghouse – Yes; Thornton – Yes

Met with Arlo Rupke, Emergency Management Director

Discuss burn ban options or possibility of burn ban for next week.  Rain is anticipated for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week.

The Commission did not approve the request from CCMH to change the commission approval of surplus property disposal to $5,000 or more.  The current surplus property approval process will remain as is.

Approved the Public Health Emergency Preparedness amendment#2 for CCHD.

Reviewed invoice for utilities with CCMH and CCHD’s portion.  Will hold invoice until CCHD prepares the breakout for WIC’s portion and to apply credit for additional rent payment paid to CCMH for February 2023.

Reviewed monthly reports for Circuit Clerk’s Office and County Clerk’s Office.

Approved accounts payable and payroll.