Record: 6-11
COMMISSION MINUTES
The Nodaway County Commission met in regular session Tuesday, June 2.
In attendance were Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker, North District Commissioner Chris Burns, South District Commissioner Robert Stiens and County Clerk Melinda Patton.
Business before the governing board included:
• Approvals and requisitions: Recorder Fee Report (May 2020); Treasurer to Children & Family Center for yearly contribution; Elections to Maryville Glass and Lock for protective screens.
• Review of mail and email: Emails regarding Emergency Order from Maryville Mayor, Rachael Martin; Additions and Abatements (March 2020 and April 2020)
• Ed Walker, road and bridge supervisor, discussed the progress of various county projects.
• Tammy Carter, H.R. Director, presented a proposed addition to the Employee Handbook regarding paid military leave for public employees in Missouri. The Commission reviewed and approved the proposed addition. Carter will get the update out to office holders and staff. The Commission has approved the hiring of Christine Pederson and Tori Foote for the open facility support positions. Road and Bridge Department has an open position that Carter will be advertising. Carter also discussed the new clean-up date set for the courthouse lawn, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2020 from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Rex Wallace, assessor, spoke with the commission about the current health benefits. Wallace requested that the commission look at reworking specific items when bidding out benefits for 2021.
• A resident of Polk Township called with concerns about Road #379.
• The commission spoke with Mattia Oram, a representative of C&CB Company about a payment regarding the Enel White Cloud Wind Project. Also spoke with Reed Bartles for clarification of the right-of-way agreements. Bartles will get back with an answer.
• Sheriff Randy Strong, informed the commission of a peaceful protest that was being planned for the Maryville community. Strong later sent up a press release addressing the specifics.
• The commission spoke with a Ann Kooyman, Program Manager for KGPCo regarding zoning and permitting. Kooyman emailed a representative of Sprint regarding a replacement of an antenna.
• Inspected Re-construction Road #198 and a concrete culver on Road #180 in Independence Township.
• The commission reviewed an email link including Mitchell Gibler, McClure Engineers, Jerry Quarles, Task Force Leader, Ed Hubert, PDMG on an Environmental and Historic Protection request for information on Federal emergency Management Agency Project PA-07-MO-4451-PW-00186/126488.
• A call was made to Nick Jameson with Schildberg Quarries regarding an invoice issue. Issue was corrected via phone.
The Nodaway County Commission met in regular session Thursday, June 4.
In attendance were Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker, North District Commissioner Chris Burns, South District Commissioner Robert Stiens and County Clerk Melinda Patton.
Business before the governing board included:
• Approvals and requisitions: Prosecuting Attorney to New Beginnings Counseling Group for reimbursement; Sheriff to Ray Allen Manufacturing for equipment; Road and Bridge to Mike Henggeler for uniform reimbursement; to Murphy Tractor and Equipment Co., Inc. for repair work; CARES Act Fund to MTE for supplies; CARES Act Funds to Larson Electronics, LLC (revised to add shipping costs); Sheriff to Nodaway County Ambulance for First Responder Kit.
• Review of mail and email: Vehicle sales tax and motor fuel tax Report; Governors conference call notes; Public Service Commission for Evergy Missouri West, Inc.; Missouri Job Center Re-Open Plan
• The Commission held their quarterly office holder meeting. Present included Assessor Rex Wallace, Public Administrator Diane Thomsen, Recorder Lisa Nickerson and Collector/Treasurer Marilyn Jenkins.
Thomsen stated she had not been traveling at all during this time with the COVID-19, but has been conducting meetings via Zoom. She has been working ahead on Annual Court Settlements paperwork. The Public Administrator’s annual training is still being held, although they will also offer an alternative training.
Nickerson stated that office traffic has been steady and that they have moved her association’s annual training to July.
Jenkins reported that the number of Tax Sale properties was down from 162 to 107 properties. She also reported that she has been either meeting with or speaking with representatives from Nodaway County Ambulance, the Health Department, area county schools and some of the area towns regarding some of the needs they have that might qualify for the CARES Act funds. Jenkins has been working with office holders and other tax entities on the supply needs they have or anticipate having, to put together and order COVID-19 supplies.
Wallace reported that the county may have two possible Board of Equalization (BOE) hearings. Also reported a new hire from within the county and the retirement of Jay Piearson.
Patton reported the April Municipal election, which had been postponed to June per Governor’s order, had a 14.12% turnout. August ballots are being proofread and ordered for the start of August absentee voting.
The commissioners reported on the status of bridge work, new dozer trade-in, both North and South windmill projects, CARES Act funds, open Facility Support positions and the planned public protest.
• Jim Farnan called in to discuss the Grant Township Clerk position. Farnan recommended Mike Walker for the position for the remainder of the term. The commission approved Walker’s appointment.
• The commission received one bid for the 2014 Passport Touch. Karen Andel submitted a bid for the minimum advertised amount of $1,500. The bid was accepted.
• A meeting was held with Josh McKim, Nodaway County Economic Development (NCED) Director and Lily White, Maryville Chamber of Commerce Director to discuss the CARES Act funds and small businesses. Also present for the discussion were Marilyn Jenkins, collector/treasurer, Greg McDanel, Maryville City Manager, Chris Wallace, University of Missouri Extension Council and Geoffrey Woehlk, Maryville Forum. McKim presented some guidelines he and White had pulled together on what some other areas are doing to assist small businesses with CARES funds. McKim requested that the county look at doing grants for area small businesses and step up the timeline on the process. Walker stated that the county plans to keep the administrative side of the CARES funds but may be interested in having help pre-screening applications and asked what fees NCED or the Chamber might charge if they were interested in assisting. McKim plans to meet with his executive committee and report back to the commission. White discussed survey information the Chamber had pulled together from area businesses that had responded. C. Wallace offered the extensions services in helping business owners put together their applications for consideration. Following more discussion, the commission stated they are open to the grant program idea (with limitations) and will meet again to discuss after McKim has had a chance to speak with his executive committee.
McDanel discussed the proposal between the county, Nodaway County Ambulance and the City of Maryville on the MPDS (Medical Priority Dispatch System) purchase for the new 911 Center that was discussed at the Joint 911 Task Oversight Committee at the May 21, 2020 Commission meeting. The commission agreed that the proposal should be submitted for consideration with the CARES Act funds.
In the afternoon, Nate Blackford, Mosaic Medical Center Director and Tom Patterson, Nodaway County Health Director, discussed some of the health care needs and community needs in relation to COVID-19. Discussed what medical needs, both present and future, Blackford and Patterson anticipate.
Patterson reviewed the most recent COVID-19 numbers with the commission.
• Sheriff Randy Strong, informed the commission that the peaceful protest that was being planned for the Maryville community for Saturday, June 6, 2020 will now just be a Live Stream. Strong is working with the organizers to put together a press release.
• The commission returned a call to a Nodaway County resident regarding an issue she had on a county road. She was referred to the Green Township officials
• A call was made to Joe Redford, who had recently inspected the boiler at the courthouse, for a status update.
• Ed Walker, road and bridge supervisor, discussed the progress of various county projects. E. Walker reported that Bridge #85 is at a standstill until an electrical line can be moved.
• A call was made to Reed Bartles with the Enel White Cloud Wind project regarding their request to change a powerline agreement from 20 to 25 years. The commission referred Enel to the City of Maryville as it is on their property. The commission reminded Bartles of the payment due.
• A resident of White Cloud Township called with concerns about brush in the White Cloud Creek.