Cape County Commission, live blog

EDIT(s): I went back and spellchecked this blog...yipes, there were a lot of typos, including on Pat Colon's name. Sorry Pat! It's fixed. Also, I fixed a couple omissions (as in, the Jackson courthouse elevator cylinder needs to be replaced, not the entire elevator).

11:10 a.m.

p.s. on the restaurant issue. Jones and Hudson tell me this was a request by the health department to require training for food service workers. The county commission would have to pass an ordinance for this requirement to be mandated.

When this issue was first raised more than a year ago, restaurant owners protested, many saying their training exceeds state standards and county mandated training would increase costs to the business owners.

10:51 a.m.

Jones is talking about an ordinance relating to the county health department and restaurants, but the conversation is vague. Purcell asks for text of ordinance they want to pass.

Jones instructs Donna to get the text. He said health department director Charlotte Craig “has had multiple meetings” and resolved the disagreement.

He wants to set public hearings so restaurant owners can learn about this.

“While I’m thinking about it, so we don’t forget it, on [Sept. 30] when they have the last Farmers Market and want to utilize the restrooms, will you notify Don [McQuay] and the janitor to have the doors locked so people can’t go wandering in the courthouse?” he said.

Oldham reminds Jones that sexual harassment training is Sept. 9. Jones said several officials will be at their state-required training sessions but several other classes are being planned (I believe three others).

Jones asks for comments and treasurer Roger Hudson said it’s not just a money issue with the road paving program.

“Initially I think we might have been flawed. The plan was flawed in terms of the numbers we used and the inflation to the number, which wasn’t our fault,” he said. “Those numbers don’t exist any more, so they have to be revised.”

The real discrepancy he said, is the reality that contracting out roads includes an $80,000 preparation cost plus the cost of contracting out.

“The reality is you can do as much,” he said.

Jones said he hadn’t included road preparation costs.

Bock said when you talk 15 miles of roads and you talk 10 new deputies, “guys, you’re talking a whole lot of money and Prop 1 can’t support all that.”

Jones, speaking with a slight grin, said, “on a more serious note. I would like to get opinions or a secret vote to hear what you think the score is going to be between Southeast and Mizzou? Do you think we can hold ‘em to 75 points? If they don’t put their starters on the field in the second half?

Everyone laughs.

Hudson says he doesn’t think Southeast will go over 60.

“Even if you put in your third team, how do you tell them ‘Don’t score?’” Jones said.

Jones said the coaches try not to embarrass each other.

“High school has a mercy rule,” he said.

Hudson’s score prediction for this weekend: 60-7.

10:31 a.m.

Jones wants to know where the road and bridge board meeting minutes go. He said he has not seen them.

“I would like to see what is said in some of those deals,” Jones said, “with the below-the-belt article that was in Sunday’s Missourian. I ‘ve talked to three of the road advisory members about their apparent unhappiness and they didn’t have any unhappiness. The chairman and vice chairman were at the same deal that I was at and then I saw another one and said, ‘Let’s just say you can do whatever you jolly well want to do, if you’re not happy’... and [they said] ‘Well, who’s not happy?’”

Jones added, “If there are things that need to be looked at and changed, it will probably be down the road a couple years. I said ‘If you’re getting kicked in the shines,” and he said he didn’t feel kicked in the shins.”

“I would like o know whether an article is an article or an editorial,” Jones said.

Bechtold said he feels a little awkward giving information to the advisory board before the commission gets it.

“I don’t want to leave you in the dark,” Bechtold said.

Jones said the commissioners didn’t feel left in the dark.

Jones asked what is graded or underway.

“We only have 6.6 miles we can pave?” he said.

Bechtold: That’s all we’ve got contracted or working on but I anticipate getting these other 4.2 miles and getting them bid next month.

Jones so we might be able to consider at least 10 miles next year?

Bechtold: that is correct.

He also reviews the issue with the chip and seal, that CR 363 and 383 were replacing 380. They weren’t’ finished grading when the chip seal man was finished with his work. Now they are. We have not spent all the money on the chip seal contract but the chip seal contract the prices were supposed to be good and they were supposed to be good through July 31. But the company providing oil went out of business.

He said oil prices are higher. The discussion centers on whether the county wants to pursue this, but the commissioners agree they’re willing to take a chance that the cost of doing those two roads this year — the high price coupled with cooling weather, which could jeopardize paving — is not as good an idea as waiting until next spring and the chance of a better paving price.

Purcell said at the Aug. 18 road and bridge board was clearly concerned about CR 532 but “I don’t know what we’re going to do after the fact.”

He asked Jones if the advisory board should be polled about CR 532.

Jones said CR 532 is “none of their business ... on that particular road, I don’t need their opinion. Their opinion to me has been very valuable on what roads needed to be hard surfaced.”

Bechtold said there is concern on the part of the advisory board “on why we’re not getting 20 or 30 miles ready for hard surfacing.”

Jones said he’d love to get 20 or 30 miles hard surfaced.

Bechtold said he doesn’t feel he led the board to believe there were people or cash to get that done.

Purcell said he and Jones but perhaps not Bock, felt “we ought to hard surface as many roads as possible.”

“Have we set a 5-year plan? No we have not,” Purcell said, adding that the commission has some planning options and that the road advisory board is not clear about what the commission wants.

“If we as a commission said we’re going to do as many roads as we can, then it comes down to, do we bond it?” Purcell said. “It comes down to the commission setting a policy.”

Bock points out that the amount of money that would have to be borrowed would created a financial set back over the long term and expresses his support for a “pay as you go” plan.

Jones agrees with Bock.

They go onto to discuss about what amount of money the road and bridge board actually oversees. Jones points out it’s not a gross figure of $3.1 million, because some of that money is distributed to the Cape Special Road District and cities.

Bock said Bechtold’s report is a good one.

The commissioners approve the county’s monthly bills and send a $6,323 oversurplus to the treasurer’s office.

10:25 a.m.

Grading has started on CR 435 (Melody Lane?) a Jackson street just north of the People’s Bank. Bechtold said it ties into Highway 61.

Bock asks how clear city limits are there; Bechtold said it’s not clear.

The two men agree “it’s an odd deal.”

FEMA documents have been signed, though some repair work continues on CR 379, Bechtold said where a concrete slab washed out. New concrete was poured yesterday.

A backhoe window was broken as the concrete truck left the site. The concrete truck’s chute swung free and smacked the window, according to Bechtold.

“In a week, it’ll be taken care of, it’ll be done and we’ll forget about it,” Bechtold said.

Now he is reporting on Tuesday’s Road and Bridge Advisory Board meeting.

— CR 244; base will be hauled this month.

Jones asks about how chip and seal is holding up. Bechtold said one spot on CR 422 with a problem that needs to be repaired. He said a road widening project from a year ago, may have absorbed water and gotten “a little sponge-y” something neither the county nor the contractor could have foreseen.

“It wasn’t the chip-seal’s fault,” Bock said.

Now they are talking about whether the chip and seal will hold in the high-traffic areas around Route AB. No conclusion — it’s a time-will-tell situation.

“I’ve been on three of those roads. I don’t see how anybody could fuss about it,” Jones said. “Let’s see what I think about it in April.”

10:20 a.m.

Gravel for CR 532 came from Neelys Landing, Bechtold tells Jones, but he is not sure which route the guys took to get there. Jones said the remained 2/10s of the mile still in Lovejoy Creek may present a transportation problem for truckers.

Bechtold said he’s not had a problem. Jones said a concrete truck couldn’t get through there, that’s why he asked.

Bechtold said “You would be less apt to get stuck coming from (the west side).”

10:16 a.m.

Oldham tells the board highway administrator Scott Bechtold is not on the agenda, but he is here to give his monthly report.

Bechtold said more pipe has been laid on CR 363. Annual patching was finished in August.

Now they’re talking about CR 532 and Jones said he got a call from someone asking why gravel is being hauled all the way out there, when the creek has “all kinds of gravel in it.”

The riprap is not done, but the National Guard returns for a couple of days, he said “around Sept. 13, 14 or 15” and will do more work.

The county will stockpile some riprap to the site and add more when the NG returns.

One area where the creek washes out has exposed an underground phone line.

“Where you used to go into the creek, now you’ll bear right,” Bechtold said.

Jones asks if creek access is cut off, and Bock and Bechtold said no.

10:15 a.m.

Jones said he asked the city for an easement. Water and gas lines run through that 75-foot strip of park land and they need to be moved off county property.

“If we were to put this up on the corner, they are offering an easement, as I understand it, on the north part to cross the north part of this property, so it would seem like (he’s drawing a picture) we’d have to go like this,” Jones said.

“It would seem like a lot closer to go on the south side,” Jones said.

McQuay said there’s already an easement going up to the water tank.

Jones wants to know if the new restrooms could be put on the water line still.

After some discussion, they agree it really doesn’t make much difference where the lines go, but Purcell is saying it may, if easement is run north, any other use of that line would require a pump to move water over the hills.

Now they are trying to figure out where the lines would move and whether or not there lines would require a pump. At one southern point, no pumps would be required Purcell said. Over the long term, he said the lines should be put somewhere that the county wouldn’t end up having to install a pump.

McQuay and Jones are talking about whether a pump would be needed if two of the existing restrooms are converted from septic to water lines and whether that would be likely to happen.

McQuay said he will check with parks director Bruce Watkins to see where the lines would be and he’ll report back

10:10 a.m.

McQuay said he understands the county is covered for $75,000 for the shelter, but there’s also a blanket policy, which would cover everything.

But he also said the country faces at $2,500 deductible.

McQuay’s been directed to sort this out with the insurance adjuster.

Now Jones is asking about the strip of land purchased by the Drury company. Park officials have pointed out that Shelter No. 7 near the land “has really deteriorated,” Jones said. “Thi is the place where they’re thinking of putting a nice, new shelter with restrooms and playgrounds.”

Jones said a big sewer line is right across the street but other shelter restrooms are on a septic system.

10:05 p.m.

Jones said he plans to meet with city of Cape Girardeau over a disagreement about how much the county owes the city for the Court of Common Pleas costs. The city had a $70,000 grant to replace the HVAC system, with the county agreeing to pay about $15,000 of the remaining $30,000 cost. But the city has said the cost is much higher. Jones is gong to point out that, with the cost of county workers’ time and the materials, the city may owe the county money...

Now they are talking about what its going to cost to replace the burned out county shelter.

10 a.m.

McQuay tells the commission the main goal is to find why the compressors are failing. He said there’s a device that will help maximize the air handling but that’s a separate system.

Jones leaves the room for a phone call but returns a moment later.

He wants a system where both chillers aren’t running year-round.

“We’re wearing out both chillers,” he said.

Now they’re talking about the commissioners annual barbecue, and whether it would start at 5 p.m. McQuay needs to know what time the food needs to be ready. The board informally agrees to make the time 5:30. Sounds like ribs are on the menu. (Nowhere near lunch and now I’m hungry...)

9:55 a.m.

Jones wants the county to review the state inspector’s report before a new elevator cylinder is ordered.

Now the commission is discussing whether this legally has to be bid or can be done under an emergency clause.

Jones suggests McQuay doublecheck the rules with County Clerk Kara Clark to see which method is required.

Now they’ve moved onto a conversation about the courthouse heating and cooling, apparently there are some problems with the the system in the Sheriff’s office.

Everyone is quiet, reading McQuay’s report.

9:50 a.m.

Don McQuay is telling the commission the county needs to replace an elevator cylinder, at a cost of $45,000 and change. The shaft cylinder is old and could fail.

Jones is trying to clarify exactly what the replacement cost is for — one or two. This is not clear to anyone. McQuay said the county could put in grippers, which would catch the elevator is the cylinder failed, but I get the sense no one here thinks that’s a good idea.

McQuay said he’s had the replacement in the budget for two years. This replacement is ordered after a state inspection.

9:45 a.m.

Rhodes told commissioners that the industrial strength freezers (commercial grade) cost more upfront but are more robust.

First District Commissioner Larry Bock is asking why the recommendation is for the “more expensive one. Prices are in the just-over $2,000 range.

Colon is suggesting getting one with a compressor on the top of the freezer, to keep it cleaner so it will last longer. The one she needs to replace keeps spontaneously defrosting the food.

Second District Commissioner Jay Purcell made a motion to accept the recommendation for the freezer, which will cost 2,281 (without delivery), with shipping (though shipping may not be charged. The motion carries unanimously.

Colon just told the board, after commission assistant Donna Oldham asked for clarification, that the cost can be reduced by the $90 delivery charge.

9:30 a.m.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones is questioning Pat Colon of the Juvenile Home over a request for an energy efficient chest freezer for the home. He wants to know why they can’t go to Sears or Clarks.

Randy Rhodes said they can get a residential freezer, but those are typically replaced 3-4 years...

9:15 a.m.

Not too much on today’s agenda (listed below). The board just approved minutes from last week’s meeting.

TENTATIVE AGENDA

Meeting of the Cape Girardeau County Commission, Administrative Office Building, Jackson, MO 63755, Thursday, September 4, 2008, @ 9 a.m.

OPEN SESSION – Approval of Minutes

The County Commission may, as part of their regular/open meeting, conduct any such business that may come before the Commission.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS

ROUTINE BUSINESS

1. Erroneous Assessments.

2. Payroll Change Forms.

3. Archive Center Monthly Report.

4. Notice of Public Hearing to set tax rates.

ACTION ITEMS

1. Purchase orders/bills.

2. Request from Collector to forward oversurplus amounts from 2007 land tax sale to the Treasurer.

3. Request from Juvenile Detention to purchase freezer.

DISCUSSION ITEMS & APPOINTMENTS

None at this time.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

EXECUTIVE SESSION

(The County Commission may, as part of a regular or special County Commission meeting, hold a closed session to discuss legislation or litigation, leasing, purchasing, sale of real estate, or personnel matters). Authority is Section 610.021.3 and 610.021.1, Revised Statutes of Missouri, as amended.

ADJOURNMENT

Posted: September 3, 2008, at 9 a.m.

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