Cape County + budget. An update from the meeting

The full Cape Girardeau County Commission meets Monday. For those of you with some spare time, here is a preview of Monday's agenda highlights:

9:30 Tom Mogelnicki, Cape Co. Transit Authority Update

    •    He'll be asking for $70,000.

Mogelnicki was grilled by all three commissioners. Bottom line: he'll likely get the money he's asking for, but the commissioners want much more accountability.

9:45 Eric McGowen, Information Technology

    •    Eric is possibly sleep-deprived as he is a new dad :) told me a week or so ago that he's almost ready for a Web site update, but I've been out of town a few days, so he could be talking about something completely different.

McGowen's appearance has been rescheduled.

10:00 Scott Bechtold, Highway Admin., truck recommendations

    •    This the is three-quarter-ton pickup truck, valued at an estimated $32,000, that 1st District Commissioner Larry Bock has requested.

After some discussions, Jones and Bock vote to approve the purchase of a 3/4 ton Ford pick up with a crew cab, for less than $22,900 - Bechtold told the commissioners that the order must be made by the end of the week to guarantee the price. Purcell voted against the measure, saying he could not justify the purchase given the county's tight budget. Bechtold said he had factored in a new truck purchase in budgets over the last several years, however he'd anticipated a purchase prices within $18,000 and $19,000.

 Jones stepped out of the office for a few minutes' discussion with Bechtold. After getting the text message about Sarah Palin's visit to Cape on Thursday, I asked the folks in the room when Jones returns. None of the elected officials in the room, all Republicans, were aware of the plans

Jones looks somewhat amused and says, "Well, they didn't check with me.." and everyone chuckles. Several say they are glad she'll visit.

10:15 County Auditor, Discussion of Estimated Revenue, Fiscal Year 2009

    •    Should be an interesting take on how the state of economy relates to county income.

Deputy auditor Virgie Koeppel announced that, if Proposition 1-related expenses for 2009 do not change, the county is looking at being $440,981 in the red. A very serious discussion is ensuing about this, so I'm going to pause the blog to take it all in.

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