Cape County awards insurance contract to Versailles, Mo. firm

Cape Girardeau County commissioners awarded the Versailles, Mo.-based Teeple Insurance Co. a contract for bond insurance. The county will pay $10,503 per term for the sheriff, assessor, treasurer, coroner and public administrator. The terms of office expire in 2012.

Capital Insurance & Associates of Cape Girardeau offered a bid of $18,526. W.E. Walker Lakenan Insurance declined to file a bid. In an e-mail to the county, Walker Lakenan partner Doug Mueller wrote that his company's bids had been rejected on three previous occasions and that "I am confident that other smaller companies would be more competitive from a premium standpoint."

In other county business:

* The commissioners signed letters thanking the Rev. Sam Roethemeyer, chairman of the mental health board, and Glen Birk, road and bridge advisory board member, for their service. Roethemeyer resigned; Birk requested to not be reappointed.

* Ellen Lorberg, who served on the mental health board since being appointed to fill an unexpired term in 1995, has resigned effective Dec. 31.

* Ruth Waldon, former chief juvenile officer for the county, has applied for a position with Pulaski County, Ark., youth services division.

* The sheriff's department has applied for a $8,351 federal grant, which requires $927 in matching county funds, to buy mobile radios for three patrol units. The county's share will be taken from the general revenue account's county law enforcement restitution fund.

* Buzzi Unicem sent a letter informing the commissioners that the company plans to install a truck wash for its hazardous waster tankers. The letter indicates the process abides by DNR regulations and does not exceed the current waste management process in place at the quarry.

* The commissioners finished the meeting with an extended closed session to discuss an undisclosed real estate matter.

On Thursday, the commissioners resume budget hearings, will hear a network upgrade request from Eric McGowen, information technology director, and consider adopting a food-safety ordinance proposed by the county health department.

The Cape Girardeau County Commission meets at 9 a.m. Thursday in the administrative office building, 1 Barton Square in Jackson.

pmcnichol@semimssourian.com

388-3646