Cape Girardeau County officials sworn in Thursday

Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy and six other Cape Girardeau County officials elected in November were sworn in Thursday by County Clerk Kara Clark Summers.

Tracy replaces Gerald Jones, who is retiring after 16 years. Tracy said he is excited to be taking office and working for the county. He said financial and real estate matters will most likely dominate his first weeks in office.

"The budget is really the No. 1 thing. Clearly we're going to talk about the federal building, too," he said. "The federal building just popped up, and we'll deal with it," he said.

With a federal judge's Dec. 1 decision to deny an application to convert the building into a homeless shelter and shelter organizers saying they are dropping the matter, the county is now in a position to discuss acquiring the property to move county offices from the Common Pleas Courthouse and courthouse annex in Cape Girardeau.

New office holders Auditor Pete Frazier, Recorder Scott R. Clark and Circuit Clerk Patti Wibbenmeyer were also sworn in with current Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, Collector Diane Diebold and Judge Gary Kamp.

Before the swearing-in ceremony, Jones presided over his final commission meeting and said he enjoyed his time in office.

"It was a fun run," he said.

Commissioner Paul Koeper thanked Jones for his years of service and commitment to the county. Commissioner Jay Purcell, whom Jones has publicly feuded with in recent years, also thanked him for his work.

"I wish Mr. Jones peace and enjoyment in his retirement," Purcell said. "I want it to be very clear that I have the utmost respect for Commissioner Jones."

Purcell said before they started disagreeing and arguing, he and Jones worked well together and were successful in getting Prop 1 passed and establishing the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority.

In other business:

• Commissioners approved an amendment to the lighting upgrade and energy efficiency grant. Due to lower-than-expected material expenses, the grant will now cover the entire cost.
• Commissioners approved a contract for services with Cape Girardeau Area Magnet.
• Commissioners approved a second amendment to a deed of trust and subordination agreement for transformation with Schaefer Electrical.
• Jones said Koeper will take his place on the state judicial finance committee, which is made up of three county commissioners from Missouri, three circuit clerks from Missouri and a representative from the Missouri Eastern District Court of Appeals.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

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