COUNTY SEEKS RISE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR'S CASELOAD

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau County Commission hopes Public Administrator Phyllis Schwab's caseload increases soon so the county can generate revenue from fees to help offset the cost of her $42,458 salary.

The commission met Monday with Schwab, who was elected in November and who began her duties Jan. 1.

After a month in office, she has five cases. Former administrator John Ferguson will continue to handle more than 100 guardian and conservator cases until the anniversary date of each case.

Schwab said the anniversary dates for 11 cases came last month, but "John hasn't handed them over yet."

Schwab can't take over the cases until legally assigned them by the circuit court.

Even with the slow start, Schwab expects to be handling about 60 cases by May.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said Schwab's first year as public administrator is costing the county because there hasn't been a sufficient caseload to generate enough fees to offset her salary.

Schwab agreed. "It leaves the county in the first year in a little bit of a bind," she said.