Eye-opening training

While covering the county commissioners' state-required training in Jefferson City, Mo., last week, I learned a lot. The information from nearly three days of classes will turn up in stories and future columns. This is about what happened Thursday night, after the classes.

All the commissioners' classes were held at Capitol Plaza Hotel, just a few blocks from the Capitol. One hotel floor was reserved for vendor suites. Many of the commissioners stayed at the hotel.

Vendors paid as much as $1,000 for ads in the printed programs or for a suite of rooms where they set up state displays, set out food and in some cases served cocktails, wine and beer. Other vendors forked over between $450 and $550 to sponsor the morning and mid-day meals. Missouri Local Technical Assistance Program out of Rolla, Mo., was the only taker on a $300 sponsorship of door prizes.

Outgoing CCAM president and Platte County Presiding Commissioner Betty Knight said sponsorships "greatly reduced" the cost of hosting the training.

Knight said vendors were basically "paying for access" -- the opportunity for face-time with commissioners.

They competed to get the elected officials' attention, starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. One hosted a Wii bowling tournament while others set up card games. Goldberg, Sullivan & McCrery, a St. Joesph, Mo., architect and planning firm, held a mini Mardi Gras party; Viking-Cives Midwest Inc. and International Truck & Engine partnered to offer drinks, snacks and information on trucks and such truck parts as snow plows. APAC-Missouri, a Columbia, Mo.-based paving and construction firm, set up a bar with tables and chairs. Blevins Asphalt -- yes, the Mount Vernon, Mo.-based company responsible for last year's chip-and-seal paving in Cape Girardeau County -- offered soft drinks and barbecue sandwiches. I just missed the conversation Cape Girardeau County 1st District Commissioner Paul Koeper had with Caleb Stokes, third-generation member of Blevins' founding family. As I spoke with Stokes, a young woman, her hair done up with colorful straws, called out into the hotel's atrium, "Hey, everybody, the party's over here!"

Stokes rolled his eyes and shook his head a bit. Most vendors were embarrassed by the rowdy APAC suite. I was curious and wandered over, encountering Donald Crabtree along the way.

Crabtree, 75, was elected to the Schuyler County Commission after placing a single newspaper ad.

"No yard signs," he said. Married 54 years, father of four and a grandfather, he retired after 42 years at the Florsheim Shoe Factory, where he never missed a day of work.

As he and I stood chatting outside the APAC room, a young woman walked out, carrying a large open tub of ice. She put the container on the floor in the hallway, then sat atop the ice, laughing. Crabtree turned to me.

"I don't want to know the story behind what she just did," he said, looking slightly appalled. Fewer than 50 of the 300-plus commissioners remained on the vendors floor at that point. I didn't see any Southeast Missouri officials among them.

Many commissioners told me they would rather take training closer to home and save the money. Bollinger County Presiding Commissioner Wayne Johnson said $17,000 is spent annually training elected officials. Last week's training cost $1,200, Johnson said, and he'd rather "spend it on anything else."

Questions, suggestions or tips for Lost on Main Street? E-mail pmcnichol@semissourian.com or call 573-388-3646.