June 29, 2023 Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the June 29, 2023 Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

All commissioners were present.

The first agenda item was County EMA Promulgation Statement.

Will Gregory, the Deputy Director of Camden County EMA (Emergency Management Agency), presented the Emergency Operations Plan to the commissioners. He explained that it becomes the official emergency plan once the Commission signs it.

Commissioner Skelton commented that new signatures were necessary to replace Greg Hasty’s signature with his signature.

The Emergency Operations Plan was approved unanimously and signed.

The second agenda item was MU Extension – Project Draft – Request for Support.

Ashley Allen-Brown from MU Extension appeared before the Commission again to request that the Commission officially approve her project that would bring together community members and industry leaders to demonstrate business and entrepreneurial opportunities for the young Camden County workforce. Her program would provide mentors and give presentations for young people at no cost to the county.

A motion for the Commission to support her project was approved unanimously by the commissioners.

The third agenda item was Resolution Supporting Camdenton School – TIF Position.

This resolution was regarding the Camdenton School District’s opposition to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for The Oasis at Lakeport project near the Grand Glaize Bridge in Osage Beach.

Presiding Commissioner Skelton stated that he voted “No” as a member of the TIF Commission because the developers were asking for too much in tax rebates. He also didn’t agree with the premise that valuable lakefront property could possibly be considered “blighted.”

Commissioner Williams questioned how the developers could blight property where people were currently living?

Commissioner Gohagan said the issue with the development that disturbed him most was the strategy of blighting the property of others and then using that as a tool to negotiate for lower values with the current owners or for land acquisitions by eminent domain.

A letter opposing the TIF was passed unanimously by the Camdenton School Board the night before. The Commission’s own resolution opposing the TIF was approved unanimously and signed by the Commission. Skelton said that the Commission was going to send its own letter opposing the TIF to the Lieutenant Governor’s office.

The fourth agenda item was Courthouse Lawn Irrigation.

Nobody from Maintenance was present to discuss this item so the Commission tabled it.

The final agenda item was Budget Amendments.

The Camden County Commission has to sign all amendments to the approved and final 2023 budget that would move money from one line item to a different line item.

As usual, the County Auditor walked up to the Commission dais and discussed these amendments with them so it was a bit difficult to discern the details.

The Public Administrator received $23,000 in Admin Fees revenue in excess of his original budget.

The Camden County Sheriff’s Office received $5,000 from the Osage Casino to buy first aid kits. That $5,000 would be added to their Misc. Revenue.

Money was moved from General County Revenue to the County Treasurer for publication costs.

The Sheriff’s Office auctioned some old vehicles so $41,000 needed to be moved within LEST to vehicle purchasing.

Commissioner Williams paused the discussion and said he wanted to look at that particular amendment because he had an issue with the quantity of vehicles already owned by the Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioner Skelton asked if the Sheriff’s Office had to use the money from the sold vehicles to purchase new vehicles? Couldn’t they just save the money?

Both Williams and Skelton expressed their concerns about the number of vehicles the Sheriff’s Office already possessed.

The next budget amendment was to cover higher Road and Bridge equipment insurance. In 2023, Camden County re-assessed the value of its current equipment and increased its insurance premiums to reflect the actual replacement value of its critical assets.

Road and Bridge also was billed so late for their 2022 culverts that they had to use 2023 budget money to pay the $37,000 bill. So that needed to be adjusted in the 2023 budget.

(Don’t ask me how this works. I would have assumed the 2022 culvert budget money that wasn’t spent on the late bill would have rolled over to 2023, but I’m sure there’s some reason it doesn’t happen like that. If you ask, they’ll probably mention some statute.)

And finally, it sounded like the county had to pay higher admin fees for their bonds. So more adjustments for that.

And that was it for amendments. They were all approved unanimously. Even the Sheriff vehicle amendment that they had “concerns” about.

Commissioner Gohagan then requested that the Old Business of the Camden County medication plan be added to the agenda.

Commissioner Gohagan proposed that Camden County terminate their Express Scrips contract and adopt a new drug plan. The new plan would allow for diabetic medications to be covered without any change in premium for county employees. Gohagan explained that their premium costs might actually be reduced.

The Commission unanimously approved the change in medication plans.

And that was that.