July 16, 2024, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the July 16, 2024, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

Commissioners Gohagan and Williams were present.

The first agenda item was Bid Opening – JJC Generator.

This was the bid opening for a new generator at the Juvenile Justice Center.

The first bid was from Norton Power Systems for $37,850.

The second bid was from Sons of Thunder for $37,473.40.

The supervisor of the County Maintenance Department noted that Norton currently maintains all of the county’s generators. Both generators from these bids will be propane fueled.

The Commission was inclined to table the item for review, but the representative from the Juvenile Justice Center cautioned that the grant that was funding this purchase was going to expire soon. The JJC needed a decision on the bid within a week.

The commissioners voted unanimously to table the bids for review with the caveat that it would be back on the agenda soon.

The second agenda item was Bid Openings – Road and Bridge.

There were 4 bids for equipment. All four of the bids were from the same company: Boxer Equipment. The Road and Bridge Department had been seeking to buy used equipment and Boxer offered a $20,500 discount if the county purchased all four machines from them.

I’m no road repair expert and some of these have some ominous names, but I’ll do my best:

Double drum vibratory compactor. A 2010 Volvo DD138HF for $28,800. The Road and Bridge Administrator stated it would cost three times as much for a new one.

Smooth drum roller. 2013 Volvo with 1,338 hours for $42,800. Commissioner Gohagan commented that a new version would cost over $100,000.

Self-propelled sweeper. 2012 Broce sweeper with 1,781 hours for $20,800.

And finally, a water truck. 2007 Ford F750 with 2,000 gallon tank and 29,000 miles for $38,800.

The Road and Bridge Administrator recommended that the Commission accept the bids for all of the equipment. He explained they had already sent a mechanic to Boxer Equipment to inspect the machinery.

The Commission voted unanimously to accept the bids.

The third agenda item was Bid Award – Road and Bridge – Multi-Plate bid.

This bid was for a large metal culvert that could be assembled and placed under a bridge. The Road and Bridge Administrator recommended that the Commission accept the lowest bid from Wellborn for $14,850.

The commissioners voted unanimously to accept Wellborn’s bid.

The fourth agenda item was Board of Equalization Board Appointment – Nancy Rogers.

This appointment was approved unanimously by the Commission.

The final agenda item was Discuss Aggregate Assessed Valuation Report by BOE.

Camden County’s assessed property value has reached $1,989,395,435. This represents a 3.55% annual increase. This puts Camden County way above the adjusted assessed value required for it to be considered a First Class County. As a result, Camden County continues to be the least populated of all of the other First Class Counties. In fact, our assessed value is higher than the value Cole County (Jeff City), Buchanan County, or Taney County (Branson).

And that was that.