I attended the September 5, 2024, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.
Commissioners Gohagan and Skelton were present.
The first agenda item was Repeal of LANEG Fiduciary Agreement.
The Commission voted unanimously to repeal the agreement which makes Camden County the fiduciary for the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group (LANEG).
(The federal government no longer allows task forces to handle their own money. Instead, the task forces must designate a government entity as a fiduciary to receive and distribute their asset forfeiture money. Now that Camden County has declined to act as this fiduciary, I imagine LANEG will have to appoint someone else to serve in this role.)
The second agenda item was August 2024 Tax Abatements.
These were approved unanimously.
The third agenda item was Sales Tax Revenue Reimbursement to Miller County.
In May of 2024, a retail store in Camden County moved their operation to Miller County, but their corporate office continued to pay sales tax to Camden County from May 2024 to June 2024. Camden County owes $1,430.52 to Miller County and will issue a payment in that amount to Miller County.
The muckety-mucks up at the corporate office have been advised of their mistake. These county borders can be pretty confusing, especially up by Osage Beach.
The fourth agenda item was Final Public Hearing to Reduce Speed Limit on Dry Hollow Road, Camdenton.
The County Attorney prepared an ordinance to reduce the speed of the graveled areas of Dry Hollow Road to 25 MPH.
Nobody was present to oppose it, so the Commission unanimously passed it.
In Old Business, Presiding Commissioner Skelton gave a TCLA Lodging Tax update. The Missouri Supreme Court finalized their decision so the TCLA taxing district is unconstitutional and no further lodging tax should be collected. The County Attorney will contact the courts to have them set up a trustee.
A representative from Huber and Associates (Camden County’s IT contractor) informed the Commission that two distribution switches were five years old and needed to be replaced. The two Cisco 9300 switches would cost a total of $71,000.
The Commission approved this purchase using ARPA federal funds.
At the end of the meeting, during Public Comment, Sheriff Helms asked why the Commission repealed the LANEG fiduciary agreement?
Presiding Commissioner Skelton told the Sheriff they had repealed the agreement because they weren’t going to participate in the equitable sharing program in the future. He didn’t think LANEG might even exist in a year.
Sheriff Helms responded, “You don’t believe in the law, the Constitution?
Skelton: “What part of the Constitution?”
Helms: “It’s in there, my friend.”
Skelton: “Which Constitution? The Missouri or the US Constitution?”
Sheriff Helms: “Both. The Constitution of the United States…”
Skelton: “What portion pertains to what we’re talking about…”
Helms: “I will get it for you if you’re that dumb, you can’t figure it out.”
Sheriff Helms then accused Presiding Commissioner Skelton of attempting to run the Sheriff’s Department and told Skelton he was not the Sheriff. Skelton retorted that he was performing his duty as oversight of all of the portions of the county.
Helms told him: “You stand alone, my friend.”
Prseiding Commissioner Skelton: “I do not.”
Helms explained that there were 114 counties in the state of Missouri and Camden County was the only one that “doesn’t do that” [sign the fiduciary agreement].
Skelton stated, “We’re leading the way. I hope the rest of them will figure it out in the future and follow.”
Helms asked Skelton if it was a rumor that the Commissioner would sign the fiduciary agreement if they removed the license plate reader (LPR)?
Skelton told him that was not a rumor. If the Department of Public Safety took down the LPR, he would consider signing the LANEG fiduciary agreement.
Helms informed Skelton there were five more LPR’s being installed and he wanted to know what Skelton would do about that?
Skelton said if they were on city property then those elected officials would have to face their constituents.
Helms: “I think you’re making a mistake and I’m going to prove it to you. Big time. That’s not a threat. It’s a promise.”
Skelton: “Very good.”
Helms: “Because I think you’re wrong. You’re costing the jobs of many people, but you don’t seem to care about that. All you care about’s the federal government. You want to make sure…[suddenly shouting at Rinne raising his hand] I’m not listening to you! You sit back there and shut up!”
Commisioner Skelton explained to Sheriff Helms, “Sir, this is not your meeting. I’ll address that individual [Rinne] when I choose to address him.”
Sheriff Helms countered, “I’m sure you would because you do all the time!”
Helms explained that he had hoped to talk to Skelton, but he saw that his mind was made up. He asked Skelton how he felt about the US Army and the National Guard?
Skelton replied that they were authorized by the Constitution.
Sheriff Helms explained, “When I took this job, I was more interested in getting people arrested, punished, and put into the system. But you want to put a road block there. How do you think some of this stuff gets funded? Would you like to replace that hundred and some thousand? Can you do that?”
Skelton answered, “I would actually think that instead of just arresting and punishing people, that your bigger concern would be ensuring justice. And the Constitution and the rights of our citizens were more important than getting someone put in jail. It’s my opinion that the rights of the people of this country and this state are being eroded every day. License plate readers are just one part that is going to continue to erode our rights and our liberties and our freedoms to move around this country. It’s not all about law enforcement. As a matter of fact, it’s primarily about the rights and the freedoms of the people.”
Sheriff Helms asked Presiding Commissioner Skelton why he didn’t remove the LPR’s from the HyVee grocery store and the car wash? Skelton responded that he did not have the same authority over private property. Skelton asked the Sheriff if he had anything else to say about the issue and Helms indicated he was finished.
Nathan Rinne explained that by Missouri statute, the proceeds from asset forfeiture go to the school system. The federal law does not require a guilty plea and allows administrative seizures outside of judicial review. The Missouri legislature passed their asset forfeiture rules to prevent Missouri law enforcement agencies from enriching themselves through seizing property.
On a different topic, another citizen warned the Commission about the EPA plans to close down current power plants that rural Missouri relies on. He recommended people visit the following website:
He was also concerned about the USDA and the SUSTAINS Act which allows the federal government to place voluntary conservation easements on properties. Some owners fail to realize that allowing these conservation easements can reduce the resale value of their properties.
Commissioner Gohagan revisited the LPR issue and asked Sheriff Helms if there was a compromise that could be reached? Helms stated that the information the LPR’s gather is already readily available through their MULES record system. Commissioner Gohagan mentioned that there were some portions of the county like Horseshoe Bend that might be more inclined to want a LPR.
Sheriff Helms stated that there were four more LPR’s being installed in the county: 1 in Camdenton, 2 in Osage Beach, and 1 on HH. Helms had sent a letter to state officials advising them about what was happening with the LPR’s in Camden County. Helms explained that county law enforcement needs the LPR’s. Helms said he was elected by the people to attend to the needs of county law enforcement.
And that was that.
Among the Dogwoods 
Legendary.
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