June 17, 2025, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the June 17, 2025, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

All commissioners were present.

The first agenda item was “Bid Opening – 250617 Grocery Supply Bid.”

There was a single bid for the jail grocery supply from Springfield Groceries. The Sheriff’s Office contacted several other vendors, but this was the only bid that was submitted. (Initially, the commissioners thought that Sysco Foods was the bidder, but this was corrected at a subsequent meeting.)

The Commission accepted this bid unanimously.

The second agenda item was “CLERF Discussion.”

The Sheriff’s Office had requested CLERF funds to purchase a training system/de-escalation shooting simulator. A review of the CLERF ordinance discovered that the CLERF Board members needed to be re-appointed.

The CLERF Board consists of members that were selected by several different county agencies. The Commission re-appointed John Beckett and Brett Eidson. The Medical Examiner’s Office selected Crystal Lloyd. The Sheriff plans to appoint his two members, but he was waiting to hear back from one of them for confirmation.

There was some discussion about whether the Medical Examiner should select a CLERF member since the county contracts its medical examiner services out to Southwest Forensic Services. There technically is no Medical Examiner for Camden County. Would it be the owner of Southwest Forensics? It was unclear what the actual titles were for the employees who were working for Southwest Forensic Services. Perhaps the Medical Examiner was the person who responded to the scene to conduct the death investigation?

Fortunately, the Prosecuting Attorney pointed out that the statute allowed the County Treasurer to select a CLERF Board member if there was no Medical Examiner for the county. The County Treasurer, Kendra Hicks, avoided any potential controversy and also selected Crystal Lloyd as her appointee.

The Presiding Commissioner clarified that the commissioners do not need to approve CLERF purchases. They just sign it once the CLERF Board approves the purchase.

And then the Commission signed it.

The third agenda item was “Budget Amendment – Sheriff Dept”

This amendment was required for a $806.32 refund from an overcharge on a vehicle collision repair.

The amendment was approved unanimously.

The final agenda item was “Budget Amendment – Health Dept.”

This amendment was needed to transfer $250 from the Miscellaneous line to the Training Tuition expense line.

The amendment was approved unanimously.

During Public Comment, a gentleman from Mack’s Creek spoke to the Commission asking them to ban the use of tannerite in Camden County. Apparently, he has a nearby neighbor who is blowing up tannerite at all hours of the day and night. He did not have a problem with the occasional gunfire or fireworks of rural living, but felt his neighbor’s frequent use of tannerite was taking things too far. The loud explosions were startling and upsetting. The noise was just excessive.

The Sheriff and the Commission discussed the fact that this could be a violation of Missouri’s statute for Peace Disturbance, but the complainant explained that he has called out deputies before to talk to the neighbor and things have not improved. The Sheriff commented that the deputies could respond, investigate, and write tickets, but that was no guarantee that the Peace Disturbance charge would be prosecuted.

The Sheriff and Presiding Commissioner Skelton both suggested that he speak with his state legislator because this was not a matter that the county would be able to address with an ordinance. Presiding Commissioner Skelton did not feel that that the county even had the authority to ban an item like tannerite.

Frankly, it sounded to me like this was less about tannerite and more about someone being an inconsiderate neighbor, regardless of the cause of the ruckus.

And that was that.