July 22, 2025, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the July 22, 2025, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

All commissioners were present.

The first agenda item was “Optimist Club – Kans 4 Kids.”

Edward Ritner from the Optimist Club explained to the commissioners that the primary goal of his organization is to help children and make them good citizens. They provide scholarships and perform charitable acts to benefit the community.

This particular program places bins around the county where people can deposit their aluminum cans. Ritner wanted permission to place the Optimist Club’s collection bins outside county buildings.

(When I spoke to Ritner and another gentleman after the meeting, they explained that they take the collected aluminum cans and turn them in for money at local recycling centers. This money is then used to fund scholarships and other good causes. In fact, if you go and turn your own cans in at the recycling center, you can ask the recycling center to credit the funds for the cans to the Optimist Club.)

The commissioners were amenable to placing an Optimist Club bin outside the Justice Center doors, but it was recommended that they might want to put a cover or lid on the top of the bin.

The second agenda item was “Current Budget & Tax Revenue.”

Presiding Commissioner Skelton explained that the county is experiencing a decline in sales tax revenue from last year. It is currently down 2.65%, but February was down 14%. Skelton wanted to make sure the county’s elected officials knew that the Commission is considering re-opening the budget to make expense reductions.

(Sales tax revenue goes directly to the Missouri Department of Revenue which then forwards it to the County Treasurer. There is usually a two month (or longer) delay so Camden County receives its June sales tax revenue in August, its July revenue in September, and so on.)

(My scanner scanned them at a slight angle so I apologize in advance if you get a crick in your neck trying to read them.)

County Auditor Jimmy Laughlin advised the Commission to be cautious because the county usually receives its greatest sales tax revenue from July on. County Treasurer Kendra Hicks confirmed that the sales tax revenue the county was receiving in July had been collected in May.

Skelton asked if any of the elected officials in attendance had large purchases pending? None of them indicated that they did.

Commissioner Gohagan said that he felt there were some items in the budget that could be “tightened up.”

Commissioner Dougan recommended that the county should be frugal and felt they should cut back on travel expenses.

Presiding Commissioner Skelton stressed that if the current decline continues, they would have to “shave” the budget.

Auditor Laughlin explained that if the county re-opens its budget, it would have to be open for 30 days and budget cut would have to be “across the board.” This was dictated by RSMo 50.622. Laughlin clarified that these restrictions did not apply to departments that reported directly to the Commission.

Commissioner Gohagan read aloud from the statute.

A citizen asked what the Treasurer was measuring against to determine that sales tax revenue was down 2.65%?

Commissioner Gohagan answered that it was a YTD comparison to last year’s revenue. The Treasurer’s numbers showed the total sales tax revenue was $315,000 less than 2024 YTD.

The third agenda item was “Sewer District Financials Change Process.”

A representative from the Sewer District stated that Accurate Accounting, their currently contracted accountant, had sub-contracted their accounting work to MTS Accounting. They wanted to terminate their current contract with Accurate Accounting and sign a direct contract with MTS Accounting.

The Commission approved this unanimously.

The fourth agenda item was “Discussion of County Accounting Software BS&A.”

The County Auditor Laughlin explained that he is the only Enterprise Administrator for Camden County’s accounting system. His Chief Deputy has normal Administrator privileges. Laughlin plans to set up an Enterprise Administrator account for his Chief Deputy and lock the password away in a lockbox that has a key. She will have access to the key when Laughlin is not available. Laughlin confirmed that Missouri statute authorized his Chief Deputy to take over when he is not there.

Jennie Wall asked Laughlin if his Chief Deputy was trained to be an Enterprise Admin? Laughlin explained that whenever he is working on the system, the technical support personnel from BS&A are in the system helping him. Jennie suggested that even though statute states that the Chief Deputy can assume his role in the event of Laughlin’s absence, that fact should also be spelled out in Camden County’s policies.

Auditor Laughlin then explained the Byzantine path of reviews and approvals an invoice must travel through the county before it would be finalized in the budget journal with the issuance of a check for payment.

The fifth agenda item was “Pier 31 Court Circle Agreement.”

This was an agreement between Camdenton and Camden County. Camden County would give Pier 31 Court (by the Ozark Amphitheater) to Camdenton. Camdenton would give Camden County the parking spaces on the square in front of the courthouse, Opportunity Road, and Court Circle NW.

This agreement was approved by the Commission unanimously.

The final agenda item was “Discussion of Road & Bridge North Shed Facility.”

The North Shed building needs an upgrade to its electrical system so HVAC and other powered equipment can be installed there.

According to the representative from the Maintenance Department, the money for the electrical upgrade is currently in the county’s maintenance budget. The HVAC equipment can be considered for next year’s budget. He is currently waiting on an estimate from the electrical company to determine how much the upgrade will cost.

The Commission then went into closed session.

After the meeting, Commissioner Steve Dougan pulled me aside and asked me to post his cell phone number so his constituents can more easily contact him. After ten minutes of two middle-aged men trying to update their phone contacts, I just wrote it down on a piece of scrap paper.

His new number is (573) 317-6097. Get after it, Second District! And good luck with all of the phone calls, Steve!

And that was that.