September 8, 2026, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the September 8, 2026, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

All commissioners were present.

The first agenda item was “Surplus Request – Margaret Stone.”

This surplus request was awarded through a court judgement for $20,750.79 to Margaret Stone. It was reviewed by the County Attorney and the County Treasurer.

The request was approved unanimously by the Commission.

The second agenda item was “Review Record of August Tax Sale.”

It was reported that a total of $923,595 was collected in the tax sale with a total surplus of $828,917.

The difference between the total and the surplus is the actual amount of delinquent property tax, interest, and penalties that was collected by the county in the sale. The surplus is called “surplus” because it is tax sale revenue that exceeds the tax burden of the property. Most of this surplus can and will be claimed by the original property owners. That’s why you often see agenda items for surplus requests like the first item on this agenda. What happens to unclaimed surplus? It goes to the school districts.

Just one more tidbit of information you can use to impress your spouse.

The third agenda item was “August 2026 Budget/Revenue Update.”

The County Treasurer reviewed the numbers with the Commission. She stated that the county still retained $6.193 million in CD’s for its reserve. The county’s non-reserve on hand cash in General Revenue ended the month at $694,000. Commissioner Gohagan pointed out that he thought that number was exactly the same number County Auditor Laughlin told the Commission that the county had on hand in January 2026. The tax revenue from the State of Missouri was expected to come in over the next week.

August sales tax was up 11% compared to the same August sales tax revenue last year. (This August sales tax revenue was collected in June 2026 and is always forwarded to Camden County from the Department of Revenue two months later.) Total sales tax revenue for the year was up 6.04% compared to last year at the same date.

Presiding Commissioner Skelton commented on the fact that revenue appeared to be improving every month.

The final agenda item was “Discussion of Security Admin Building.”

Presiding Commissioner Skelton explained that the security screening for the Admin Building (the old courthouse) had just started when he came into office and the building renovation had been designed to provide space to screen visitors. Skelton felt that the cameras inside the building served a purpose for liability in case a visitor claimed an injury while they were in the building. Skelton said that some county employees had submitted a letter to the Commission asking for security in the Admin Building.

The County Treasurer stated that she was willing to speak on behalf of the employees who wrote the letter. She explained that many of them feel that having the current security measures in the building did help increase the security and safety for the employees and she observed that under current policy, county employees cannot carry a firearm at work.

Skelton commented that the current security system seems to be more focused on watching the visitors to the building instead of the employees.

Commissioner Gohagan mentioned that he believed the Commission had changed the county’s policy to allow employees to carry firearms at work. He wanted the front of the courthouse to be open to the public. He also pointed out that having a roving security presence might be more effective than a static security point that would let bad actors know exactly where the deputy was located.

Commissioner Dougan wanted to know what opinion the Sheriff’s Office had on this issue?

The Chief Deputy assured the Commission that the Sheriff’s Office would respond quickly if they received a report that there were any problems in the building. The county offices have panic buttons and this system is tested on a regular basis.

Several elected officials have asked for the cameras in their offices to be removed. County Collector Teresa Murray explained that she has two cameras in her lobby. The Treasurer said she also has cameras that are covering her public lobby and customer areas.

Commissioner Dougan stated that that he thought the county should have cameras in the hallways of the building. He preferred to let the office holders be in charge of the camera systems in their own offices.

Commissioner Gohagan added that the cost of maintaining the magnetometer equipment at the entrance to the buildings has been increasing. A representative from the Sheriff’s Office clarified that a magnetometer might cost $20,000 to purchase, but basic repairs on the machines can cost as much as $5,000 per repair. The maintenance system is basically designed to ensure you buy a new one every three years.

The Maintenance Supervisor raised the issue that the courthouse steps would need to be repaired before the county could open up public access to the front doors.

The County Attorney was asked if removing the magnetometer could expose the county to increased liability if something should happen afterwards? He reassured the audience that public government has sovereign immunity from liability in all but a few specific circumstances.

In the end, Presiding Commissioner Skelton asked the County Attorney to help Skelton write a directive to remove the magnetometer, open the front doors of the building, make the assigned deputy a roving security presence, retain cameras in common areas of the building, and allow the citizens and employees of Camden County to carry firearms inside the Admin Building. This directive would be scheduled for review at a meeting on 9/22 and a Commission vote on 9/29.

And that was that.