Commission Minutes

OFFICIAL
SEPTEMBER 9, 2013, 18th DAY OF
THE AUGUST ADJOURN TERM

The County Commission met in the Commission Hearing Room at 8:43 am with Ron Houseman (present),
Danny Strahan (present), and Brandon Williams (present). The following proceedings were had and made a
matter of record:

PRELIMINARY STUDY MEETING

The Commission met to review the day’s business.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no Public Comments at this time.

CALL TO ORDER

Commissioner Houseman called the September 9, 2013, meeting to order at 9:02 am and Auditor Rick Findley
led with prayer. Commissioner Strahan led the Pledge of Allegiance.

COMMISSION REMARKS

There were no Commission Remarks at this time.

PAYROLL

Commissioner Strahan moved to approve Payroll. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion
passed by vote: Houseman (aye), Strahan (aye), and Williams (aye).

MONTHLY BUDGET REPORT

Auditor Rick Findley came before the Commission to present the County’s Budget Report. He stated GCR is
down balance wise but not as much as expected.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Collector Sheila Wyatt came before the Commission to discuss her request for payments of legal fees to the law
firm representing her in litigation regarding the distribution of Railroad & Utility taxes.

Commissioner Houseman offered the following points:
*There has been a lot of frustration on both sides as to payment of these bills.
*We are here today to pay a bill we have no desire to pay, at least from my perspective.
*Because there was no legal agreement in place between the law firm in question and the Commission,
the Commission sought legal counsel to determine if we were even able to pay the Collector’s legal
bills.
*We have been informed that there is a sentence within the statutes creating the Technology Fund (also
known as the Tax Maintenance Fund) that could be interpreted to allow the payment of these attorney’s
fees.
*Based upon County Counsel’s information we believe we can move forward by recognizing and
accepting the agreement between the Taney County Collector and the law firm in question and pay
these invoices.

Commissioner Williams asked if the Collector had reviewed the invoice and was comfortable with the bills
presented. The Collector indicated she had looked at the bill and had no choice but to accept it. Commissioner
Williams said you have a choice every time you go to the grocery store and get overcharged to dispute the bill.

Commissioner Williams asked if the Collector wanted the Commission to approve the invoices for payment.
The Collector answered yes.

Commissioner Williams moved to pay check #336650. Commissioner Strahan seconded the motion for
discussion. The motion passed by vote: Houseman (aye), Strahan (aye), and Williams (aye).

Commissioner Houseman asked the Collector if an amendment to the original contract had been agreed to by
the Collector. The Collector answered no. Commissioner Houseman asked Mrs. Wyatt to review the invoice
submitted because the law firm seemingly was charging more per hour than they had contracted to pay.
Commissioner Houseman added when you combine the salaries of Commission Counsel and the County’s five
assistant prosecuting attorneys and add them together we are paying all of them combined less than the lead
counsel from the firm Mrs. Wyatt has hired. We are paying lead counsel $375.00 an hour. Commissioner
Houseman was hopeful the agreement/contract would come to an end quickly as it was costing the taxpayers a
fortune (over $40,000.00 at this point).

The Collector noted that the reason her counsel had been paid so much money was because these issues had
been drawn out by the County Commission. She had been told that the Commission had asked the
superintendents to not settle the case and that they did not owe the money. Commissioner Strahan refuted the
Collector’s claims as did Commissioner Houseman. Commissioner Strahan noted he had only pointed out what
Missouri Law clearly stated. The Collector is responsible for any computer errors and that she had openly
admitted that this is what had happened. Commissioner Strahan added its easy to blame the Commission, but
this is an issue that the Commission has nothing to do with.

The Collector stated that the superintendents reported in the paper that they would be taking advice regarding
this issue from the Commission. Commissioner Houseman answered that the Commission invited the
superintendents to the County Commission to clear up any misunderstandings that the Commission was or
would be involved at all. The Commission had been advised by counsel that this was an issue regarding the
Collector and the schools.

A general discussion ensued regarding the issue at hand. Commissioner Houseman asked Mrs. Wyatt to review
the invoice just submitted in order that discrepancies could be corrected through future billings.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION UPDATE

Chrystal Irons came before the Commission to present the University of Missouri Extension Update. She stated
the University of Missouri has given approval for a 4-H Specialist to be hired and housed here in Taney County.
They are looking for volunteers to help with the VITA program.

The Commission asked Mr. Haes to work with the Maintenance Department to look at the questions for the new
office space the University of Missouri Extension wants to utilize.

COURT ORDERS

Cristy Smith, Deputy Clerk, came before the Commission to present court orders. Personal Property
Abatements as Exhibit A dated September 9, 2013; Real Estate Abatements as Exhibit B dated September 9,
2013; and Real Estate Refund as Exhibit C dated September 9, 2013.

Commissioner Strahan moved to approve Exhibit A dated September 9, 2013, as presented (which include the
following abatement numbers: #20140372 – #20140373, #20140377 – #20140378, and #20140383).
Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote: Houseman (aye), Strahan (aye), and
Williams (aye).

Commissioner Williams moved to approve Exhibit B dated September 9, 2013, as presented (which include the
following abatement numbers: #20140374, #20140376, #20140379 – #20140380, and #20140382).
Commissioner Strahan seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote: Houseman (aye), Strahan (aye), and
Williams (aye).

Commissioner Strahan moved to approve Exhibit C dated September 9, 2013, as presented (which includes the
abatement number #20140384). Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:
Houseman (aye), Strahan (aye), and Williams (aye).

ROAD & BRIDGE UPDATES

Randy Haes, Harlan Collins, David Stottle, Devin Huff, and Scott Starrett came before the Commission to
present a departmental update.

Transfer Station: Mr. Starrett stated their DNR Notification Deadline for the County’s plans on enclosing the
open doorways at the Transfer Station is September 22, 2013. The Commission directed Mr. Starrett to
move forward with the letter to DNR and placement of the doors.

RECESS
10:17AM

RECONVENE
10:25 AM
Chip Seal: a couple more weeks and this should be winding down.
Patching: will be completed 2-3 weeks.
Striping: be done by end of September or until paint is used.
Bridge: Bridge over Bee Creek at Gunnison has been repaired and guardrail will be replaced.
Low Water Structures: There are three low water crossing that are scheduled for work they are on the following
roads: Kentucky Hollow Road, Wisconsin Road, and Eagle Ridge Road.
Road & Bridge Office: Will be started soon.
Agreements: Mr. Haes is working with Frank Cottey on agreements with the surrounding counties concerning
shared roads.
County Auction: Mr. Haes asked if the County was going to have an auction this fall. He was directed to see if
the Sheriff’s Office has enough stuff to warrant an auction.
Fall Clean-Up: The Commission set the date to be October 5, 2013. They set a limit of tires accepted during
this time to 12 tires at $1 per tire and will make a separate day and time for Southern Construction as
long as they supply the manpower for the loading and unloading.
Snow Rodeo: Is scheduled for October 10, 2013, will start at 8:00 am.

EXECUTIVE SESSION PER SECTION 610.021 (3)

Commissioner Williams moved to go into Executive Session pursuant to RSMo 610.021 (3). Commissioner
Strahan seconded the motion. The motion passed by roll call vote: Houseman (aye), Strahan (aye), and
Williams (aye).

EXECUTIVE SESSION
10:53 AM

See Executive Session Minutes for actions, if any.

Commissioner Strahan moved to exit out of Executive Session. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion.
The motion passed by roll call vote: Houseman (aye), Strahan (aye), and Williams (aye).

OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION
11:35 AM

Commissioner Strahan moved to adjourn. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed
by vote: Houseman (aye), Strahan (aye), and Williams (aye).

ADJOURN
11:35 AM

The minutes were taken and typed by Stacey Clemans, Deputy Clerk.