Commission Minutes

OFFICIAL
JUNE 23, 2014, 21st DAY OF
THE APRIL ADJOURN TERM

PRELIMINARY STUDY

The County Commission met in the Commission Conference Room at 8:24 am with Ron Houseman (present),
Danny Strahan (present), and Brandon Williams (absent).

The Commission met to review the day’s business and County concerns.

FORMAL AGENDA

The County Commission met in the Commission Hearing Room at 9:10 am with Ron Houseman (present),
Danny Strahan (present), and Brandon Williams (present). The following proceedings were had and made a
matter of record:

PUBLIC COMMENT

Dee Thomas with In God We Trust spoke to the Commission about a property owned by Health & Wealth
Mission and their request to have the property exempted from taxes. He presented to the Commissioners a Bill
of Particulars which requested that the property be removed from the tax rolls within 72 hours and that taxes
previously paid, totaling $4,970.71 be refunded. He was also providing notice to the media that they should not
print the property number in the delinquent rolls when they were published, as it was his belief that they would
be aiding and abetting in an illegal act.

Commissioner Houseman informed Mr. Thomas that the Board of Equalization would be the group he would
need to appeal to, and suggested he meet with Chuck Pennel, County Assessor, to further discuss the matter.
Mr. Thomas informed the Commission that he would be out-of-state in July and would not be able to attend a
Board of Equalization Meeting, and requested that he be placed on the Commission’s meeting agenda before
then to seek resolution. Mr. Thomas had handed out copies of the aforementioned paperwork to the
Commission, but collected those copies back later in the morning. County Clerk Donna Neeley collected the
paper and returned them to his possession.

CALL TO ORDER

Commissioner Houseman called the June 23, 2014 meeting to order at 9:10 am in the Commission Hearing
Room.

COMMISSION REMARKS

There were no Commission remarks.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Commissioner Williams moved to approve check numbers 340114 - 340150 and two transfers, one from the
Transfer Station to Road & Bridge, and one from Buildings & Grounds to Road & Bridge. Commissioner
Strahan seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote: Williams (aye), Strahan (aye) and Houseman (aye).

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING & EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES

Commissioner Williams moved to approve previous Meeting Minutes dated June 9, June 12, June 16, and June
19, 2014 with corrections as noted. Commissioner Strahan seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote:
Williams (aye), Strahan (aye) and Houseman (aye).

Commissioner Williams moved to approve Executive Session Minutes dated June 5th and June 9th, 2014.
Commissioner Strahan seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote: Williams (aye), Strahan (aye) and
Houseman (aye).

MODOT MONTLY UPDATE

Beth Schaller reported to the Commission that the asphalt overlay on 76 from Branson to Branson West had
been completed. The PGA Tournament at Top of the Rock had finished and the traffic control efforts there had
been successful. Maintenance crews had been busy with mowing, tree trimming and spraying. Citizens had
voiced concerns on the 160 intersections where they felt there should be a widening of turn lanes. However,
due to budgetary constraints, MoDOT did not have the funding needed to purchase additional easements, and so
the lanes would remain as they were for now. A citizen had also contacted MoDOT regarding the condition of
Hwy 160 from Kissee Mills to Gainesville, and Beth relayed that MoDOT had plans to seal and overlay the
stretch within the next year. Another citizen had contacted MoDOT in regards to the low water crossing on
Route J. Beth clarified that MoDOT was planning on cleaning out the pipes this year, but there was not
sufficient funding available to build a new bridge at the site. Finally, MoDOT had held several open houses in
regards to the proposed Constitutional Amendment 7. Discussion ensued on the amount of funding that would
be generated if the Amendment was passed and what impact it might have in Taney County.

Commissioner Strahan informed Ms. Schaller that he had a concern with East 76 between Forsyth and Branson
where accidents occurred on a regular basis. Beth thanked him for the information, as she was not aware of the
high number of accidents there.

Commissioner Strahan spoke to Beth in regards to the musk thistle that was growing in the ditch lines. She
stated that the spraying program was active, but by the time MoDOT was able to spray the plants they were
already grown. She sympathized with his concerns; however; the problem was an on-going battle that there was
no easy solution for.

FLOOD BUYOUT PROPERTIES – GENERAL DISCUSSION

Mickey Davis and Bob Atchley of Planning & Zoning spoke to the Commission in regards to the flood buyout
properties purchased and general policies that might assist with risk issues. As part of the demolition process
anything on the property lines would be removed, leaving an empty lot. Commissioner Williams requested that
Mr. Davis work with the County on the bid specs when it came to the demolition. Mr. Davis asked that the
Commission inform Mr. Atchley of any caveats they would like placed in the bid, understanding that they still
had to meet federal requirements and he could not guarantee they would receive all that was requested.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DISCUSSION

1. DEPARTMENT

John Soutee appeared before the Commission to discuss the formal creation of the
Environmental Services Department. Commissioner Houseman clarified that the employees
would not be moved from their current offices, but would coordinate their services with one
another. There would be a new link added to the County website to ease public access to those
services. Commissioner Houseman asked that the Commissioners work together to create a final
proof for the related press release.

2. PRESS RELEASE/SEPTIC TANKS

The Commissioner’s reviewed the proposed Press Release for the Septic Tank Pump-Out
Program. Discussion ensued.

Commissioner Strahan moved to create an Environmental Services Department. Commissioner Williams
seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote: Strahan (aye), Williams (aye) and Houseman (aye). The
Commission was creating the department to better serve the public.

Commissioner Strahan moved to establish the Taney County Commission Pump-Out Program. Commissioner
Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed by vote: Strahan (aye), Williams (aye) and Houseman
(aye).

Commissioner Houseman directed Mr. Soutee to publish the Pump-Out Press Release, to work with the IT
Department to setup the website links for the Environmental Services Department, and to work with the media
to relay specifics on the Pump-Out Program.

STATE AUDIT COMMENTS

Commissioner Houseman had met with Deputy State Auditor Harry Auto to discuss the opening of the State
Audit to be held Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at Forsyth High School at 6:00 pm. Mr. Houseman’s intention of
meeting with Mr. Auto was to discuss specific portions of the audit in regards to the Commission. Per Mr. Auto
a request made in the Audit was for a position to be created that allowed for Commission oversight of
interdepartmental procedures, and Commissioner Houseman asked if the other Commissioners wished to begin
defining that job description. Commissioner Williams felt it best to wait until after the Audit was published and
public comment was heard, as the job description might change.

Commissioner Strahan felt it would be best to make a serious effort to comply with the audit, and was willing to
move ahead and begin putting together that job description as a work of good faith towards compliance.
Commissioner Williams stressed that the Commission no longer had copies of the audit and as such he had
concerns with moving forward creating a position when it had not been officially made public and there was no
solid proof of that direction by the State. He did not feel it right to discuss the audit when it was not officially
published.

Commissioner Houseman felt both Commissioners were correct, and agreed to hold off on discussing the matter
until after the Audit was official. He would bring the matter back to the Commission at that time.

RECESS
10:59 AM

RECONVENE
11:15 AM

EXECUTIVE SESSION PER SECTION 620.021(1) (2) (3) (12)

Commissioner Williams moved to enter Executive Session per Section 610.021 (1) (2) (3) (12). Commissioner
Strahan seconded the motion. The motion passed by roll call vote: Houseman (aye), Strahan (aye), and
Williams (aye).

EXECUTIVE SESSION
11:15 AM

See Executive Session Minutes for any motions made or votes taken.

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

EXIT EXECUTIVE SESSION
3:00 PM

DAILY STAFF REVIEW & AGENDA REQUESTS

The Commission met with their staff to review the day’s business and agenda requests.

ADJOURNMENT

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

ADJOURN

The minutes were taken and typed by Cristy Smith, Deputy Clerk.