Commissioners Hear Department Updates, Alter Feb. Schedule

Changes will need to be made in the February meeting schedule to accommodate other mandatory meetings commissioners must attend.

It was decided to hold three 9 a.m. meetings on (Wednesdays), Feb. 5 and 12, and Thursday, Feb. 20. There will be no meeting Feb. 26.

Chairman Mike Fleetwood of the Productive Living Board gave an update of SB40 projects, namely the Productive Living Center and the Current River Sheltered Workshop. (See related article).

Assessor Randi Ederer updated the commission on a transaction with Matching Solutions for the purchase of Plat books. She said that the auditors looked over her budget and wanted that item added, although it is just an “in and out” entry.

Ederer also told the commissioner, “We have three new cell towers coming up.”

Sheriff Rad Talburt reported that deputies have received their new cell phones, and he has obtained the necessary information and will apply for a grant for body cams for deputies in April or May.

Talburt, who had plans to travel to Jefferson City Thursday to testify for an increase in pay for deputies, said newly-elected Rep. Keith Elliott is on the committee that will make that decision, and he is hopeful for a good outcome.

Talburt said while he is at the state capitol he hopes to arrange pick-up of the last of the three good used Missouri State Highway Patrol vehicles which the county purchased for the sheriff’s department, providing they have it ready. A fourth vehicle has been purchased from the city of Halcomb, and the county worked out a trade with the city of Naylor for a Crown Victoria which had been used by the former marshal. It will be used to transport prisoners.

Talburt told the commission his efforts to organize the department are just about complete. “I am finding equipment I didn’t know we had,” commented Talburt.

He has the materials and intends to move ahead with plans to throw up a dividing wall so that heat and air can be added to the evidence room.

“We are going to do the work ourselves,” he said.

Talburt went on to say “The inventory is going well, and we are getting it done a lot faster than I thought we would. The officers are coming in on their spare time to get things done,” said Talburt.

Overall, said Talburt said he is pleased with how things are going, and feedback from the public has been positive. “Everywhere I go, people are thanking me for what they are seeing happening,” he said.

The sheriff went on to praise his crew of deputies and office personnel. “I’ve got an awesome staff. They do their jobs well and are really making me look good,” he stated.

The housekeeper reported that a family of skunks appear to have moved into the basement at the county’s vacant house on Lafayette Street.

The house is being remodeled as a rehabilitation house for drug court participants, so a solution needs to be found. Commissioner Gary Emmons is in contact with an exterminator to get advice as to what can be done.

Commissioners approved continuing paying 100 percent of the cost for emergency helicopter transport service for county employees; however, next year it is likely that employees who want to continue the service will pay half.