Commissioners seek board members

BENTON -- As the year winds down, Scott County commissioners are making appointments to several boards and councils.

Four appointments were approved at Thursday's regular meeting; and Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn noted there will be several more in the coming weeks.

"If anyone has any interest in serving on county boards, please contact one of the commissioners," he said. "There's no pay, but you get the satisfaction of being involved in your county."

He noted that one person who is leaving a board shared how they saw an impact being made.

Appointments made on Thursday include:

Bill Palmer of Sikeston was appointed to a one-year term on the Southeast Missouri Economic Development Alliance board.

Bob Kiehhofner of Scott City was reappointed for a four-year term to the SEMO Port Authority.

Reappointed to a three-year term on the Sikeston Area Higher Eduction Center's advisory council was Don Webb of Sikeston.

Oliver Kirkpatrick of the Lusk Chapel area was appointed to a three-year term for Levee 2.

Commissioners are also hopeful the sale of the Forest Hills Cemetery in Morley, which the county assumed responsibility for in March, will be finalized before the end of the year.

During Thursday's meeting, they received a phone call from the attorney representing Dale Birk of Jackson, who plans to purchase the Forest Hills Cemetery in Morley. The cemetery, among others in the area, has been abandoned by its owners, Mike Graham and Associates, of Houston.

"He feels like we're really close to getting this transaction done," said Ziegenhorn. "He was asking what was owed to Scott County for reimbursement -- that's a good sign that we're going to get paid."

Jamie Burger, presiding commissioner, said that a tax lien was filed for $5,707. The county has collected $5,000 from the sale of plots.

"I really think most of our expenses are done for the year," Burger said. There may still be one or two invoices from the end of mowing season, he said.

Also at Thursday's meeting, the commission held a public hearing regarding the budget.

"Overall, I think the budget looks pretty good," said Rita Milam, county clerk. "It mostly looks like the original budget."

Commissioners approved amendments to the budget, which included increases in revenue from equipment sales and unanticipated grants; plus some higher expenditures due to service fees that often have to be paid in association with grant money.

"There's been a lot of activity in certain departments where there were some fees and fines collected," Burger said. "And sales tax is up for the year -- more than expected -- which is a plus."

In other business, John Nelson, jail administrator, presented commissioners with bids to replace the dryer that burnt, as well as two air conditioners that have failed in the jail.

Commissioners approved the low bids for both: $3,160 for the dryer, which includes installation and disposal of the old unit from Loomis Brothers Equipment of Fenton; and $4,126 for each air conditioner unit from Presley Heating and Cooling of Sikeston.