New Commission Convenes For First Time

The Jefferson County Commission held their Work Session on Monday, September 8, 2014 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse.  In the absence of a Commission Chairman, Court Clerk Herndon Called the Meeting to Order. Absent from Roll Call were Commissioners Musick, Blevins and Tabor.

By consent, Commissioner Scarlett’s request to move the election of Commission Officers to the front of the agenda will be honored. Commissioners were informed that minutes will be ready by the voting meeting. No citizens requested appearance before the Commission.

Several Honorary Resolutions will be given during the regular voting meeting, including exiting Commissioners (by Commissioner Turner), retired Court Clerk Farrar (by Commissioner Turner) and Bobby Vesser (by Commissioner Blevins).

Commissioners received a handout of Notaries and Bonds. They were informed that the election of committees, boards and commissions, most notably the Budget Committee and Nominating Committee, will come from the floor. New Commissioners were informed that, previously, the decision regarding service on the nominating and budget committees were made among district representatives and submitted to the full body for approval.

The only report of the evening came from Jefferson County Finance Director Helton, who brought several budget amendments from both the school and county side. Because the budget committee will not be appointed in time to deal with the amendments, the Full Body will need to suspend the rules to address the requests. School requests include the movement of funds to cover repairs at the JCHS football stadium and a request of the sinking fund to finance the purchase of one triple wide portable that was approved previously, however the funds were not used at the time due to a negotiation breakdown with the selling company. There will also be a request to surplus equipment from the school’s transportation and technology departments.

Under Unfinished Business, Commissioner Turner addressed the purchase of the Jefferson County Finance Office and the sale of the Medical Office Building at 1810 Bishop Avenue in Jefferson City, which is owned in partnership with the City of Jefferson City. Finance Director Helton stated that the County portion of the Bishop Avenue property will be $134,276 and the Merritt Medical Building will be $41,097.

Under Announcements, Commissioner Dockery requested that it be made public that the upcoming Commission Meet & Greet was not an event voted on by the full body. Commissioner McGraw requested six minutes to address the upcoming event, which he is hosting, his reasoning behind the event and comments made against the propriety of the event by a “blogger” (disclosure-editorial dated September 8, 2014 from the Jefferson County Post).

Commissioners were informed that the Court Clerk will need to borrow funds to make payroll due to closure of books from exiting Court Clerk, which amounted to around $47,000.