The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission Board of Directors appointed members to a committee, approved a contract for legal services and elected a new treasurer during a meeting Thursday night in Trenton.
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The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission Board of Directors appointed members to a committee, approved a contract for legal services and elected a new treasurer during a meeting Thursday night in Trenton.
The board, at last month?s meeting, agreed that the Operations and Personnel Committee would have 11 members, one representing each of the counties served by the RPC. Chairman David Tolen presented a list of committee members for board approval. Those chosen to serve include Kenny Roberts, Grundy County; Clifford Shipley, Mercer County; Jeff Ellis, Harrison County; David Tolen, Daviess County; Eva Danner, Livingston County; Chris May, Sullivan County; Charlie Fowler, Putnam County; Jack Liebhart, Linn County; Larry Peters, Chariton County; Nelson Heil, Carroll County; and Dale Hartley, Caldwell County.
Ivan Schraeder of St. Louis was hired by the commission to provide legal services. Schraeder, who is a partner in the firm Crotzer, Ford and Schraeder, represents the Missouri Association of Counties. He will be paid $120 an hour plus expenses, with work done by other attorneys in his firm billed at $120 an hour and work done by associates of the firm billed at $100 an hour. Schraeder was present at the meeting and met with the board in an executive session for personnel and litigation issues.
Grundy County Presiding Commissioner Kenny Roberts was elected treasurer of the RPC Board. He replaces Jason Helton, who has resigned.
The board agreed to allow Acting Director Randy Railsback to continue work on obtaining the best and lowest bid for liability insurance for the board. Railsback said he hopes to have the insurance in place by Jan. 1. Insurance for the board had not been in existence for some time.
The board voted for RPC staff to begin billing counties for the RPC per capita dues which are used to help operate the commission. It will be up to each county to decide whether or not it will pass on the costs of the cities within their area to those governments.
The board has put on hold any action concerning bids for audit services. Railsback said that the commission had a letter of engagement with the firm that had done the previous audit, but it was unclear whether or not the commission would have to honor that agreement for another year.
The board approved two contracts to provide administrative services on block grant projects in the area. The city of Ludlow will pay the RPC $15,000 to administer a grant for a sewer project while the city of Braymer will pay $15,000 to the RPC to administer a grant for a water project.
Jackie Soptic reported on activities regarding the poultry processing plant at Milan and what RPC officials were doing to assist workers who lost jobs because of the uncertainty of plant operations. She said that the state has approved some funding to assist with costs associated with the work, including a ?stop gap? payment to cover costs until word is heard concerning a federal grant from the Department of Labor. She asked government entities represented at the meeting to write letters to Sen. Christopher Bond and Congressman Sam Graves, who have been assisting in this effort, to continue making the federal government aware of the need for monies to assist the workers.
Chris May, who represents Sullivan County on the board, said that a plan by Cherokee Foods to purchase the plant and continue operations at Milan ?doesn?t look good? and that over 770 persons would be affected should the plant close permanently.
Railsback reported on a recent visit to the RPC by representatives of the Economic Development Administration, which provides $52,000 in planning grant money to the operations of the local RPC office. While Railsback was optimistic about the visit, he noted that what was determined will be used in deciding whether or not the RPC will continue receiving the money, which he noted is important to the commission operations.
Lisa Colson presented information about a waste tire grant available to area communities. More information is available by contacting the RPC office at Trenton.
The board agreed to allow the RPC to close its office on Dec. 24.
An executive session for personnel and litigation matters followed the regular meeting. No announcement was made.