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Missouri Gas Utility district manager Bret Brown talked to the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail Board about getting natural gas in Pattonsburg during their regular meeting held Friday, Oct. 26.
Missouri Gas Utility, Inc. is a Colorado Corporation formed in November 2004 to provide natural gas service to both residential and commercial customers. Natural gas is presently supplied to Jamesport; Landmark; several PSF barns; and the towns of Gallatin and Hamilton.
Mr. Brown said he would be talking to the Pattonsburg City Council within the next two weeks, and if the city approved it, the company would like to run natural gas to the jail. The school and jail would be the biggest users of natural gas in Pattonsburg.
Mr. Brown said natural gas prices were locked into every spring and the gas went into an underground storage facility.
The company was regulated, that is Missouri Gas Utility, Inc., is an operating public utility subject to the rules and regulations of the Public Service Commission of the State of Missouri (MPSC).
Mr. Brown said everyone using natural gas from the company is charged the same price. The cost was 95 cents a gallon last winter and the price is $99.99 this year.
Mr. Brown said natural gas was environmentally cleaner and safer than propane.
He said the nearest line was at a PSF feed mill, and the line comes up Hwy. 13. He added that the company pays county taxes on the buried lines.
The board expressed interest, but added that they would do their own research.
Sheriff Heldenbrand said the decision of the jail would depend largely on the attitude of the city toward the proposal.
During old business at the Friday meeting, the board discussed the inmate medical contract, which starts Nov. 1. Everything was fine other than some minor changes in the wording of the contract. Daviess will be billed 25%; DeKalb 25%; and the jail district 50%. Of the $8,162.53 in total monthly payment, the amount translates to about $2,000 for each county and $4,000 for the district.
The board agreed to make final decisions regarding LAGERS, and decided to go to with the plan since they believed it would help retain employees. The board voted to go with a contributory plan. The jail has 20 of 60 employees that have been there the past 1 ½ years. The board voted to go back and pick up 100%.
"It shows appreciation for the employees who have stayed and stuck it out," said Sheriff Heldenbrand. The board voted for three years for the Final Average Salary (FAS) to determine retirement benefits. "Three years is more beneficial to employees," said Lance Critten.
The board also decided the benefit group and approved L-7 as the best policy for the employees as it will increase future benefits.
The policy can be changed every two years.
During old business, the board talked about the purchase of a house trailer from Missouri Surplus. The trailer is 14 by 60 feet and was used by FEMA and never lived in. The cost was $3,500 to purchase and $2,800 to deliver for a total $6,300. The trailer came with beds, couch, microwave, stove, refrigerator, dining table and six chairs, heater and AC unit. The jail will sell what items it doesn’t use. The trailer arrived Thursday, Oct. 25. A wall will be taken out and the area used for a training room. There will also be a meeting room and storage space at each end.
The board members signed paperwork regarding the purchase of new CDs.
During new business, the board discussed a letter to the state auditor in regards to a follow-up on an earlier audit. The state wants to be assured that corrective action has been taken on its recommendations. In regards to the budgetary process, the letter stated that the budget message for 2007 now includes a statement that the sales tax is used solely to repay the bond debt. The letter also addressed the issue of the "court facility," which was part of the original …passed by the voters. The letter stated the board has looked into video court and mentioned that a court facility could be included in future expansion.
MidStates Services Internet speed is not fast enough on the jail’s new computers. The board approved a motion to go to the next highest speed.
A wash room in the maintenance barn will be converted into a storage room for records. It will be a secure room, a combination of metal and concrete. It will save driving to Gallatin to get the stored records.
DeKalb County Sheriff Wes Rains presented a list of complaints he had received in regards to the jail. A public defender said she had to wait from two to two and a half hours to see inmates. She wanted to get the inmates moved as quickly as she could. Jail Administrator Larry Hadley said it might help if the public defender would call ahead so they could get started rounding up the inmates before her arrival.
Sheriff Rains said a bond form had been lost and when the jail was asked to provide a copy, no copy was made available. He said an inmate had been released to Harrison County on a minor warrant that should have been released to DeKalb because DeKalb had a significant warrant and a $100,000 cash bond. He added that DeKalb could get the inmate back, but the judge was still quite upset about it. Mr. Hadley said he had not been aware of DeKalb’s warrant when the prisoner was released to Harrison. Sheriff Rains wished to remind the jail that checks for medical reimbursement need to be sent to the county clerk, not to the county court.
Budget Manager David Tolen presented the financial report.
Sales tax income of $75,621.16 was reported for the month of October. Year-to-date on sales tax income was $684,162.42. Sales tax has $475,000 in a CD.
The jail’s operating account balance was $266,083.56. A new $300,000 CD was purchased. The two CDs, one of $400,000, and the new of $300,000 brings total in CDs to $700,000.
The commissary grossed $19,3331.29 as of 8 am. on Oct. 26. Swanson’s income was $298.41.
Daviess County has saved $277,802 and DeKalb has saved $373,847.93 in 2007.
Next meeting is at 10 a.m. on Nov. 30.
Present at the October meeting were Daviess County Presiding Commissioner Lance Critten; DeKalb County Presiding Commissioner Dick Lippold; Daviess County Sheriff Kevin Heldenbrand; DeKalb County Sheriff Wes Rains; Jail Administrator Larry Hadley; Budget Manager David Tolen; and OSA Mary Morrow
September meeting of Regional Jail
The Brown Lumber building was discussed during the jail board’s regular meeting held Friday, Sept. 28. The board decided they were not interested until the present building is paid for.
Propane bids opened from MFA, Landes Oil and Ferrell Gas. The bid by Landes Oils was accepted.
The financial report, aging report and budget message were read by David Tolen. Sales tax income of $125,486.94 was reported for the month of September. Year to date on sales tax income was $608,541.26. Sales tax checking account has $179,178.70 in the account with $475,000 in CD; for a total of $654,178.708.
The jail’s operating account balance was $386,998.66 with a CD of $400,000; for a total of $786,998.66.
The commissary grossed $17,833.92. Swanson’s income was $234.93.
Since Jan. 1, 2007, Daviess County has saved $253,570 and DeKalb County has saved $338,835.93. Budget to actual is right on schedule.
Old business was discussed. Health Professionals, the inmate medical program is planned to be in place Nov. 1, 2007. LAGERS was discussed with the board resolved to make a decision at their next meeting.