Courthouse News: Road in Sheridan township remains open, by split decision

June 19, 2019

Brad Pennington, Sheridan Township landowner, met with the commission to discuss the road petitions regarding 175th Street in Sheridan Township. He is not in favor of closing this portion of the road, unless he received a permanent easement to reach the south end of his property.

Chip Winger, Sheridan Township board, met with the commission to discuss the road petitions regarding 175th Street in Sheridan Township. He expressed the township’s desire to have the road remain open in the hope that the township would be able to make repairs in future years. He also discussed an issue with a landowner that has a trailer parked on the road right-of-way.

Deputy Robert Mazur met with the commission to discuss the issue with a landowner that has a trailer parked on the road right-of-way.

Shad Mort, Sheridan Township landowner, met with the commission to discuss the road petitions regarding 175th Street in Sheridan Township. He expressed his desire to see the road closed.

The commission had an extensive discussion regarding the pros and cons of both the petition to close, and the remonstrance to officially closing the 1st half mile north of 175th Street from Vista Avenue in Sheridan Township. David Cox made a motion to leave the road open and abandoned; Jim Ruse seconded. The motion passed, 2-1, with Wayne Uthe opposed.

The commission received word from Steve Brewer, Sheridan Township landowner, about a brush issue in Sections 28 and 33 in Sheridan Township. The commission will check the brush and issue brush letters as appropriate.

James Lewis, bridge supervisor, updated the commission on ongoing work. His crew will continue to work on repairing damage from the recent rains. They will be working in Lincoln and Washington Townships this week cleaning culverts and repairing bridge floors. They will also be doing spot work in other areas. On Thursday they will look at the nursing home van to see if they can repair the chair lift.

The commission had an extensive discussion regarding the recent storm damage and the possibility of SEMA/FEMA disaster payments. SEMA representatives will meet with the commission and other entities at the courthouse on June 24. The commission also discussed a phone call from Tim Osborn, Union Township, regarding storm damage to the Magill Bridge and surrounding river banks.

Deputy Mazur presented the commission the new grant contract for Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplemental Fund (DSSSF) beginning July 2019. David Cox made a motion to accept the 2019-2020 DSSSF grant contract; Wayne Uthe seconded, and the motion passed.

Elizabeth Plotner, Daviess County Library, met with the commission to discuss the open library board position. She stated the library board’s choice for the position. The commission will wait to see if anyone else applies before making a decision. The issue was continued until next week.

The commission discussed the roofing issues at the health department and at the courthouse. More information will be gathered. The issue was continued until next week.  They also discussed the courthouse dome lighting issue. Wayne Uthe stated he had determined the problem, but had not been able to go up on the roof and fix the issue.

The commission discussed issues for the nursing home, including renewing the lease, concrete repairs, and disposition of a county van housed at the nursing home. Jennifer Pankau, manager, and Bradley Jones, maintenance, met with the commission to advise them that the nursing home would be having a health fair July 27th with free labs for Daviess County residents. They also discussed the building infrastructure and maintenance issues. The issues were continued until next week.

The commission discussed the revised contract with Stith Funeral Homes, LLC. David Cox made a motion to accept the revised contract regarding removal of deceased and transportation for autopsy; Wayne Uthe seconded, and the motion passed.

Sally Black, assessor, and Diane McLey, deputy assessor, met with the commission to advise them increase letters have been mailed for anyone in the county whose assessed values for 2019 are increasing. Not all parcel evaluations were able to be entered due to a shortage of time and manpower, so those new valuations will be added to 2020 assessments. Sally Black stated that the trend for overall assessments was down, including new construction valuations and personal property valuations. The assessor also discussed new boundary lines for the Shoal Creek Fire Protection District, and information she had been given regarding the state’s delay in implementing regulations for the statewide collection of sales tax from businesses outside of Missouri.

David Cox advised the commission that a new person will need to be chosen for the Board of Equalization due to the illness of Les Turner. Ronetta Burton, county clerk, will check information on prior boards for a possible name. The issue was continued until next week.

David Roll, EMD, met with the commission to discuss damage over the county from the recent flooding. He also reported that he had attended a recent Clinton County LEPC meeting.

Sheriff Ben Becerra met with the commission to advise them the insurance company is totaling the sheriff department vehicle that struck a deer. Discussion was held as to what would be the best next step to replace the vehicle. David Cox made a motion to accept the insurance offer to total the car, and accept the sheriff’s offer to fund the difference to purchase another new vehicle with the combined funds; Wayne Uthe seconded, and the motion passed.

In the afternoon the commissioners inspected, roads, brush, culverts and bridges in Sheridan Township.

The meeting adjourned at 2 p.m.

The above information is taken from the minutes of the June 19, 2019, meeting of the Daviess County Commission. All commissioners were present. Minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Bills and abatements were approved.

June 24, 2019

SEMA representatives met with the commissioners and other entities at the courthouse on June 24.

Preston Brooke, Emergency Management Recovery Specialist, opened the meeting with a quick overview of what damage for this April 29-ongoing, 2019, disaster would be considered, and what the process will be to document the damage to apply for SEMA/FEMA assistance if a state declaration of disaster is made.

Mr. Brooke asked those in attendance for their input on what kinds of damage has occurred so far, and what industries, entities, etc. have been impacted.

Mr. Brooke, Michael Booth from SEMA, and the commission toured select sites for damage assessments in Union, Marion, Grand River and Benton Townships.

Others present at the meeting included David Roll, EMD; and township representatives  Elaine and Steve Bohannon, Grand River; Brian Teel, Marion; David Leeper and Don Tolen, Jackson; Josh Prescott, Washington; and Clint Vanatta, Union. Philip Showalter represented Lock Springs Special Road District #1.

The above information is taken from the minutes of the June 24, 2019, meeting of the county commission. All commissioners were present.

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

Circuit Court

Cases bound over from the Associate Division: State vs. Kenneth Lee Utley, Richmond, two counts domestic assault, second degree D felony, third degree E felony; State vs. George D. Rainey, Pattonsburg, damage to jail property, E felony; State vs. James D. Whitt, Bethany, two counts second degree domestic assault, D felony, kidnapping third degree, A misdemeanor; State vs. Vincent Sturgeon, Pattonsburg, three counts of kidnapping second degree, D felony, domestic assault second degree, D felony, endangering welfare of child, D felony.

Civil cases filed: Division of Employment Security vs. Jason Holmes, Gallatin, certificate of tax assessment; Jonathan G. McKinney, Humphreys, vs. Director of Revenue State of Missouri, petition requesting reinstatement of driving privilege; Tiffany Johnson, St. Joseph, and Vickie Hunter, Farris, TX, vs. Carol Ann Harris, Scottsdale, AZ, petition for partition;

Matthew Adkison vs. Jennifer Adkison, both of Jameson, dissolution of marriage; Jessica A. Lichfield vs. Dylan R. Hazzard, both of Gallatin, dissolution of marriage; Gary D. Buck and Kathleen Buck, Gardner, KS, vs. James W. Wright II and Charlene Wright, petition for quiet title.

Associate Circuit

Kathleen Asher, St. Joseph, was charged June 19 with passing bad checks, E felony.

David Lee Kirkpatrick, Chillicothe, was charged June 19 with failure to register as sex offender, D felony.

Two inmates at the Daviess DeKalb Regional Jail, Kelby Allen Burcham, Independence, and Kyle Lee Potts, Rosendale, were charged June 24 with assault third degree, E felony, for altercations at the jail. Another inmate, Nathan Caleb Osborne, Chillicothe, was charged with assault second degree, D felony, and property damage second degree, B misdemeanor.

Patricia D. Sittner was charged June 24 with forgery, D felony, and failure to maintain financial responsibility, D misdemeanor. Court documents allege that Sittner altered her license plate tags.

Defendants found guilty in the Associate Division of the Circuit Court of Daviess County are listed below with the offense and fine assessed. Additionally, court costs collected for the State of Missouri amount to $70.50 for moving traffic violations and $116.50 in most criminal cases. Judge Daren L. Adkins presided over the following cases:

Leonard W. Joyce, Mortell, NE, received a suspended imposition of sentence, two years probation and 22 hours community service on each of two conservation violations.

Patrick D. Hazelwood, Horton, KS, possession of marijuana, $300.

Albert J. Stief, Hamilton, passing bad checks, $25.

Daniel C. Stout, Gallatin, trespassing, $200.

Marriage

Jeffery Wayne Allred, 23, Chillicothe, and Jennifer Louise Waits, 25, Meadville, were married June 19, 2019, by Judge Daren Adkins.

Recorder’s Office

Marriage license issued: Steven Kyle Sgambato, 34, and Stacey Lynn Collins, 40, both of Gallatin.

Land Transfers

Warranty Deeds

Partial outlot in Gallatin from Ryan and Dara Beenken to Cody Lang; Lake Viking lot #540 from Sharon and Max Powell to 108 Capital LLC; Lake Viking lot #1873 and #1873 from Brent and Karen Young to Isis and Matthew Burton; Lake Viking lot #2237 from Aaron and Savannah Weech to Andrew E. Fitzmaurice; lot in Jamesport from John and Deborah Kramer to Hunter and Rachel White; Lake Viking lot #1032 from Grant Foster to John and Shanda Jensen; Lake Viking lot #2421 from Michael and Mary Orlando to Michael and Jennifer Eversole; Lake Viking lot #2115 from James and Teresa Boyd, Cindy Boyd, Sami Boyd, Carly Boyd, Whitney and Jeremy Esry to Jason and Bethany Potter; Lake Viking lot #1846 from Ronald and Jo Ann Gann to David Hansen; Lake Viking lot #1839 from Robert and Karen Brown to Eric and Laura Elder; tract in Liberty Township from Linchen Cordray to Kurt and Tina Esbeck; tract in Jackson Township from Clifford and Lois Agenstein to John Clifford Agenstein; tract in Monroe Township from Derek Blakesley to Kris and Elizabeth Skidmore.

Beneficiary Deeds

Tract in Jefferson Township from Melvin and Betty McFee to Cindy L. Blakemore, Michael E. McFee and Jennifer K. Moore, an undivided one-third interest each, LDPS; Re-recorded Correction Beneficiary Deed – tract in Liberty Township from Wilbert C. Cordray to Wilbert C. Cordray Jr. and Linchen Cordray; tract in Liberty Township from Linchen Cordray to Debra Tunks and Eric Cordray as joint tenants and not as tenants in common; partial block in Jamesport from Jeffrey A. Hale to Jayden Chase Hale.

Quit Claim Deeds

Lake Viking lot #1032 from Viking Valley Association to John and Shanda Jensen; partial block in Coffey from Naomi Christiansen to Naomi M. Christiansen; Lake Viking lot #2423 from Carson Orlando to Michael and Jennifer Eversole; partial block in Coffey from Bryce and Katarina Harris to Julie Marie Quebe and Aaron Tyler Hall as joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common.

Trustee’s Deed under Active Trust

Lots in Altamont from Thelma May Assel as trustee of the Assel Family Trust to Larry and Linda Rossiter as co-trustees of the Rossiter Family Trust; Lake Viking lots #1032 and #1033 from Jay R. Stock, trustee for the Jay R. Stock Living Trust, to Grant Foster; Lake Viking lot #244 from Kathryn L. Price, trustee of the Randy and Kathryn Price Trust, to Ryan R. Dowis and Jeremy W. Hegle.