County Commission
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John Sterneker and Clint Vanatta, Union Township, met with the commission to advise them the township is going to proceed with repairs on 228th Street. They also discussed progress on the repair/replacement of Sabre Road.
David Tolen, Union Township resident, met with the commission to discuss repair/replacement of Sabre Road near the Magill Bridge over Grand River. He expressed concern with the current maintenance and his ability to get his crops out. Commissioner Wayne Uthe will speak to the township board about adding some spot rock.
D.J. Bonderer, Colfax Township resident, met with the commission regarding a tube on Waltz Avenue, and a low water crossing.
Pursuant to a Grand River township request, Commissioner David Cox made a motion to add one-fourth mile of 262nd Street North of Lilac Street in Section 26, Grand River Township, to the CART program for 2020; Wayne Uthe seconded, and the motion passed, 3-0.
Discussion was held regarding the current road closing Standard Operating Procedures for Daviess County as they have recently been updated by the county attorney. Discussion was also held regarding a petition filed in July to close a portion of 232nd Street in Washington Township. Since a remonstrance has also been filed, the commission will follow statute and send notifications to all landowners on the portion of road to be closed, and a hearing will be scheduled and advertised.
The commission asked Ronetta Burton to make contact with Metal Culverts, Inc., the road tube supplier for the county, and set up accounts for the townships and road districts that haven’t already done so.
James Lewis, bridge supervisor, updated the commission on ongoing work. The road crew will be working in Harrison and Union townships this week. They are also mowing brush in Grand River and Jamesport townships this week.
Discussion for two bridge replacement/repair options was held with a decision to go ahead and purchase the tubes and get them replaced. The commission approved two of the crew to go to safety training provided at no cost by MPR insurance in Springfield in December.
The commission met with Ronetta Burton, county clerk, to go over details for the 2019 salary commission meeting scheduled in the commission room for Oct. 29.
Stephanie Williams and Duane Kohlstaedt, North Central MO Business Facilitation, met with the commission to advise them on business growth in the area. Three new businesses in Daviess County have opened this year with their help. The 2019 Annual meeting will be Feb. 13, 2020, in Hamilton. Anyone wishing to attend must contact Stephanie for details at 816-617-6144. Duane expressed his desire to have another person from Daviess County on their board.
The nursing home lease and inventory were discussed. Presiding Commissioner Jim Ruse will try to make contact with Jennifer Osby.
Jim Ruse signed the final documents for the last sheriff vehicle.
The commission had a discussion regarding the current County Employee Retirement Fund (CERF) election and plan. Wayne Uthe made a motion to remain with the current election to the CERF plan during the 2020 fiscal year; David Cox seconded, and the motion passed, 3-0.
Lance Rains, City of Gallatin, met with the commission to discuss the procedure for closing a road.
Discussion was held regarding landowners who have received their final extension for eradicating their brush but have not yet completed the work. Commissioners will try to make contact with each one soon.
Courthouse maintenance issues were discussed. Wayne Uthe will make plumbing repairs to the toilet that is leaking on the third floor. Wiring issues in the courthouse and how the wiring interfaces with equipment in the Central Dispatch 911 office were discussed.
Custodian Peggy Simmons was given permission to purchase a new fan for the men’s public restroom and a new mop bucket. Ongoing boiler repairs were discussed. Jay Hart, Grand River Heating, was given permission to purchase a new water pump for the boiler.
Bill Haggard, mower operator, left his separation paperwork for the commission to sign.
Ronetta Burton brought two articles in the current issue of the Missouri County Record to the attention of the commission. One article was on the new legislation that will now guarantee counties will keep the property taxes collected on wind turbines, and the other article was on Cyber Security concerns for local governments, small cities and schools.
The meeting adjourned at 4 p.m.
This information is taken from the minutes of the Oct. 23, 2019, meeting of the Daviess County Commission. All commissioners were present. Minutes from the previous week’s meeting were approved. Bills were approved.
Circuit Court
A Livingston County jury found Miguel Angel Torres of Lathrop guilty of four felony charges in a change of venue from Daviess County. The trial was conducted Oct. 22-23 in a case heard by Judge Ryan Horsman. The case was prosecuted by Daviess County Prosecutor Annie Gibson.
While Torres was an inmate at the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail, between Aug. 3 and Sept. 24, 2019, he had a sharpened metal blade and two knives fabricated from food trays at the jail. He also fabricated cordage into a garrote and demonstrated to other inmates how to strangle an intended victim.
The case convened on Oct. 22. The jury began deliberations at 12:25 p.m. on Oct. 23 and returned with the guilty verdict at 1:29 p.m. Torres was convicted of three counts of possession of weapon at correctional facility, B felonies, and one count of damage to jail property. He was found not guilty of a misdemeanor charge of making a false report.
Following the verdict, Judge Horsman ordered a sentence assessment report.
Civil cases filed: Durk Wiglesworth, Winston, and Margaret Miller, Grand Terrace, CA, vs. Donna Wiglesworth, Winston, petition for discovery of assets and establishment and imposition of a constructive trust; Division of Employment Security vs. Midwest Floors LLC, Gallatin, transcript judgment, assessment of taxes.
Associate Division
A dissolution of marriage was granted to Stacey Mullins from Zachariah Mullins, both of Gallatin.
Civil Court
Breach of contract: A default judgment was entered for Easy Cash and against Kurt Davis.
Suits on account: Consent judgments were entered for Harrison County Community Hospital and against Mandy C. Patton; and for LVNV Funding LLC and against Ryan Thurman. LVNV Funding LLC vs. Amanda Rhoades was dismissed by the court without prejudice. Capital one Bank (USA) N.A. vs. Stacey L. Collins was dismissed by the court without prejudice.
Contract/Account: A default judgment was entered for Ford Motor Credit Company and against Gerald L. McCaslin.
Municipal Court
Defendants found guilty in the municipal court of Daviess County are listed below with the offense and fine assessed. Additionally, court costs are $32.50 for the City of Gallatin. Judge Daren Adkins presided over the following cases on Oct. 21:
Angela Dawn Johnson was fined $124.50 for speeding.
Vicki J. Corwin was fined $60.50 for failure to stop at stop sign.
Randall Lee Walker was fined $50 for shoplifting.
Assessor’s Office
Representatives from the assessor’s office will be in the field from now until yearend, reviewing and picking up new construction. If no one is present at properties which are visited by the staff, a business card or door hanger is left to let the property owner know that the assessor made a stop there.
Recorder’s Office
Land Transfers
Trustee’s Deeds
Tract in Salem Township from Billie Michael Ward, successor trustee of the Billie Joe Ward and Beverly A. Ward Trust, to Billie Michael Ward.
Beneficiary Deeds
Tract in Salem Township from Billie Michael and Sandra L. Ward to Andrew Michael Ward; tracts in Salem and Grand River Townships and lots in Pattonsburg, an undivided one-eighth interest, from Gail Boeff to Justin Boeff; tract in Union Township from Joseph M. Griffin and Norma Griffin to James S. Griffin, LDPS; tract in Benton Township from W. Wayne and Pamela Fry to W. Wayne and Pamela J. Fry, trustees of the Wayne and Pamela Fry Revocable Trust.
Warranty Deeds
Lots and partial lots in Gallatin from Nathan and Rebecca Hunt to Clint and Mary K. Vanatta (correction); tracts in Sheridan Township from Patricia and Larry Kaiser to Patricia and Larry Kaiser as trustees of the Revocable Trust Agreement of Patricia L. Kaiser.
Quit Claim Deeds
Lake Viking lot #389 from Robert and Debra Hayes as co-trustees of the Robert A. Hayes and Debra S. Hayes co-grantor trust agreement to Robert and Debra Hayes; Lake Viking lot #389 from Robert and Debra Hayes to Robert and Debra Hayes as co-trustees of the Robert A. Hayes and Debra S. Hayes Co-Grantor Trust Agreement.