[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6128729,"mediaKeyId","5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6","parentId",5750273,"title","Commissioners explain auxiliary appointments after tornado response; say measure was an emergency technical fix","audioSeconds",85,"startMs",3632000,"endMs",3717000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6&start=3632&end=3717","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6/thumbnail_3632000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6128729/Franklin-County/Missouri/Commissioners-explain-auxiliary-appointments-after-tornado-response-say-measure-was-an-emergency-technical-fix","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6128729-5014c98a966b67a4f8c2d07e6330e71a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499518&Signature=DxYB0LLV9Kfr96ZTqmLp539T8k7lSrXIkDTblURoJqFe6y5d~kHV3dD-LqnQzvG~k2klBgMaRpxVwWXx4MrCT-M-2XkJArliNPNUKAsdydZCcBuaZQFmWnfRW9duIQGTy~q-Cejbf9YSpYNNrQIT~LFKpXaQ00Jkaob9RWnJ1pBuLxO5HifDTwqyP9c~ucKiCAV4c~y8WKl-7XYGBedkNZRZdGUNTVGs4u97cQFKD2YcRsTzZio-tPD3A7uH3O4akUXEHtwJzuRsKDe~0wNfcd9zzpJBynYoMB8qvoavgDjYPvk0~dINBfzytv~KzLkF2NGdgYg16ohNKpGoHTjo-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Franklin County, Missouri","date","2025-09-10T00:03:04Z","article","Franklin County commissioners explained at a public meeting why they briefly appointed auxiliary, unpaid officers after a tornado: the appointments, they said, were a limited technical step to allow commissioners to use emergency vehicles to survey damage, document locations and submit a separate FEMA claim rather than rely solely on a state‑led package.

Why it matters: The appointments drew public scrutiny on social media; commissioners said the action was narrowly intended to allow county officials to pass roadblock restrictions during an emergency and gather damage documentation that ultimately helped secure FEMA assistance for county losses.

Commissioners described the operational context: after a tornado, state and local law‑enforcement roadblocks limited access to damaged areas. The sheriff provided a spare emergency vehicle to commissioners for damage assessment, but commissioners said statutory language limited certain non‑officer uses of emergency vehicles. Commissioners said they reviewed state statutes and found language that authorizes county commissions to appoint auxiliary emergency personnel on a volunteer basis during emergencies, provided those appointees are unpaid and do not exercise arrests or full police powers.

Commissioners said the county documented hundreds of photos and locations, filed its own FEMA claim, and that the county’s documentation aided in obtaining FEMA approval that the broader state package did not receive. The commissioners emphasized the appointments were for emergency access only, were voluntary, and were not a step to exercise ordinary law‑enforcement powers.

Ending: Commissioners said they will improve proactive communication about emergency steps like the auxiliary appointments in the future so the public understands the limited legal authority and emergency purposes of such measures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9-9-25 Commission Workshop with FCRCC","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners said they appointed unpaid auxiliary officers under a state provision so county commissioners could use emergency vehicles and document storm damage after a tornado; they emphasized the appointments carried no arrest powers and were limited to declared emergencies.","taxTitle","taxId",53137,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6128734,"Commissioners consider ending proprietary camera licensing after $27,000 fee demand",109,3737000,3846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6&start=3737&end=3846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6/thumbnail_3737000.jpg","/articles/6128734/Franklin-County/Missouri/Commissioners-consider-ending-proprietary-camera-licensing-after-27000-fee-demand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6128734-ab0fd5805e62c003c4c5891729b855f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499518&Signature=g2NheQgKQ-eNTzxWVK9u7WLJhKW2mmYIESGqj5OqbU410VbnZf~Af385GqYed~chybu0vBeX7xN8W2xknj9qkL3JvkqWuGQz1Xb2OeEXY0~nFJIWbFJTCDBrasDE8gUGpkfS6oJ890U-nsXdRERNUJ9wb7UjgJh1aZayh6afMB2bbOAKa2fPPe-fKt7BISuDp2fv9HXgQ0-kB3jWIRZvJGSAs2FUQSS6h1WlXC1zvUb2bwWiywY4y1iJQoYf3i9t5bEz3a26a9jShMpulrTJepobZjJYa~3KVT~p~Are2HQUlqHuxUY4Wmt5ZWaiV~JuaqyG4UJFQnG4HUY4euFmVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Franklin County commissioners told residents they are evaluating whether to stop paying a vendor’s recurring licensing fee for courthouse and facility security cameras after the vendor indicated a roughly $27,000 license renewal would be required to keep the cameras live.

Why it matters: The county’s current camera and access control systems use proprietary software and cloud licensing. Commissioners said the vendor charges a recurring license fee that limits the county’s ability to replace individual cameras or servers without engaging the vendor’s format and support. That recurring fee was described at the meeting as roughly $26,000–$27,000 annually for continued cloud/video‑service access.

Commissioners described a possible transition to an open‑architecture, county‑owned video management system and server hardware that would remove the cloud license and allow the county to purchase off‑the‑shelf cameras and maintain its own recordings. At the meeting commissioners compared vendor pricing: a brand‑new video server capable of supporting 128 cameras was quoted at about $3,000, while the vendor’s continuing cloud/license fees would total tens of thousands annually.

County IT and security staff told commissioners they are evaluating options that could combine camera video, door access and other facility security into one open system. Commissioners acknowledged there could be short downtime during any cutover, but IT staff and the sheriff’s security lieutenant said they expect to manage the transition to avoid critical gaps in security.

Procurement and budget impacts: Commissioners said the original procurement and equipment cost for cameras and door access was cited at roughly $225,000 when the project was first authorized. Commissioners said they will solicit alternatives, examine open systems, and may decline to pay the vendor’s license if an owned system is feasible and can be implemented without unacceptable service interruption.

Ending: The commission said staff will evaluate vendor alternatives and costs; county officials signaled the county’s intention to reduce recurring licensing expenses where possible while maintaining required security capabilities.","County leaders said a proprietary vendor is charging about $27,000 to keep security cameras live; commissioners discussed replacing the vendor with an open‑architecture system the county owns to avoid recurring licensing fees and vendor lock‑in.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6128738,"County commissioners say senior property‑tax freeze must be placed on ballot amid legal uncertainty",78,617000,695000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6&start=617&end=695","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6/thumbnail_617000.jpg","/articles/6128738/Franklin-County/Missouri/County-commissioners-say-senior-propertytax-freeze-must-be-placed-on-ballot-amid-legal-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6128738-a5ebd4aca39e9d8da7960708c7ef3ef0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499518&Signature=NZ0YbSG3YSCOqz6qT00nhu1gsCA82PxbRahhxGcREnY3Cui8zLqTxsFkBSmX0POrqQSg1ymGU4qq9DBMfJwGH27M3Hq~xtQW5F6oI9f1NG4dhmhYjQi38ynU2tdTxZLUkQjvG3W7RAOXAtB9Yml95gkNloT7rWwLrsdLGqDe1eMcdcbDQvRvspsW3dv8-gFt-rT-jxEEgvFrRp5LkNWICzzHYWW64GqDCLf2J134Kxkzak~P35VGFLfn71efTvFunKrjehxrDo276sVgI6L44eHo8Z6Ur07Mx516ueNpzRgAftxATFEIGSt5TrF3iwHj3h6SFogSuqPAvyPE~w3idA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Franklin County commissioners said state legislation that would allow a countywide property‑tax freeze (sometimes described in the meeting as expanding senior property‑tax freeze eligibility) must be placed before voters if the county chooses to participate, and that the measure may face constitutional or severability challenges in court.

Why it matters: A county decision to adopt a property‑tax freeze would change who can keep assessed values from rising and could affect county revenues. Commissioners said the state law gives counties the option to place the question on the ballot before April in the upcoming election cycle.

Commissioners said the county was offered the option to place a ballot question that would expand a freeze beyond existing senior provisions; they said voters would choose whether to adopt the freeze for qualifying property owners. Commissioners noted the process would create administrative and budgetary costs: if the state does not fund the election, the county would bear the estimated cost of roughly $150,000 to run a standalone ballot question.

Legal uncertainty was a recurring concern. Commissioners said observers have questioned the law’s structure and that there were likely legal challenges to its constitutionality. The meeting included discussion of a severability clause in the legislative language; commissioners said the presence of a severability clause would govern whether parts of the law could be struck down while preserving other parts, but they stressed that a court challenge would not be resolved until after a public vote and potential litigation.

Administration and enrollment: Commissioners said existing senior property‑tax freeze programs still require annual sign‑up; the county assessor (named during the meeting) told commissioners that improvements such as a garage would be assessed separately and that property owners must reapply each year to maintain eligibility.

Ending: Commissioners said the county will likely place the measure on the ballot for voters to decide but cautioned residents that implementation, costs and legal outcomes are uncertain until after voter action and any subsequent legal challenges.","Commissioners said state law gives Franklin County the option to put a countywide property‑tax freeze on the ballot; they warned the measure could be costly to administer and may face legal challenges that could nullify parts of the law.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6128743,"Commissioners outline line‑by‑line budget review, warn ARPA funds masked recurring deficits",1805,84000,1889000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6&start=84&end=1889","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6/thumbnail_84000.jpg","/articles/6128743/Franklin-County/Missouri/Commissioners-outline-linebyline-budget-review-warn-ARPA-funds-masked-recurring-deficits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6128743-f983691f3e72eed1c8690c047281dea6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499518&Signature=TZ6aFiOYwbr4yLKLoudxeIOR9zJvvf2jX6wpwzo7mh0yBX27CubFcXowl~NelSfZI~SXZXx4Zru3Pc4stD1ZvvBcx0bCHzE3DgS9VlXJSjxiqQAyOCtugyV6ly8w-lKXePmT2VLzL0~FayzzETV63xOgRh6QB3ZXJ8LIlW~U~ZQh3~G6TIfk8OjjQFicqa~Oi-j3SbB51RV9Sqc6i4yE2QxmJ5r0lIdOXXhfR4J0vvVZYHq1E6wyGQY1CiN3T0LWRpz17JP--pUMcyEmWk0oEURRYIG~pSBKw6Sxx4EMNbns9piS~jC~CcNXKxYG7cOtZZvuk-bHe1Gx4zneaPGNVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Franklin County commissioners told residents at a public forum they plan to scrutinize departmental budgets line‑by‑line, press departments on recurring costs, and seek operational efficiencies after a multi‑million‑dollar injection of ARPA funds masked structural shortfalls.

Why it matters: County services rely on recurring revenues. Commissioners said the county’s $22 million in ARPA funds was a one‑time infusion that temporarily resolved budget pressures but left long‑term obligations unresolved.

Commissioners said this is the first budget cycle for the current three commissioners to guide from start to finish, and they described plans for weekly budget review meetings with department heads and elected officials. They said line‑item review will be used to evaluate whether positions, overtime, or recurring contracts are necessary. One commissioner said the county will press departments to justify staffing levels and recurring license and cloud‑service fees.

The commission listed several concrete cost‑control approaches already under review: performing some planned grading and ditching work with county crews instead of contracting ($230,000 estimate for grading cited from an engineering firm), evaluating recurring software and camera licensing fees, and reviewing insurance procurement and deductible structures. The county also plans to centralize personnel policies under a new HR director to improve consistency and reduce legal risk.

ARPA and capital projects: Commissioners said ARPA funds allowed the county to defer hard decisions in recent budgets and that the county must now close a structural gap driven by higher insurance, health‑care, fuel and construction costs. They noted one capital problem — the need to relocate or stabilize a slide‑prone section of Highway 100 — would have cost about $1.6 million if not for the county’s ability to use additional right‑of‑way to move the roadway.

Next steps and limits: Commissioners said they can cut county levies only for county‑controlled portions of the property tax and not for school or city levies. They also said elected officials who are separately elected (for example, the collector and auditor) have some statutorily protected budgets that limit reductions. Commissioners emphasized that some spending is driven by law or contract, and that they will prioritize reducing recurring discretionary costs where possible.

Ending: The commission said weekly budget reviews will continue, staff will return detailed departmental justifications, and residents should expect additional public updates as the budget process proceeds.","Franklin County commissioners said they will scrutinize departmental budgets line‑by‑line, seek recurring‑cost reductions, and warned that prior American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds temporarily covered gaps that resurface as one‑time federal funds expire.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6128748,"Franklin County officials warn of growing 9-1-1 funding shortfall, propose sales-tax option",467,1217000,1684000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6&start=1217&end=1684","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5750273-b98e9a79a8a56d5a61b0d603d51678c6/thumbnail_1217000.jpg","/articles/6128748/Franklin-County/Missouri/Franklin-County-officials-warn-of-growing-9-1-1-funding-shortfall-propose-sales-tax-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6128748-69c37da91598e81f732c5277be34dc6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499518&Signature=Mn9ked2qkjQE~UlnHpf2RsDq4TN0sbhM3zTcF-g6VRMFu0cTqf5a6cXVRFiet8mroH3q0p6m~mNeMnWoWxnwLZvj1s~d1tEE~G2kBuhY5ra1J~FcBSDwKjGPeXFNRXTVui2ERQ~hTVfUsoieLBN~JcYoLBJ1Zctbc3IjAClZ4Jl6uOHXGc-9DCU9EggKtYmOku8EtqMyRUy6hrndRUIc3HL5lZxiAjKbR~fY2HeyyOuiBBUtlXsOyAqn8-Ct5XFIdTm93VgXxMQebPW7f0iuVXymSXOwUkZtZdsPfEhlaXxHP21jRvNlKcPSUPHWMDAqP7ku7MIn95O2QMysOjzTEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Franklin County commissioners told a town-hall-style public meeting that the county faces a growing funding shortfall for 9-1-1 emergency services and discussed a potential quarter‑percent local sales-tax to replace diminishing landline revenues. Commissioners said the county currently relies on a per‑landline fee that has sharply declined as residents move from landlines to cell phones, leaving the 9-1-1 budget at risk.

Why it matters: 9-1-1 funding supports dispatch centers (PSAPs), equipment, and staffing that handle emergency calls. Commissioners said the shortfall could be more than $2 million and that current landline receipts have dropped from the mid six‑hundreds of thousands to roughly $300,000–$400,000 in the most recent year, creating an urgent budget gap for emergency communications.

Commissioners described how the county’s 9-1-1 revenue stream historically came from a landline tax (referred to at the meeting as a 15% landline fee). Commissioners said the decline in landline accounts means the fee no longer raises sufficient revenue. As one commissioner summarized the problem for the public, there is currently no statewide mechanism that allows counties to collect a comparable fee from cell‑phone service providers.

To address the gap, commissioners discussed two approaches: (1) seek a statewide legislative solution that would allow collection of a fee on wireless service, or (2) place a county ballot measure before voters to replace the landline fee with a quarter‑percent local sales tax dedicated to 9-1-1. The commissioners said a quarter‑percent sales tax would spread the cost across anyone who makes purchases in Franklin County rather than only landline customers, and could raise more revenue overall.

Commissioners noted political and logistical hurdles. They said some neighboring jurisdictions have their own dedicated revenue sources and PSAPs and would likely resist consolidation or surrender of their revenue streams. They also said a state funding solution would likely require consolidation of some local PSAPs to achieve economies of scale — a politically sensitive prospect because local jurisdictions are reluctant to give up control of their emergency‑dispatch centers.

Cost and timing: Commissioners estimated a special election to put a ballot question before voters could cost the county roughly $150,000 (estimate provided at the meeting), and they said state timing rules could require the county to hold a standalone election if no other ballot items align with the required timeframe. The county intends to continue exploring options before finalizing a recommendation to voters or the legislature.

The county emphasized that 9-1-1 service itself will continue to work for callers; the discussion was about long‑term funding sustainability rather than an immediate service interruption.

Ending: Commissioners said they will continue to investigate funding options and report back to the public as proposals are developed. They urged state lawmakers to consider a uniform funding mechanism for 9-1-1 but also said the county may present a local funding measure to voters if a legislative fix does not arrive.","County commissioners said the traditional landline fee that funds 9-1-1 has declined and may leave the county with a multimillion-dollar shortfall; they discussed putting a county sales-tax increase on the ballot to replace the lost revenue and spread costs among visitors and residents.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners explain auxiliary appointments after tornado response; say measure was an emergency technical fix

Commissioners consider ending proprietary camera licensing after $27,000 fee demand

County commissioners say senior property‑tax freeze must be placed on ballot amid legal uncertainty

Commissioners outline line‑by‑line budget review, warn ARPA funds masked recurring deficits

Franklin County officials warn of growing 9-1-1 funding shortfall, propose sales-tax option